Bad Apples
I’ve been thinking about this phrase a lot over the past few years. I see it used with some frequency, usually to justify the utterly unjustifiable bad behavior of a relative few people: “You can’t let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch!”
Except that’s not how it works. When you’re dealing with literal apples, that’s all you need, is a few bad ones. One bad one. And if you ignore it, then the rot spreads. Eventually, all the apples become bad. And that’s terrible, because apples are basically good and useful things. Until you leave them alone to fester. And it’s the same with people.
So here’s the thing about bad apples: if you want to make sure they don’t spoil the whole barrel, you have to get rid of them. No second chances or “we have to trust that they can change” or “they’re just having a really hard time right now.” No. Chuck ‘em entirely. Keep the rot from spreading. Prevent it from coming back.
(This PSA brought to you by political fuckery, fandom fuckery, and the autumn apple season.)