Distress, Justice and the Exploitation of Probability: A Chess Game You Must Learn to Play

Justice and the rule of law, by definition, should be absolute. But in a world governed by performance and perception, it often hinges on something far more fragile: probability. And it is through the manipulation of probability that justice itself becomes distorted. What should be an impartial process becomes a tactical exercise in influence, persuasion and appearance, where truth is no longer enough unless it is delivered in precisely the right way.

Like two reactive chemicals, manipulation and probability fuse in the hands of those who wield influence, moving across society like pieces on a chessboard. Their aim is not truth but victory. And in this game, truth is often subordinated to the narrative they create.

The world can seem like a battlefield for those born with a strong moral compass – individuals shaped by integrity, empathy, and a relentless intolerance of injustice. If injustice surrounded you growing up, you likely learned not to tolerate it. You became vocal, unapologetic. And if that injustice left you with scars, emotional or psychological, your tolerance for further wrongdoing dwindles to zero. Injustice becomes unbearable. Painful. It becomes deeply personal.

The reality is, ethical outcry is rarely the way. Distress, when expressed, is treated as a flaw rather than as evidence of harm.

Contrary to the ideals it claims to uphold, the judicial system does not always operate on what is simply right or wrong. It operates on perception, persuasion, and probability. And probability, particularly in courtrooms and power structures, is not a matter of cold, hard facts. It becomes a weapon, a tool to reframe facts, diminish suffering, and distort the truth to fit a desired narrative.

The emotional response to injustice, especially when expressed by those who have survived it, is often pathologised – here is where you are placed as the aggravating part. The deeper the pain, the more “irrational” your response may be labelled as. Your distress will be rebranded as instability, and your rightful anger will be rebranded as an overreaction and even aggression. Your emotions will be weaponised to undermine the legitimacy of the abuse itself, shifting the focus from the wrong that was done to the way you are expressing it. This pattern is especially evident in the treatment of women or individuals from diverse racial, neurological and cultural backgrounds – often referred to as minorities (though in truth, they are far from minor in number. They have simply been systemically silenced and marginalised for far too long) as conscious or unconscious bias is yet another key element in play.

Historically, the world has gaslit women and the oppressed into submission, labelling their resistance as hysteria, their pain as exaggeration, and their trauma as attention-seeking. When the oppressed, including women, speak out, they are dismissed as too sensitive, disproportionate, aggressive, or emotional, (even by other women who, as a survival mechanism, adopted a more misogynistic and competitive way of living). And if they remain silent, their silence will also be twisted into consent. Every move becomes another piece on the chessboard — and someone else is always controlling the game. And it is precisely this manipulation of probability, emotion, and credibility that has kept so many from being heard, believed, and protected for too long.

Those who excel at playing this game understand how to manipulate, provoke, and elicit responses that serve to craft a narrative that benefits them. They do not always need to disprove what happened. They simply need to make it seem improbable or, worse still, suggest that the victim deserved it. This tactic has also kept survivors of sexual assault, ethnic oppression and abuse in the shadows for decades, particularly before the age of social media. Courts have ruled against victims, citing insufficient evidence or casting doubt on their character against the merits. However, regrettably, the manipulation of feigned emotions by actual perpetrators and people who know how to manipulate the system has also undermined collective trust and eroded the moral fabric of humanity.

But, even nowadays, with the power of cameras in our pockets and hashtags trending within minutes, legal systems and manipulated media apparatus continue to operate based on probabilities to play judicial systems (if those are not already rogue). The truth must not only be told, but it must also be told strategically.

Do not expect the judicial or legal systems to flawlessly serve as temples of morality.

The hard truth is that those who work with the law are not necessarily driven by ethical imperatives; they are paid to win, and their role is often to exploit ambiguity to the advantage of their client. Judges and juries do not know you, and lawyers understand this all too well. They capitalise on the anonymity of the courtroom, where the 'benefit of the doubt' becomes a strategic tool. In a system of strangers, your conduct becomes your character, and your character becomes the case.

Being too emotional may cost you - you risk being cast as volatile or unstable. On the other hand, remaining calm and composed can be interpreted as consent, if not calculated or insincere, particularly if you are a woman or from a minority playing against the odds of bias. In both scenarios, probability, not truth, prevails. In this game, the most strategic player likely wins.

In a world where justice is increasingly becoming elusive and trust is fleeting, it is essential to become adept at documenting evidence from the moment you step into environments that may work against you. Every interaction must be meticulously logged and noted. Although this may be exhausting and seen as borderline paranoid, we live in a system resembling a corrupt chess game, and self-protection is paramount. Choosing words carefully, listening more than speaking, and refraining from reacting to provocation or abuse aimed at you are all essential tactics.

Remember, you cannot speak moral to immortality. Do not waste your voice and mental health, because that is exactly what they want: to wear you down into submission.

The sad news is that even the best preparation may not guarantee protection from a system determined to manipulate probabilities against you. While your awareness does not make you exempt from being targeted, conducting yourself with strategy can shift the odds in your favour. Observing the playing field, understanding the moves being made, and remaining aware of the rules are crucial skills to develop. Emotions may arise, but they must not lead you astray when faced with injustice.

In times where perception and narrative hold far greater weight, even the most powerful truths must still be delivered with precision and strategic intent. Survival in the pursuit of justice often depends not on the severity of the wrongs done but on how well you navigate the chess game of probabilities.