On Saturday past I took my eldest to see Meet The Robinsons, the animated feature that encourages us to look and move forward rather than stewing in our own self-pity. That however was not the lesson ... We arrived a bit early, hit the concessions and still found ourself watching the advertisements. Eventually we were getting to the previews when the theatre ran its anti-piracy commercial. Essentially we are to report piracy because it is a crime. The picture on the sreen was of a person holding a video camera behind his back. It made me think of what a pack of rats we have become and are encouraged to become. It would never occur to me to rat out some kid video-taping a movie. I certainly wouldn't be calling the police. As I watched, i found myself leanng over to my 6 year old daughter and whispering, "Sweetheart, no one likes a tatletale." That was true when I was a kid. I assume it's true today, though I'm beginning to have my doubts.

 UPDATE:2007.04.17: Being a Tatletale is an issue at Daimnation:

I stood there. I refused to shout back, to push back. I refused to come to his aid in the face of petty evil. Out of fear, out of unmitigated cowardice.

I shamefacedly told this to my young girls yesterday at dinner... The issue of 'schoolyard bullying' has been raised at our kids' school. The school wants them to tattle. I want them to know the shame of tacit complicity, to fear cowardice and dishonour more than "punishment."