Cancel culture’s latest era
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines cancel culture as “the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure.”
This is nothing new; it is difficult to find a time in history when canceling did not happen.
In the age of social media, however, we have seen a new era of cancel culture emerge. We still use one-word definitions to confine those we disagree with, no matter where we lie on the political spectrum, but the most stinging and damning accusations today seem to come from the far-left.
This topic has been studied thoroughly by John McWhorter of Columbia University, who has published the book Woke Racism. He points out how attacking individuals for minor infractions draws our attention away from solving larger and more significant social issues.
When University of Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson met with one-word labels as a result of his opinions on controversial issues, he refused to be canceled.
Instead, he engaged in honest and intelligent debate with his accusers.
We all benefit from honest discourse. The challenge is that these discussions require a certain amount of patience and humility. There is not a person who walks the earth who has complete understanding of the truth. Acknowledging that one may be wrong not a sign of weakness, it is a demonstration of wisdom.
By engaging in discourse, we can move forward as a society in the best way possible.
When challenged in an honest debate, those who embrace hateful, dishonest and overly simplistic views will either be debunked or begin trying to intimidate those who disagree with them.
Cancel culture plays right into the wheelhouse of those who are angry, fearful, manipulative, and insecure by shutting down honest discussion. This is a truth that we who consume media must be mindful of.
We live in an imperfect world inhabited by imperfect human beings. If we are accountable to ourselves in seeking truth, if we are honest and humble with one another we will find the answers to the problems we face.
No one needs to be cancelled and those who reject this ideal will end up canceling themselves.