Cancel Culture Isn’t Justice, It’s Revenge

Here’s why “canceling” people needs an upgrade

image created in Midjourney by author

Let’s be real, the words “cancel culture” make everyone either roll their eyes or get ready to fight.

We’ve all seen it happen: someone (usually famous or influential) says or does something seriously messed up.

Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, FaceBook explodes, hashtags take over, and before you know it, their career seems to go up in flames.

At first glance, it feels like justice. Like, hey, there are consequences for harmful words and actions! As there should be. It sends a message that we, the people, won’t just sit back and let stuff slide anymore.

But, lately, something about it feels…off. The online mob mentality, the rush to judgment — it sometimes feels like we’ve replaced one form of bullying with another.

Image created in Midjourney by author

Where’s the Line?

Here’s the million-dollar question: When does holding people accountable turn into a digital witch hunt?

How do we decide what mistakes are forgivable, and which ones warrant a full-on cancellation?

And honestly, who gets to be the judge, jury, and executioner all rolled into one?

We humans are messy. We screw up, say dumb things, and sometimes act totally out of line. Does that mean we should never be called out on it? Absolutely not.

But shouldn’t there be space for apologies, learning, and making amends? Or is the only “solution” to erase someone entirely from the digital landscape?

Image created in Midjourney by author

The Dark Side of Calling Out

When we get caught up in cancel culture frenzy, we forget that there’s a real person on the other side of the screen.

Sure, they might have done something awful, but the barrage of hate, the threats, the relentless online shaming… that can mess someone up for life. Sometimes, the punishment seems way worse than the original offense.

I’m not saying we should let people off the hook. But maybe, just maybe, we need to find a better way. A way that holds people accountable, encourages them to change, but doesn’t completely destroy their lives in the process.

Finding a Balance

I don’t have some magical solution. Navigating cancel culture is tough. But here’s what I think we need more of:

💥Nuance: Let’s ditch the black-and-white thinking. Not every mistake deserves the internet death penalty.

💥Context: Did someone say a dumb thing ten years ago? Or is this part of an ongoing pattern of harmful behavior? Context matters.

💥Empathy: It’s easy to unleash fury online. I, too, am guilty of the occasional “keyboard warrior” comment that I instantly regret. We need to remember, there’s a human on the receiving end.

Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Cancel culture started with good intentions. But somewhere along the way, it got twisted.

What do you guys think?

• Have you ever been involved in a cancel culture situation?
• Do you think some mistakes are unforgivable?
• How can we do better?

Thanks for reading!

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

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