The Mask of our Society

Criticism, lies, and rumors. Three simple verbs that could ruin somebody in a matter of seconds. Are we meant to be critically judgmental towards others? Or are we down right cruel for no real reason? Can one judge when one is not perfect? Or does one judge because he is judged? I believe these answers lie within our moral codes. We are constantly told to keep certain things in our minds,but those things are eventually let out in negative ways. We as human beings do have a right to judge,but how far does that right extend? When another person gets hurt because of our actions, does that right still qualify as benign? People's reputations are irreversibly damaged with simple word of mouth. Stories change from person to person creating a completely distorted image of who they really are. An image generated purely from the opinions and viewpoints of others who clearly do not know the victim either. People have the ability to see what they are told when presented with a delicate situation. Rumors are the main weapons of the total moral destruction of a person. These malign words spread like a virus that continuously evolves in the presence of defense mechanisms until the host is completely destroyed. It is an irreversible damage that no words can heal and time will not change. In my opinion, actions like these are simply corrupt and unjust. A person’s most prized possession is their self image, an invisible object which people often work hard to build and preserve.  In The Great Gatsby, rumors about the mysterious Gatsby, are spread around and even follow him into his own home, at his own party. If we shielded our real identity with mystery. If we closed our homes to strangers and walked around with a mirage of perfection upon us would the world be less judgmental? Or would we be trapped in a web of lies.