Why is it that violas are always known to be that one instrument that always magically messes up the whole ensemble? When I first heard about the viola, I thought that it was a unique and balancing instrument. Hence, the reason I decided to play it. 

But at school, during rehearsals, violas are blamed for literally almost every single petty thing even if we mess up only once on a single measure. "Second violins and violas are a little out of tune there," the conductor says. 

"It's the violas' fault," everyone else says. 

Honestly, this has escalated so muh that it's nothing short of verbal harassment now. During extra times for practicing, the orchestra splits off into mini ensembles. They don't include violas (unless it's absolutely necessary). 

Offensive jokes such as, "Hw do you know if a viola's out of tune?" "When it's bow is moving," are tossed around every other day, and violists are asked if they got the joke without any consideration for feelings. This has gone as far as to the point where some people have lost all motivation to play. My friend/stand partner makes fake practice records because of this. Just about every day, she tells me, "It's another day of getting insulted." 

Are violins or cellos blamed if they make the same mistake as violas? 

No. 

It seems like the whole orchestra is out to get us as a coping mechanism for their own faults. I've noticed that the ones who was instigating these jabs sat at the very back row. We all auditioned, but just because you play a "better" instrument than violas doesn't mean you have superiority over all violas.  

Why do violas have to be known as "that cursed instrument?" 

I don't think our conductor even cares. He can't even read alto clef properly. 

However, I do recognize that not all exsembles are like this. The orchestra I attend at church does not show any sign of discrimination to any instrument. It may only be a problem at my school, or it can be that a number of other orchestras harbor the illusion that everything wrong that happens is the violas' fault. 

Why? Why are violas the ones blamed for this? Why does everyone point fingers at the viola section when there's nowhere to point to? Violas are part of the orchestra too. It's not like we're from some sort of alien world! 

Blaming people just for the instrument they chose to play and love is like blaming people just because they don't like chocolate, for example. I disagree with their views but I'll respect it. But the people at my school and orchestra? 

They clearly don't do that. Sure, there are some small chuckles from time to time, but nothing really happens when any other instrument messes up, but the room just has to erupt into laughter when violas make one error. 

Yeah, as principal violist at school, I can say for myself and my section that we know of our shortcomings as musicians, so the rest of you out there (which I'll highly doubt you'll read this and know who I am) don't need to keep on rubbing it into our faces every single time. 

You need to know of you shortcomings as people. 

That's all I gotta say right now.