The name of the game is blame

We live in a society of blame. It’s never my fault, it’s always someone else. Even if I am in the wrong, it wasn’t me.

Last weekend on Keeping Up with the Kardashians the world watched Kim recount her gunpoint robbery in Paris last fall when millions of dollars worth of jewelry was stolen from her hotel and she was allegedly tied up and her life threatened.

She cried as she remembered the incident and many people felt sorry for her. But even months ago when the attack happened people were quick to blame Kardashian for making herself an easy target.

Constant social media posts showing off massive jewels and bragging about possessions isn’t the smartest thing a person can do, police say. Minute-by-minute updates about where you are every second of the day doesn’t help your safety, according to experts — and people with common sense.

So it was fascinating to see how many people rallied behind Kardashian saying nobody should have to fear for her life as she supposedly did, while others said she brought it upon herself.

Last September when someone tried to break into my house I was the victim but my parents were quick to blame me since I didn’t have any lights on in the front of my house. At the time I was working in my office at the back of my house. (Funny that Mom taught us not to leave lights on in rooms we weren’t in but suddenly I was blamed when my house was the scene of an attempted break-in.)

And let me add: Unlike many people, I didn’t immediately give the play by play on social media expecting sympathy from people. In fact, it wasn’t until several weeks later that I briefly mentioned it on my syndicated radio show.

By all accounts I was the (though if the burglar hurt his/her leg trying to kick in my door I guess he/she could technically be an injury victim in this case).? But was I to blame because the person didn’t go through my backyard to see lights on at the back of the house? They thought the coast was clear judging by the darkness at the front and side of the house.

For a brief time when my parents came over I was blaming myself as though I did something wrong (thanks to their wonderful words of discouragement). I didn’t focus on what I did correctly: keeping my doors locked even though I was home, having the house alarm armed and calling police for assistance.

Is society making it OK to blame the victim or should we have blamed the victim all along depending on the circumstance?