They know not what they do...

I am always amazed by the rampant excusing of bad human behavior that goes on in social contexts. Given the choice, people will avoid confrontation. Shocked by the indifference and self-possession we see in certain individuals, we instead invoke "caring" personas and bond with others in whispered agreement, only to accommodate and perpetuate the actions we've all deemed distasteful. Is it possible that we secretly admire the ill-mannered because they give us that rare material that makes us feel righteous and alive? Do they provide a much needed contrast to our boring path of common sense ethics? As masters of repressed shame, do we unconsciously feed deep-seeded feelings of powerlessness by making allowances for those who dare to ruffle feathers?