Cancel Culture – A counter-intuitive weapon for a toxic society
The origin of Cancel Culture
Cancel Culture has become the most popular group activity among social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. For the most part, Cancel Culture has been around for as long as human history exists. This, at one point, can be a counter-intuitive weapon for a toxic society.
Societies have been pushing people for behaving outside of perceived social norms for centuries, and this is just another variation. Example, the crucifixion of the Christian Jesus, was a Cancel Culture. However, nowadays, of cause we cannot be going around nailing people to a cross. But rather, we can create a phenomenon of promoting the “canceling” of people, brands, and even shows and movies due to what some consider to be offensive or problematic remarks or ideologies. Sometimes, even statements that are not politically correct according to societal moral standards are subject to this common practice.
Chapter 13: Self-worth, Chapter 14: Morals and Chapter 15: Values from the Roadtrip-A Self-guide to Success, speaks extensively on how a person’s identity is formed through the notions of society whereby such notions later become the fabric of one’s very own journey to success. You may click on the link to purchase a copy to read more.
Modern examples of Cancel Culture
Rapper Eminem surviving cancelation attempt because of his song “Love the way you lie” for reportedly glorifying violence against women through the lyrics of the song.
Six of Dr. Seuss’ books will no longer be published due to apparent racist undertones.
A scene featuring Pepé Le Pew of “Looney Tunes” was cut from the upcoming film “Space Jam: A New Legacy.” The serial harasser Pepé Le Pew was canceled from “Space Jam 2.” Producers cut one of Pepé‘s star scenes in the sequel, in which the character is depicted as a flirty bartender who insists on kissing a female customer despite her many objections.
Anti-vaccination companies, media personalities, doctors, and celebrity cancelations for expressing their opinions regarding the COVID-19 vaccines and a call for more extensive scientific evidence.
South African Celebrities, such Katlego Maboe, cancelation for a viral video of him admitting to his wife about having an affair.
South African music artist Sjava, cancelation for false rape accusations by a fellow artist and ex-lover, which the court later threw out.
MacG Podcast and Chill surviving multiple cancelation attempts for airing interviews of celebrities expressing their personal views, experience, opinions and sharing their stories.
Justification?
At times, Cancel Culture is nothing more than aggravated public assault by the masses without due course of law. Call it mob-justice or public trial where the activists impose their opinions and feelings about something that they are not directly involved with to force those who have aligned themselves with a particular person to distance, outcast and alienate that person from their business or association. Truth is subjective to the naïveté of the public through performance, narration, and popularity, which is often difficult to be proven without the association of controversy or hypocrisy.
To what end? One may ask.
Cancel Culture is punishment for people’s mistakes/actions or for them telling their truth/stories by people who spend the majority of their lives doing the same (with no one who calls them to take accountability of theirs). It is an outward reflection of what society truly is. It brings into awareness the fact that when we hear something that we do not want to accept about ourselves, we deny it. We would rather pass it on to somebody else and judge them for it. This is the repression and inferiority complex that exposes and fuels the flaws of humanity through Cancel Culture.
Toxicity of Cancel Culture
Cancel Culture preys on the feeble individuals of the public spotlight that are out to make a living instead of attacking the big cooperations and government (including officials) to invoke change that is truly beneficial for society. Statistically, 10 006 cases of rape for which 487 of the rape cases are domestic violence. 164 murders are from domestic violence from a total of 760 people in South Africa between April 2021 to end of June 2021. All these occur in communities where the residents know exactly who the culprits are but can neither report this to the police nor organize themselves for justice to prevail.
It is most definitely not okay for women nor men to endure rape/murder or silencing of such. But lately, it is okay to use social media to strip an accusee’s dignity, employment, sponsorships, and money away which feeds their families over accusations that are not brought forth to a court of law or at worst, false accusations in a form of clout chasing. Meanwhile, known rapists and murderers roam the street every single day, terrorizing the communities and greeting their neighbors with a smile. This is not a rape apologist notion. Rather, surely we can be universal and reciprocal in our approach when we handle this national pandemic. No?
No more hiding behind social media and Cancel Culture. We owe this to ourselves and our brothers and sisters that are victims or have been silent for decades. Being selective on whom we expose, name-and-shame or choose to protect based on popularity is not justice. And this is the toxic behavior that we need to get rid of.
More toxicity of Cancel Culture
Nowadays, it is most definitely okay to silence people for having questions and opinions about the safety and efficiency of trial vaccination on humans without clinical evidence nor their consent. Cooperations and government impose mandatory vaccinations on employees and citizens, with no liability towards them if any medical complications arise. Neither the manufacturers of the vaccines are liable for their vaccinations that are not proven to be effective and causes no long-term medical jeopardy. Freedom of speech is only appropriate when the public is willing to accept the narrative of what they want to hear or willing to tolerate.
Racism is by no means justifiable nor morally acceptable. However, it is okay for a company or brand to be shut down because one person feels and perceives something in an advertisement, comment, or label is derogatory. A company with a white person’s logo and face is racist and deserves public scrutiny, and yet over 80% of farms in South Africa belong to white people that still treat their black employees like slaves with minimal wage and less than optimal work conditions. Is the former’s racial attacking not misleading, as it does not address the root issues regarding racism in the country than the latter?
The propaganda of Cancel Culture
Definition:
Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
Cancel Culture has the ability to attract the masses through relatable content, comfort, and security in numbers, and relief through the freedom to vent and opinionation statements. Nothing wrong with it. But is it addressing the current issues of society at its root cause with swift revolutionary resolutions or is it an instigation tool used to hide the promotion of hate, anti-success and unjustifiable sexism where the people can actively express discrimination on gender roles?
To tally up the destruction that it has caused in comparison to the positive changes that it can make through its power of influence, one would notice that society would be better off without the Cancel Culture due to its toxic nature as it feeds off the insecurities and abusive behaviors of people. Or at least, before imposing it, much rational thought and consideration needs to be put into who/what it is targeting.
