What is Cancel culture? Cancel is a phrase that came to birth during the 2010's used to refer to a form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles, whether it be online, on social media, or in person. Those subject to this ostracism are said to have been "cancelled". The expression "cancel culture" has mostly negative connotations and is used in debates on free speech and censorship.The notion of cancel culture is a variant on the term call-out culture. It is often said to take the form of boycotting or shunning an individual or celebrity, who is deemed to have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner. Some would say it began on Tumblr blogs, notably Your Fave Is Problematic, where fans would discuss why their favorite stars were imperfect. Others would say it began with Nino Brown in New Jack city in the champagne scene.
I feel that cancel culture was great in the beginning. It brought awareness to topics, such as power abusers, inequalities, racism and discrimination. There were a lot of things, and a big shout out to social media as well, that we were made aware of that normally would have been swept under the rug. And it encompassed so many different movements from the likes of Times up to Black Lives Matter, just to name a few. It was exciting to hear of the different causes coming to light and the strength and courage being put behind them.
But fast forward several years and now it's time for the bad portion of it. I believe that there are a lot of abusers of cancel culture that muddy up and hinder the progress that was made. For example you have actors and famous people that don’t want you within 6ft of them. Look at Keanu Reeves he doesn't touch anyone in a photo. There are bad police officers and we know that but for every bad police stop on the opposite end you have good police stops. People majority of the time now will film, or give the offices a hard time when it's a simple question of "license and registration" escalating the situation. Or get on social media telling a half story about what happened and why they were stopped for likes.
Then we have the "I'm a victim" card. I've seen so many people that are so tinder and easily offended. If your idea of someone offending you or "the victim targeted" comes from people that you watch, listen to, or purchase any of their media. Take 15 seats in the back, matter of fact just leave the building. It's like fire, if you are standing there and the building is on fire, are you going to just stand there and say, "Oh it burns". Don't buy things that go against who you are but at the same time don't go purchase it and make a stink either. Beyonce and Lizzo, had to take flack for a word that in the AMERICAN urban dictionary means to wild-out and go crazy. The word has been used in the United States of America in that manner for well over 30 years. How would they know that word would be offensive to a group of people in Australia, because Beyonce and Lizzo are AMERICAN. They even went back and changed the words in their songs and they still received flack.
Accountability, is still needed but not at the level of hindering progress that so many have worked hard to get things where they are sensible or making false claims to get attention. I think we are all awake to the issues and what is broken, now it’s time for education and repair.
