Is it a crime?

 As a writer, sometimes. the only value in an experience is the scene possibility... to write an extreme situation into a novel so that we can all learn to be better people.

For my first published novel, I only studied criminology a very little bit and, for a time, I considered taking a course, on criminology, until I decided that History is a much better subject for me.

Strangely, though, as I wrote my 'work- a-day' book, some may call it ordinary, I had to dissect human behaviour from an 'alpha to omega' sequencing.

I use the phrase 'alpha to omega' in the meaning of 'beginning to end.' So, when detailing behavioural issues, it is necessary to mine the childhood experiences of a unruly and trouble- bound child into the adulthood of 'said' child to determine situational outplay. 

For instance, a scene in The Orchard Walk takes place in a bookstore. A child is forced to go to a very 'boring' public reading of a novel that has just been released. His parents force him to go imagining that the civilized environment might spark a match of interest in the 'bully' child.

Now, the reason I wrote about a child that was so obnoxious and a blatant bully that terrorized other people was because of the many situations I had to deal with when my wee little children attended school and were attacked by very uncivilized belligerents. My experiences, in dealing with bullies, were many, and I was always attempting to de- escalate situations when no policing was available.

The goal of any violent clash is, of course, to protect the lives of those who really didn't want to enter the fight at all. So, if anyone voluntarily enters a fight, there are real skills you will need if the 'end of a skirmish' is to be carefully negotiated so as to avoid very bitter residual feelings. Conflict resolution dictates that 'both' sides of any disagreement must adhere to the law and most conflicts, by definition, have usually crossed the boundaries of law into the arena of 'conflict' through the crime of infringement of rights. To de- escalate a situation, first, everyone must be willing to obey the law... which, of course, means, you have to know the laws that may be broken within a 'fight.' So, the phase of mediation, of such situations, can only begin after 'safety of all parties involved' has been secured, rules of resolution have been established and proper representation of each side has been procured. Proper representation must exclude anyone with a conflict of interest.

There are myriad problems that will arise if these steps are ignored, by- passed or circumvented by inappropriate parties using 'bully tactics' to overrule others. By definition, conflict resolution means a particular situation has been resolved. 

To resolve something means to settle a contentious matter. When a matter is contentious, it leads to arguing and the controversy, difference of opinion, must be peacefully traversed until mutual agreement has been reached.

For every person seeking a resolution to your personal crime which could be an act or activity that is considered to be shameful, wrong, or mistaken... I encourage a journal writing of the happening, in step by step detailing. As you write, you will discover where and how the situation went from a 'trusted' relationship ( work or personal) to a blatant distrust of manipulative moves that can only be described as 'criminal.'

May this year be a resolution year.