The worst part of the stocks and pillory was the public spectacle of it all. The best part was that you were eventually released to re-enter everyday life. If people threw garbage at you then, they would end up in the stocks. The system sounds inhumane, but at least the person’s release acted as a public announcement that he or she was now socially acceptable. I don’t doubt that if people could be done with their shame today by spending a few hours in the stocks, we would see an endless line of volunteers.
