> Also who are these _friends_ who jumps on conclusion without allowing for a defense? I wonder if this person is referring more to their social group. I get t

> Also who are these _friends_ who jumps on conclusion without allowing for a defense? I wonder if this person is referring more to their social group. I get the impression that there are groups of "friends" that are really more of a social group and are all walking on eggshells around one another re orthodoxy and and at the same time poised to jump on anyone who is perceived to do something against their group values. Sort of like the situation in 1984, Winston, Syme, Ampleforth, Parson, are all "friends" in some sense but effectively would denounce each other immediately for anything and feel the need to insert little "there is a war going on of course" type platitudes in conversation.