Dear Hella:

The police holds society accountable to higher standards of behavior by issuing citations for speeding and arresting people on suspicion of a variety of crimes. The government holds society accountable to the standard of paying taxes using the courts. In some religions, members of a particular church report other members’ behaviors to the religious leaders.

I suppose in the context of the friend group you would have liked it if the members of the group monitored each other, confront the man we are discussing with his behavior and tell him how he should behave?

anita