When Compassion Goes Completely Off the Rails

What happens when compassion becomes so distorted that we start feeling more sympathy for the person who caused the harm than for the person who suffered it?In this commentary, Billy Dees takes a hard look at what he calls “false compassion”—and how our desire to understand people can sometimes cross the line into excusing behavior that should never be excused.Using the Lindsay Clancy case as a starting point, Billy examines the complicated intersection of mental health, criminal responsibility, victims' rights, and the public reaction surrounding a deeply disturbing case. The conversation then expands into allegations of sexual assault involving university students, questions about institutional accountability, and a broader critique of how higher education handles uncomfortable issues.Billy also takes aim at the increasingly strange cultural battles surrounding celebrity, ideology, and social media, including a discussion of actress Sydney Sweeney and the question of how society decides who deserves our outrage—and who deserves our sympathy.The episode isn't about defending a political party or attacking one particular group. It's about asking uncomfortable questions: Can compassion become counterproductive? Have we lost our sense of proportionality? And what happens when ideology begins to matter more than the victims themselves?As Billy puts it, understanding someone's circumstances doesn't necessarily mean eliminating accountability.Content Note:Seven fraternity members face lawsuit over alleged assault at Cornell. This is a developing story and is currently (Sept. 26, 2026) trending as The Cornell Seven. For more information visit People https://people.com/cornell-student-alleges-frat-members-gang-raped-her-2-expelled-others-wrote-essays-lawsuit-12141236