WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE??? Hey Y’all! Happy Friday!..But forreal, who do we think we are?? And what’s up with all the labeling? We’re officially EXILING PEOPLE? Stamping them as “CANCELED.” Oh, okay…Lol. I understand and DEF agree with ridding your space of any negative, toxic or unwanted energy. But the level of hypocrisy and delusional behavior is at an ALL TIME HIGH. We can thank social media for that I guess. For those of you who are unfamiliar with cancel culture or the idea of “canceling” someone, let’s define. According to Wikipedia, “Call-out culture (also known as outrage culture) is a form of public shaming that aims to hold individuals and groups accountable by calling attention to behavior that is perceived to be problematic, usually on social media. A variant of the term, cancel culture, describes a form of boycott in which someone (usually a celebrity) who has shared a questionable or unpopular opinion on social media is "cancelled.”
Again if you’re offended by a brand and something they did, not wanting to financially support them is absolutely your right and prerogative. Unfollowing an influencer because of a sexist or racist comment is 100% your choice. But I guess my concern is the lack of growth potential and opportunities we’re willing to give each other to just be...human. I see so many people being “canceled” and publicly shamed, bashed and bullied for things they said 15 years ago. Are you who you were 15 whole entire years ago? Likely (and hopefully), NOT. What ever happened to having a feeling and just acting on it? And just that...Why do we have to announce it? Why do we feel the need to team up with others and emotionally drag people because they did something that displeased us? If you were “canceled” everytime you didn’t do the exact perfect and right thing, we’d all be lonely. You, too would have NO ONE. We have alllllll made mistakes, offended people, been wrong, rude and disrespectful. But if/when you come back around to apologize, I’m sure you hope for some grace. And if people are no longer in your life for whatever reason, that’s okay, but drafting a caption to a picture airing out all of your dirty laundry with them, and posting it on social media is a) embarrassing, b) tacky, and c) not indicative to there ever being a genuine friendship in the first place.
People have always had opinions (and assholes, as they say. Lol). But now with this public platform, many voices are being used to tear down your fellow human. To take the time and energy to “call anyone out” is beyond me. Back to my original question...Who do we think we are??? Just last week, I saw a comment on someone’s page that their dress was ill-fitting. Well, they actually said, “ewwww. Just because they make it in your size, don’t mean you have to buy it!” That was one of thousands of things I’ve seen that baffle TF out of me. If you’re at the park or the mall, would you walk up to a stranger and tell them they shouldn’t have bought that dress?? Likely no. The keyboard courage is also at an all time high. Most Mommas taught us, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” What happened to that? To decency? To respect? Writing on a celebrity’s page that their plastic surgery “looks a mess,” or that they have on too much makeup...if you hate my makeup and I DON’T KNOW YOU, I don’t expect you to comment in person OR behind a keyboard. At a night club if someone is having a hard time walking in their shoes, are you going to walk up to them and tell them??? I truly hope not. WE, as a people, have to learn to mind our business and above that, LEARN some respect for one another.
You don’t have to like or support anything, but at minimum you could be the energy you want to attract. You want to attract forgiveness, respect and courtesy. You have to give it to get it. So just consider that the next time you get the urge to publicly shame and dismiss another human being (celebrity or not). Give people a chance to reach their potential before driving them to suicide. IF you feel the need to give unsolicited advice, consider your delivery; make it constructive.
-Lo
