Activity
-
jakelafort posted an update 5 years, 4 months ago
Simon It would be hypocritical if that were my point.
I am saying cancel is only a label for a phenomenon of tribalism that is pervasive and intended to vilify the left by creating the BS impression that the left is doing something unprecedented.
It is stunningly hypocritical when it comes from judgmental evangelicals. I also think the vituperation in calling out cancels is a reaction against the groups WHO SHOULD KNOW THEIR PLACE! How dare the former untermensch act in a manner consonant with the socially acceptable and dominant groups.
-
You’re right in that extremist bullies of all shades engage in it, but perhaps only the left is honest about using it, so they get called out for it. Also, I’m sure you’re right that the enemies of the left use it as a stick to beat them with. But they deserve it. Nobody likes being gagged and told what they are allowed to say or think, on pain of unspecified “social consequences”. If the response was honest debate, that would be different.-
Simon, human beings always pay a social consequence for saying stupid shit. If a politician stood up in parliament and said “I shit on the Queen and the Union Jack” you can imagine they would be out of a job quickly (just as it would happen in a company). You would also find people fiercely responding at dinner tables, social clubs, sport teams etc if they said something that was extremely offensive to that group or ran counter to their values. People who are against nationalism have been so beaten down and cancelled that to call out nationalism or “not support the troops” is unthinkable in most political and even business situations. If you are really against cancel culture and people paying consequences for their political ideas then you should start with cancelling in general, something that happens automatically when you critique certain conservative ideas. At least, much of the cancelling that you are referring to are when people say dehumanising shit that can incite prejudice, discrimination and even violence against marginalised groups (as opposed to simply disagreeing with an ideology). If you shift your focus away from this obession with “left bullies” (you are playing right into their game) and fight cancellation in general…I could respect your stance (as extreme as it is). Otherwise, you are just falling for the hypocritical overdramatic moral panic of conservative cancellers who cannot stand being cancelled themselves.
-
I don’t see how you can defend it on the grounds that “everyone does it too”. That doesn’t make something OK. Yes, there will be a response when someone says something outrageous – but what response is the best one? Unnecessary oppression will result in resentment. Rational debate can win people round and keep them there.
-
Simon, you are deluded in thinking that there is a free market place of ideas where rational debate ultimately wins in most things entirely on their own merits without activism and public pressure. As though segregation and black rights ever would have advanced without activism and people having to pay a social price. In the age of social media and FOX news and alternative facts…this is even more of a deluded idea. Nothing changes purely by pointing out facts and asking people pretty please to start treating people equally. Also…you are being extremely hypocritical by obsessing over one aspect of this problem and entirely ignoring another group which is historically far more involved. You drank the coolaid.
-
Cancel culture is counter-productive because all it does is create enemies.
-
So Simon, it’s better to stay silent so you don’t rock the boat and let the people on top continue discriminating and perpetuating injustices? If people played by your rule book we’d still be living in a colonialist world with slavery, Western women in the kitchen with no vote and a lot of feudal landlords. I cannot even tell what it is that bothers you anymore. Do you just want an absolute free speech policy? Should we just not delete any posts anyone makes here for any reason?
-
You’re conflating wokeness, which is a good thing in principle, with cancel culture, which is toxic. Most people do that. When someone criticises wokeness, they’re not usually criticising social liberation and equal rights. They’re criticising cancel culture. Everyone hates cancel culture except for those who indulge in it. It makes people hate wokeness. Isn’t that counter-productive?
-
-
-
-
-
