Doing What Others Do

“He who imitates an evil example generally goes beyond it; he who imitates a good example generally falls short of it.” These words from a sixteenth century philosopher suggest some further observations. One of the most common excuses that we make for ourselves when we want to do something we shouldn’t do is that others are doing it. We are very sensitive to the example of others, especially when we want to be. This is true from our earliest years. Indeed, almost the first response we receive from a child whose conduct is being questioned is to point to someone else and say: “He did it first.” And by some unexplained logic, this is supposed to make wrong right. But if we have any idea that it is all right to do what other people do just because other people are doing it, let’s look for a moment where this false philosophy could lead us: Suppose we could point to a million men who had stolen money. A million is a lot of men. But would that justify us in theft? Suppose we could point to a million men who had perjured themselves. Unquestionably, there are people who do perjure themselves. But does that give license to us to lie? Before we do what others do, good or bad, we must remember that there are many in jails and in all manner of trouble, often merely because they have done what others have done, without due discrimination. Of course, often people who pretend to be influenced by the actions of others actually aren’t influenced so much as they pretend to be. They may merely be looking for justification for what they want to do.

And they may think they find their justification simply in saying that others are doing as bad or worse why shouldn’t they? Such reasoning may explain why they did what they did, but it doesn’t change the nature of what they did. Multiplying a fallacy doesn’t make it less false. If everyone had always done only what everyone else had always done, there would never have been any progress. And if everyone had always imitated the worst example, we would never have known any of the finer things that make life worth living. And pointing to what other people do doesn’t change wrong into right.