“I am working on the assumption that most of you are familiar with the story of my namesake. He reacted the same way that many are reacting now. What’s hilarious is watching all the ways that the rats are fleeing the ship. It is a fascinating study in psychology.

Following the harrowing experience with Jay, I ran back to Minnesota never to be heard from again. The movie tried to make me look like a drunk in an insane asylum. Things are rarely ever that melodramatic. I just retreated into an anonymous life like most others.

For all of the folks complaining about Twitter and censorship I’m seeing a different phenemonom. A number of “friends” from high school and other acquaintances are quitting Facebook. Things have just gotten too political they say. I know exactly what they are saying because I was that person too.

People have accused me of being a bystander when all that sordid business happened to Jay. Maybe if I had stood up things would have turned out differently.Shame is a powerful force. It can lead people to blame the victim. It can lead people to disconnect. It can lead them to run away. Running away from Facebook and other social media only delays what needs to be done. We need a reckoning and a lot of people need to explore their own role in this mess. Maybe they actively participated. Maybe they played along and didn’t step up. Maybe they just remained silent while the hate rose up around them. Either way, we really can’t run away anymore.”

Nick