"Bad behavior in Mexico, like many places, often goes unpunished. In the most serious example of this, some estimate that 98 percent of killings here go unsolved. More minor infractions — like illegal parking, refusing to throw out garbage and public nuisances — are typically endured. A group of Mexicans is embracing a new way of enforcing the fragile rule of law: public shaming. Epitomized by the Supercívicos, an assortment of urban dwellers, activists and even government officials now embarrass illegal parkers, corrupt police officers and bad neighbors who often get away with misbehavior. The adherents of public shaming share the belief that, in a widely traditional and conservative society, appealing to the raw sense of humiliation is an effective means of encouraging people to abide by the rules.It is a mix of ridicule and protest that reveals the level of fatigue in society."
At www.nytimes.com
