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1/ One of the things that makes cancel culture so much like abuse is stripping the target of agency.Something is being âdoneâ to you that you have no agency over, and you just have to take it. Bc someone else decided youâre âbadâ, âwrongâ/âproblematicâ, âharmfulâ.
2/ Like abuse thereâs no dialogue or relational negotiation. Itâs one sided: âyouâre bad & must not only be punished but also humiliatedâ.
The abuser or canceller is the arbiter of truth, and the abused or cancelled is often made silent, not heard, & not believed.
The abuser or canceller is the arbiter of truth, and the abused or cancelled is often made silent, not heard, & not believed.
3/ Itâs completely counter to the narrative cancellers set up about âholding people with power accountableâ bc they are the ones abusing power.
Or pious lectures about not âpathologisingâ their palpably pathological behaviour. Itâs a bid to sanctify their abuse as virtue.
Or pious lectures about not âpathologisingâ their palpably pathological behaviour. Itâs a bid to sanctify their abuse as virtue.
4/ It is very difficult to leave abusive situations for a lot of complex reasons & almost impossible to leave cancellation.
When the enraged amorphous horde decide you are the target of their ire, you canât close the door, hang up the phone, or leave. You just have to take it.
When the enraged amorphous horde decide you are the target of their ire, you canât close the door, hang up the phone, or leave. You just have to take it.
5/ Woke, mostly white, progressives will cite the origins of cancel culture (black Twitter) to rationalise their online hate campaigns- often against minorities guilty of wrong think.
This is purposeful misdirection bc they are not POC nor powerless. Their victims often are.
This is purposeful misdirection bc they are not POC nor powerless. Their victims often are.
6/ The cancel culture they practice is very different to the âcall out cultureâ they evangelise about.
Like abuse this messes with the victimâs sense of perception- and, like abuse, they are powerless to challenge it.
Like abuse this messes with the victimâs sense of perception- and, like abuse, they are powerless to challenge it.
6/ Cancellers often refer to their victims âpowerâ, âplatformâ, being a âpublic figureâ. I want to name that a significant element is a festering sense of resentment & cancel culture is often a convenient outlet.
Parallel to abuse dynamics.
Parallel to abuse dynamics.
7/ The cancel culture I criticise & that is being practiced online has little to do with the cancellers taking on the lofty mantle of âholding people accountableâ- and everything to do with power.
It is a power struggle rooted in resentment & intolerance.
It is a power struggle rooted in resentment & intolerance.
