Never Mind the Facts

We lived in a two story apartment building in the Palms neighborhood of Los Angeles. Bob and the inner circle dictated the living arrangements. The in crowd lived on the top floor. 

We outgrew the building, so we bought a three story apartment building just outside Century City, allowing for more precise stratification based on status within the group. The new building required extensive renovation prior to move-in. It was a massive team effort. Everyone had a job to do, starting with the units on the third floor and working our way down. 

When the third floor was completed and work on the second floor began, Bob and many other third floor dwellers discontinued their work efforts. The work force winnnowed down further when the second floor was completed. The bottom floor people, having worked for months on the upper floors, were mostly left to fend for themselves when it came to renovating the bottom floor units. 

Marsha bravely brought this up in group, and the response was predictable. Without any consideration given to the facts, Bob tore into her. "You're selfish! You're paranoid! You don't appreciate what we have here!" And so on. And whenever Bob tore into someone, there was always a chorus joining in. 

It was a cardinal sin to criticize Bob in any way. It just wasn't permitted. Never mind the facts.