When you say "needs to be taken to task for it," what do you mean exactly?

People behave badly. You've been to enough AA type meetings to have heard enough stories about how badly people behave. You've also seen these shitty people try to turn their lives around and make amends. Did that process happen because someone got up on his high horse and "took them to task" for being a shit? Maybe, sometimes. More likely, someone treated them with dignity and cared enough about them to give them enough self-respect to seek help. Maybe they cared enough about themselves to seek help. I don't know.

Maybe he just found his car wrapped around a pole and stumbled home realizing how lucky he was that some kid was not under that pole. Then he realized that he could have lost his job, his girlfriend, and his freedom. Would it have helped at any time if I had taken him to task - or did he need to wrap his car around a pole?

I just have never seen a piece of shit person respond well to someone who felt it was his place to smarten the shithead up.

But hey, if it works, go for it. I assume that your goal would be to let the shithead know how big a shithead he is. I can't see that goal moving anyone in the direction of goodness.

but do argue with me.

Personally, I prefer to surround myself with people who care about my and others' feelings.

I can't bring myself to spend energy on poorly behaving people -- maybe I should. I have some family members in mind right now --

but what would the point be? Their idea of what family means is not mine. I can't change that.

Sigh.

Indeed I have rambled about many things.

I wish better things for you taco.