A buzz swirls around “Cancel Culture”. But what exactly is it?
It is an attempt at public humiliation. According to Dr. David Jeremiah of Turning Point, “Attempts are made to remove the person from public conversation. As a result, people are fired, mocked, threatened, de-platformed, and delegitimized in every way.” The accusations against them are strung from here to yonder in every direction. God’s word tells us in Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Will You Be Silenced Next?
Is it possible for a person to be silenced and dismissed by the powerful elitist? The answer may surprise you – yes and no. Dependent upon the severity of the moral infraction committed and
the support from the “groupthink tank” will determine the longevity and proclivity of a cancel-culture stigma sticking.
What is Cancel Culture?
Wikipedia defines it this way. Cancel Culture or a call-out culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social media, or in person.
Notably, many people claiming to have been “canceled” often remain in power and continue their careers as before.
Invasion of Privacy?
Psychology Today, March 23, 2021, reported canceling prevents any exchange of opinions or investigation of the truth, even when that would be appropriate or necessary. Cancel Culture is undeniably toxic when it includes criminal threats, invasion of privacy (doxing), or driving a person to suicide.
The Narrative
Cancel Culture makes an enemy of a person by targeting them and releasing propaganda to support their narrative, truthful or not. Their chief aim is to bury the person alive. This is an insidious disease of the heart.
Cancel Culture ends the careers of targeted people. Essentially blackballing them within society. And, this is not because they have committed a heinous crime such as murder or treason to their country. It can be as simple as differing moral opinions.
President Obama
Former President Obama said, “Cancel Culture supports a simplistic worldview and promotes the idea that a person is no better than the worst choice they ever made.” This belief is upheld by Merriam Webster’s definition of Cancel Culture. “The practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure.”
While our 45th President was completely censored from one social media platform.
Average Joe’s Hunted
Average Joe’s are being hunted now for veering outside of society’s unwritten guard rails. Columnist Aja Romano wrote in her article, Cancel Culture has become a mainstream idea. “Celebrity hunting season”. “An unstoppable force descending to ruin the careers of anyone who dare to push society’s moral boundaries. This framing frequently portrays the offender as the victim of reckless vigilante justice.”
Is Cancel Culture Prophetic?
Yes. It is punishment induced by a crowd. This leaves no room for empathy or forgiveness. Instances of ordinary everyday people and those of celebrity status have been touted.
Christian writer Anne LaMott had people unfollowing her on Twitter because she held true to her values and said, “nobody deserves the level of humiliation that Jeffrey Toobin is being subjected to.”
Public Shaming is the Twin to Cancel Culture
Passive-aggressive campaigns are employed to bring more people on board. AKA, “Don’t’ be a Karen”. This attempts to destroy a person with no possibility of restitution. Reputations are ruined. Once a reputation is damaged it is near impossible to repair.
People can hide behind the veil when this type of passive-aggressive campaign is used. Cancel Culture can be anonymous and discreet in their shaming. This is how many are kept hidden in the shadows.
The Goal of Cancel Culture
Cancel Culture is about destroying a person.
What happens when this is thrust upon a person? It is not uncommon to see reactions of outrage, overreactive emotions, helplessness, and anger. The threat is not easily neutralized as it is lurking in the shadows. The external threat doesn’t physically harm the person but attempts to subvert them in some form.
The goal is to disrupt their lives, relationships, trust. Betrayal is seen in the form of outsiders digging up information from the time the person was born. This is an attempt to reveal something hidden from the offender’s past. (This used to only happen with celebrities, and now it is common practice for all). Now, family members, friends are more than willing to produce fodder at someone else’s expense. They feel significant and one of their core human needs is fulfilled.
Five Stages of Forgiveness
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/psychological-stages-of-f_b_955731
It is possible to forgive if you have found yourself in an err of Cancel Culture. Michelle Roya Rod’s article in HuffPost explains there are five stages to forgiveness.
- Define who and what it is that you need to forgive
- Let the feeling be felt.
- Understand why forgiveness is good for “you”.
- Have clear boundaries with the perpetrator.
- Remember that it needs certain courage to be able to forgive.
How Does “Groupthink” Play a Key Role?
Groupthink is demoralizing to the psyche of people. Freedom of thoughts, right or wrong, moral or ethical are all formed within the framework and under the umbrella of a person’s upbringing. With group think the person goes along with what they are told to think. This is a dangerous and scary tactic.
The good news is groupthink can be avoided. When people push back against the projected norm it needn’t be viewed as antagonistic but rather level-headed.
Deep thinkers will stop and reflect back on how Hitler came to power pulling off his dynasty of tragedy.
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#CancelCulture #CancelCultureharmful #cancelculturedictionary
