It's been a rough year for my heroes. Jonah Lehrer, a talented neuroscience writer and thinker, has a plagiarism and taking-things-out-of-context problem. And, Lance Armstrong has a doping and bullying problem. I find Armstrong's example particularly troubling. He didn't simply dope to win a race.

No, Armstrong architected an intricate system of lies, drug use, and intimidation to dominate a sport. In the process,  he wreaked havoc on many, many, many people's lives. He actively and intentionally tried to "destroy" people's reputations, careers, and even personal lives. In many cases, he succeeded. (For a well-articulated summary, check out this column on CBSChicago. Don't miss the book by Tyler Hamilton, either.)  Read More >