Has cancel culture gone too far?
I woke up to a story recently about Tom Hanks not doing enough when he spoke out about the absence of critical and essential facts from our history books. He’d recently learned about the Tulsa Race Massacre — something I’m embarrassed to admit I only heard about from HBO’s series, Lovecraft Country.
Hanks came under attack for saying he was a “non-racist” versus an “anti-racist” actor. Opponents claimed his stance on the topic didn’t go far enough in addressing race-related issues.
Cancel culture, or the public shaming and withdrawal of support, has a long history. There are plenty of both good and bad examples of boycotting people or causes, such as the Salem Witch trials and the #MeToo movement. In its worst form, it has cost lives and has inhibited freedoms.
Hanks certainly got a lesson on the ignorance afforded to him by his white male privilege. He may think twice before about speaking out on racism again.
Was he actually canceled? Probably not.
In 1984, George Orwell foresaw an eerily similar version of this with his creation of “Big Brother.” In this dystopian society, citizens are under constant surveillance for ideas, which he coined as “thoughtcrime,” that could be construed as offenses against the state.
I experienced a mild version of this on TikTok this past week. Certainly not for a topic as sensitive as racism in American, yet the subject created quite a stir.
In my most popular video, a 12.3-second clip about friendship, I suggest viewers assess the healthiness of their closest connections. For the most part, the video has been well-received. Yet, some in the neurodivergent community have taken issue.
Arguments between viewers broke out over the ability of some to learn the skill of listening empathetically.
One viewer created a rebuttal video in which she said I spouted information that was dangerous to the autistic population. Another member accused me of malpractice and threatened to report me to the licensing board.
All of this over a twelve-second video that encourages reflective listening!
Here’s the thing: My target audience was Jane or John Doe — someone who wanted better friendships. I wasn’t asking viewers to assess themselves but their social support system. It was never meant to be criticism, yet most angry watchers’ took it personally with a common reaction of “I guess I’m not a good friend.”
And the clip is very short, essentially a sound bite, with the sole purpose of communicating one central point. It is not a dissertation on the topic, especially such a complex and nuanced issue as various population’s communication styles. All of which seemed to be missed in the evaluation of this clip.
The personal attack I’ve undergone as a content creator these past two years has had a lasting effect. These days I consider what I want to weigh in on before making a social media post. Creating content takes a lot of thought, effort, and time, much of which goes unpaid. True, it could be argued this is all a part of building a personal brand, a necessary evil to publishing a book.
But I didn’t have to make that video. It was my way of giving back.
A fellow influencer recently suggested I post a series of videos about me being a late-diagnosed autistic woman. I declined. On even the kindest forum, the vitriol comments around my autism have been brutal, to the point of being abusive. Yes, I can block the most offensive commenters, but that means I have to read what was said and try not to let it hurt me while I filter and censor the worst of the feedback. I have no desire to open myself up for more of that kind of toxicity.
These days, I’m more cautious, scrutinize my language more closely, and try to be more concise in defining my audience — not all of which is bad. But are we shooting ourselves in the foot when we use our collective power to shame people trying to do a good thing?
Will the criticism of Tom Hanks’ speaking out on the inaccuracy of history dampened his generous spirit? Maybe, although I certainly hope not.
Does this kind of negativity make us a more inclusive, equitable society? Words carry power. We should treat what we write and say with care, especially on a public forum.
I think it’s high time we cancel the cancel culture.
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Previously Published on medium
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