Why I will not be leaping into the dogpile: Comprehending, and not condoning
"The Jury may leave the courtroom" the judge said, and just like that we were escorted out of the courtroom. Then the building, and back into the general public. We exchanged no pleasantries, we did not speak as we left. All of us accepted the gravity of the situation. After a week of testimonies, evidence, and expert opinion we had given a guilty verdict on all charges. I had done the math in my head. Given the age of the accused the combined sentences would be the equivalent to a life sentence. This is the one and only time I have ever been on a jury, and I still think about it. I remember the intense and crystal clear talk we were given that drove home our responsibilities, and accountability to case, and the law. It is a stark difference to the trials of public opinion that play out in the social media landscape. Up front I will say I have made a promise, and conscious effort to not be a part of a dogpile. I will watch them unfold and try to comprehend what I am seein...