The Double Standard of Passion: When Society Excuses Out-of-Control Behavior

By Bonita J. Robinson

It’s interesting to consider how society differentiates between passion and unacceptable behavior, often applying a double standard based on context, popularity, or other arbitrary factors. Our culture’s reaction to people’s actions can be fickle and inconsistent.

 

At the end of my grandson’s baseball season, to put this in context, he’s 10, a grandmother of a kid on the opposing team walked onto the field during the game, wagging her finger at the umpires and calling them racists. Despite several requests to leave, she continued her tirade.

While the refs had made numerous frustrating mistakes, was the grandmother’s behavior justified? Should she have been ejected from the field?

 

When we witness behavior like a player pushing his coach and screaming in his face during a high-stakes game, our immediate thoughts might be of concern, criticism, or even fear. These reactions stem from our understanding of respect, emotional intelligence, and the potential implications of such behavior in different settings. However, others might dismiss or even celebrate the same behavior as passion, highlighting a significant discrepancy in societal norms and values.

 

This disparity becomes more evident when we compare similar actions across different individuals or situations. Some people are quickly “canceled” for their behavior, while others are given a pass, often excused by their perceived passion, status, or past achievements. This inconsistency sends mixed messages about what is acceptable and can create confusion and frustration for those navigating these social norms.

 

In the case of the football player, the lack of immediate consequences or even acknowledgment of his actions by officials, coaches, teammates, and commentators further perpetuates the idea that such behavior is tolerable, if not expected, in specific contexts. This normalization of aggressive behavior under the guise of passion can have profound and far-reaching implications, influencing how similar actions are perceived and tolerated in everyday life.

 

Moreover, this phenomenon isn’t confined to sports. We see it in various areas, including politics, entertainment, and the workplace. The same actions might be condemned or praised based on the individual’s identity, status, or the narrative society chooses to embrace.

 

Ultimately, this selective perception and judgment reveal a more profound issue within our cultural framework—one that allows certain behaviors to be excused while others are harshly criticized. It calls for a more consistent and equitable approach to evaluating actions that consider the broader impact on individuals and society rather than relying on subjective interpretations of passion or acceptability.