The Vultures of the Cancel Culture

There is this relatively new phenomenon in the dictionaries, on the American map and on everyone’s screens. It is called the ‘cancel culture’. What, you haven’t heard of it? Several major publications devoted their pages to it recently. It is described as removal “of support for public figures in response to their objectionable behavior or opinions. This can include boycotts or refusal to promote their work.” Others called it “online shaming is a form of public shaming in which targets are publicly humiliated on the internet, via social media platforms, or more localized media … after the public figures and companies have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive.” I decided to chime in. It burns my mind.

It doesn’t stop there. Any person, who speaks out, expresses his disagreement with the cloned clowns, can and will become a mob target. It appears that the ‘cancel culture’ is rooted in the #meetoo movement or some earlier predecessor or it. You make an online complaint, say, on Twitter, others join in, and pretty soon a mob of people become the judge, the jury and the executioner. They are the lynching mob. The court of public opinion where they perform is no court at all. It is a circus, an entertainment for those who enjoy the power over others, while amounting to very little in their own miserable lives. Fortunately, there are no assassins who are sent to the accused. And no firing squad. But it can ruin person’s life just the same, for being thought-insensitive to a current group of idiots. They defend their turf with a vengeance. They are out for justice – social justice and vigilante justice.

In fact, this is mind-control.

Pity them, all these public figures, the politicians, entertainers, artists, writers, TV personalities. One cannot make a faulty statement, issue a raunchy joke or freely speak their mind. Entire careers are in danger. When the mob wants them out, the employment contracts are quickly canceled. One becomes a pariah, a toxic asset. The poor souls can try to wiggle their way out, by apologizing publically and profusely, but the damage is already done.

The ‘cancel culture’ is a derivative of political correctness. We are no longer permitted to speak freely, use the words of our own choosing, have individual opinions and voice them openly. Non-conformists should be out. Everyone’s opinion should match everyone else’s. Clones must think alike. There is no dialog, just the accusations. The accused is almost never heard. There is no mercy. There is no real trial. Just the trial by the scumbag judge panel and quick, blood-thirsty jury verdict rendered upon someone who is hot-branded for life. Nice going, millenials. Here we are, in the century number 21, not some ruthless ancient world time.

This is much like stoning in contemporary Iran. The condemned is placed in a pit and then covered with dirt, to restrict his movements. Only his or hers head and shoulders are exposed. Then the crowd begins to throw small stones at the victim. No large stones are permitted, so the accused dies a slow death. This is the most atrocious way to go. Do you see the similarities, misters and missus adepts of the ‘cancel culture’?

Diversity is what makes us a society, with good, bad and ugly characters. If you silence all the uglies, who we are going to hate? How can we tell right from wrong if everyone is right all the time?

Character assassination is extending to private individuals nowadays, not just businesses or celebrities. I don’t condone either of these activities. Sticking a knife in someone’s back or digging dirt to murder someone online is equally despicable. This behavior is totally immoral. Breaking someone’s life must be considered a crime.

Some people are trying to have discussions about ‘cancel culture’, whether it is a mob intimidation or just the way to speak the truth to the ‘bad’ person. Some argue it’s not bad, it really doesn’t end anyone’s career or life. Like it’s not a serious enough business. Some say it is a weapon of the ordinary people who want to get at the oppressors and badmen.

The danger of cancel culture is not necessarily in itself. It teaches the participants that they can punish anyone for anything, anytime, bearing no responsibility for their actions, by simply ganging up. It goes far beyond the celebrities. “Let’s teach him/her a lesson” mentality multiplied by a factor of many thousand participants can surely instill fear in any person. Very few of those playing this dangerous game would even consider finding another way of resolving what aggrieves them.

That’s social justice for you, seeking its next victim.

The ‘accused’ should shut up, erase himself from everywhere, with well-wishes implying he should kill himself. Person’s real name, handles, place of work or study may be revealed. It all happened before. As in Nazi Germany, in the 1930’s, when Jewish businesses were pointed out, to deprive them of livelihood. ‘Cancel culture’ vultures, you are on the right track, with such great teachers. It must be sweet, to form a group of vigilantes, who feel they are doing God’s work.

Trying to capitalize on people’s past deeds to justify your own existence is hardly a solid ground for the beacons of moral cleanliness and defeaters of ever-so-stubborn racism in American society. As the rules change, how would the chasers feel if they become targets of the same, in 10-20 years from now? What goes around comes around.

The following comes from Harper’s Magazine article, published July 7, 2020, and sums it up nicely:

“Editors are fired for running controversial pieces; books are withdrawn for alleged inauthenticity; journalists are barred from writing on certain topics; professors are investigated for quoting works of literature in class; a researcher is fired for circulating a peer-reviewed.”

“The way to defeat bad ideas is by exposure, argument, and persuasion, not by trying to silence or wish them away. We refuse any false choice between justice and freedom, which cannot exist without each other.”

Everyone involved in character assassinations should be put on trial.  Every single one of you, highly moral, ethical and righteous persons seeking to rid this earth of someone you dislike. Are you that person, who threw a small stone at another individual on Twitter or Facebook?

You should be ostracized. Not be accepted among people. We must never shake hands with you.  We, as society, must quickly decide what we want to do about this savagery.