Cancel culture

The main purpose behind cancel culture is to call out someone who is perceived to have made a grave error in judgement or has expressed opinions that people believe are unacceptable. However, cancel culture now has become more extensive and is being resorted to without proper thought or evidence, leading to unnecessary harassment and innocent people being targeted.

Cancel culture is not an isolated incident, with many celebrities falling prey to it. For example, renowned actor and comedian Kevin Hart lost a hosting gig at the Academy Awards when some tweets from his past years resurfaced. Social media users came out to cancel him, calling him homophobic and racist, forcing him to make public apologies.

Similarly, in 2016, rapper Kanye West made controversial remarks regarding slavery, which led to several of his concerts being canceled. People who held tickets for the performances demanded refunds, and West was forced to make a public apology.

There are countless other examples of celebrities who were canceled, including Harry Potter author J.K Rowling, who was shunned by readers due to her personal opinions on the transgender community. The list goes on, further proving how prominent cancel culture is today.

While it stands to reason that people should be held accountable for their actions, many argue that cancel culture has gone too far. In recent years, people have adopted a mob mentality, which has resulted in those accused of wrongdoing receiving severe punishment before they have even been given a fair trial or investigation.

One of the significant issues with cancel culture today is the lack of a standard definition, leaving people confused as to what exactly it means. Additionally, what constitutes as ‘cancelable’ behavior is also debatable. Different people have varying opinions on what is deemed acceptable or unacceptable, leading to the unnecessary harassment of individuals who may not have made any significant mistakes.

It is also essential to consider that while cancel culture holds individuals and entities accountable, it often accomplishes little in terms of positive change. Instead, it leads to the forced apologies, loss of income, and long-term harm to their reputation. These consequences are often out of proportion to the actions taken, suggesting that the punishment should fit the crime.

It is important to enforce accountability, but like any other activism and social movement, cancel culture also has negative effects that should be recognized. It proliferates an atmosphere of fear in which people are reluctant to express their opinions, fearing that they may face public backlash. This goes against the idea of free speech, which is an essential aspect of modern democracy.

Moreover, cancel culture promotes intolerance and division, perpetrating a society where people only perceive certain ideologies as logical and all other views as misguided. The effects of this can lead to further polarisation and harm to individuals who hold alternative beliefs.

In conclusion, while cancel culture may seem like a cathartic form of justice, it is a dangerous practice that can infringe upon individual rights and cause long-term harm. It’s time to approach accountability in a more nuanced and constructive way that encourages dialogue, open-mindedness, and tolerance, rather than creating divisions and drawing lines in the sand. We must take responsibility and move forward in a positive way, creating a better and more equitable society.