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Shaming is education. It creates a very strong cultural and emotional tie to knowledge, motivating people to act in a certain way.

If we lived on a planet where every person was a rational, level-headed adult, lectures and books would be enough of an education. Sadly, most of the people are irrational and emotional; if you want to steer them towards better life decisions, for their sake as well as society's, shame is a very good tool.

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Shaming creates pariahs. Shaming gives others the incentive to ignore, blame, shun, harm and not help those who are shamed.

America has a long, ugly history of shaming single mothers, sexual abuse victims, adulterers and interracial and non-heterosexual relationships. I don't think that we should encourage more of it.

> Sadly, most of the people are irrational and emotional; if you want to steer them towards better life decisions, for their sake as well as society's, shame is a very good tool.

Would you use the word 'paternalistic' to describe your views on an ideal society?

This post does not address the other reasons I have stated.

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