Conspired

Amos has conspired against you . . . 

 - From Amos 7

What is this fascination with the word "conspired"?

We don't handle correction very well. Differing opinions are challenging enough. We think it's cool when someone says something like "I aim to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable." But we get mad when, in our comfort, someone afflicts us. 

How we hate being wrong. We hate it so much we'll fight back any time someone suggests a different, better path for us. We'd rather continue in error than admit that we were wrong on something. 

One of our tactics is to accuse the person troubling us, of "conspiring." Again . . . what's the big deal with the word "conspiring"? And what makes it such a horrible thing to be accused of?

When people won't listen to reason, maybe conspiring is the only option left, to fix things!

If I ask questions dealing in ethics, or morality, or criminality, or even basic wisdom, it is not "conspiring." It isn't trading in "conspiracy theories." 

Most people starting off to point out ethical or process problems are not trying to get someone in trouble. They're not trying to stir the pot, or show off how smart they are. Most of the time, they're sincerely just trying to make a correction, so that later on . . . good people don't get into trouble. 

But people get defensive, they push back . . . they even fight back . . . and it's on. Heals are dug in, and it becomes more about saving face than getting to something better. 

We need to stop using the word "conspiracy" so much. People get to ask questions.