<p>But where does it end? Does this pledge only apply to residential college life? Will it one day spill out into campus activity, such as political and social activism, classroom debate? Then will it be unkind to openly and publicly disagree with the actions and opinions of fellow students? Will it be unkind to editorialize against them in the student newspaper? Doing so would hurt their feelings, after all. Will professors and coaches have to take a similar pledge to always be kind to the students? Will they find it smacks of unkindness to fail a student who’s trying really hard, or to tell a hard-working athlete his skills are not up to par?</p>
<p>I don’t believe I have a misconception of kindness. Rather I strongly believe that an accusation of unkindness can easily become a weapon for the protection of incompetence and mediocrity, a weapon to stifle dissent of all types, and a tool to force the nice, easily guilt-tripped people into continuing to put up with inconsiderate behavior on the part of unkind other students because it’s the good and understanding thing to do. If you’re going to have a pledge that means anything, then one would assume students will be held to their word and unofficially, at least, called on the carpet by RA’s and other students for not keeping the pledge. And therein lies the danger.</p>