People who use phrases like “a few bad apples” or “there are some bad apples” often forget the whole saying:
“A few bad apples ruin the whole bunch.” Or as Ben Franklin put it, “the rotten apple spoils his companion.”
It’s not a request to leave the good apples alone. It’s an admonition for communities to be aware of and review the bad actions of their members.
Mold spreads when not addressed. So does bad behavior.
So what does this mean? It means that we must stand up and speak out when we see it. Don’t tolerate bad apples.