Read on Twitter
. @rasmansa on @rico_rants chat;
"The people who care the most need to move the middle"
I agree _strongly_
Moving the middle, even a little, can have an outsized effect.
I believe important instances of cancel culture (CC) neither appeal to, or positively effect, the middle. https://twitter.com/rasmansa/status/1354776794017247234
"The people who care the most need to move the middle"
I agree _strongly_
Moving the middle, even a little, can have an outsized effect.
I believe important instances of cancel culture (CC) neither appeal to, or positively effect, the middle. https://twitter.com/rasmansa/status/1354776794017247234
The example you raise with Rico is a homophobic joke. You say "not cool" they double down, you get them kicked out of the party. Some might class that as CC. Maybe. I'm not moved.
Yet if that individual then gets fired, then absolutely this is CC, and /maybe/ problematic.
Yet if that individual then gets fired, then absolutely this is CC, and /maybe/ problematic.
Is it a workplace? Is their job to be a spokesperson? Who is observing? That's complicated.
Here's a counter example;
At a party someone says "Abuse is more common in homosexual relationships so when my son started dating a big guy I stopped them moving in together"
Here's a counter example;
At a party someone says "Abuse is more common in homosexual relationships so when my son started dating a big guy I stopped them moving in together"
Let's say I challenged him, he stood by his words/actions, so I got him kicked out of the party and fired.
If there's some people "in the middle" observing. They may think;
1) "Wow, I guess that IS really prejudiced and hurtful. I should consider if I have such bias."
and/or
If there's some people "in the middle" observing. They may think;
1) "Wow, I guess that IS really prejudiced and hurtful. I should consider if I have such bias."
and/or
2) "That was way over the top. Like Hanity said the other night - kindness and tolerance are unfashionable, anti-homophobia has gone too far blaa blaa."
and/or
3) "Wow, no way I'm ever talking about gay people around here."
and/or
3) "Wow, no way I'm ever talking about gay people around here."
My claim is that this kind of reaction is, overall, very often, bad for our society. To support CC like this, we would have to believe that self reflection of the individual or observer as per 1) is so likely to be strongly positive that it overwhelms any effects such as 2) or 3)
Meanwhile, a calm and kind reaction could have the effect of 1) without the effect of 2) and 3).
The joke example requires the lack of apology, making the offense proximate & persistent.
Yet often CC reactions ignore an apology, or stretch to find ways to invalidate it.
The joke example requires the lack of apology, making the offense proximate & persistent.
Yet often CC reactions ignore an apology, or stretch to find ways to invalidate it.
Many fear that it's too easy to lose their jobs for saying the wrong thing, but I'm not sure it is. That makes both these examples extreme situations of CC.
More often it's a denigration of everything a person says and does, based on one opinion, or one act. Often a former ally.
More often it's a denigration of everything a person says and does, based on one opinion, or one act. Often a former ally.
eg. Recently I was speaking to a Greens politician (progressive minority party in Australia) when I quoted what Nick Cave had said on forgiveness and cancel culture.
She told me that she's completely disinterested in anything that a--hole Cave has to say.
She told me that she's completely disinterested in anything that a--hole Cave has to say.
Not because of anything quoted, but because he toured Israel instead of joining a Greens boycott.
The irony was lost on her.
That is the mundane, pervasive CC of the progressive world, which I don't see it in any of your words or behaviour.
Eg. You still speak to Bo politely!
The irony was lost on her.
That is the mundane, pervasive CC of the progressive world, which I don't see it in any of your words or behaviour.
Eg. You still speak to Bo politely!
