logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contests
  • Lifestyle/Entertainment
  • Games
    • News
      • Local News
      • PA State News
      • Nation/World
    • Sports
      • Local
      • College Sports
      • State
      • National
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • Local News
        • PA State News
        • Nation/World
      • Sports
        • Local
        • College Sports
        • State
        • National
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home Opinion Reasoning with cancel culture
    Reasoning with cancel culture
    Opinion, Сolumns
    January 5, 2021

    Reasoning with cancel culture

    Bullying in middle school remains a devastating problem. That little rumor, passed among lockers or in text chains; that insecurity over a physical attribute or anything that marks someone as different from the group — kids seize on such opportunities to impose a social hierarchy, a sort of caste system that can ruin self-esteem and even result in physical violence.

    The stakes can be even higher for adults.

    ”Cancel culture” has been debated and discussed ad nauseam, whether it exists or it doesn’t, which political party is more likely to engage in cancellation, the fact that it’s always been around, whether it’s actually any worse at present.

    The simple fact is that while the most public cases of “cancellation” or “being held accountable” focus on major figures like filmmaker James Gunn or author J.K. Rowling, such individuals’ legacies are complicated rather than destroyed. We still watch “Guardians of the Galaxy.” We still read “ Harry Potter.”

    No, the more devastating effects of this amorphous cancel culture occur in the lives of everyday individuals.

    Dredging up old social media posts, disclosing controversial political affiliations, or even spreading rumors can result in the same devastation as it used to on the playground, only now with real-world complications including losing a job or college opportunity or poisoning professional relationships.

    It’s still a nasty, toxic form of bullying — a way to separate the in-group from the out, only in the adult world it’s along moral lines. It’s a way to say “they are bad and must be cast out” and, simultaneously, “I am better than them.”

    For those rolling their eyes at this point, this wouldn’t need to be said if it wasn’t happening consistently.

    There are people who dig into others’ pasts to find material to use against them, essentially leveraging “oppo research” on neighbors and co-workers. Current culture incentivizes this behavior as a way of establishing credentials with various groups, either the woke left or the right-wing conspiracists, and many in between.

    Punishing others for their opinions merely engenders resentment, hurt and destruction.

    It does not teach or instruct.

    It does not allow room for forgiveness.

    It is mob behavior, pure and simple.

    This must change.

    Like the middle-schoolers, these are real people with real feelings. Even if their sins are genuine, should there not be opportunity for repentance and growth? Would that aim not be better served by confronting someone in private, either online or in person, and reasoning with that person, trying to help them understand your difference of belief or opinion?

    Let reasonable discourse return.

    — Tribune News Service

    {p class=”krtText”}Is the country so far gone that this is now impossible?

    {p class=”krtText”}Not yet. But we must roll back the prevalence of this online persecution and tyranny and allow reason and discourse to flourish once again. Perhaps there are people who are irredeemable, but the vast majority of average folks facing cancellation are capable of growth and change, if indeed there is a moral obligation to do so and not a mere difference of opinion.

    {p class=”krtText”}Let reasonable discourse return.

    {p class=”krtText” style=”text-align: right;”}— Tribune News Service

    Tags:

    culture discourse ethics james gunn majority moral obligation opportunity politics stake work

    The Bradford Era

    Local & Social
    Latest news for you
    Steelers sign GM Omar Khan to 3-year extension
    Local Sports, Sports, Sports
    Steelers sign GM Omar Khan to 3-year extension
    July 3, 2025
    PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers signed general manager Omar Khan to a three-year extension after an offseason that saw the team bring in qua...
    Read More...
    {"newsletter-sports":"Sports", "to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    House gives final approval to Trump’s big tax bill in a milestone for his second-term agenda
    Nation & World, News
    House gives final approval to Trump’s big tax bill in a milestone for his second-term agenda
    By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK, LEAH ASKARINAM and MATT BROWN - Associated Press 
    July 3, 2025
    WASHINGTON — House Republicans propelled President Donald Trump’s big multitrillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts bill to final passage Thursday...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    State police investigating Eldred burglary
    Crime, Local News
    State police investigating Eldred burglary
    July 3, 2025
    Pennsylvania State Police reported a 60-year-old Eldred woman was the victim of a residential burglary on Artline Road sometime between June 26 and 28...
    Read More...
    Raising the roof; pastor, wife repurpose furniture to fund church roof
    Local News
    Raising the roof
    Raising the roof; pastor, wife repurpose furniture to fund church roof
    Pastor, wife repurpose furniture to fund church roof PIC
    By BEVERLY KEHE-ROWLAND Special to The Era  
    July 3, 2025
    ELDRED — Much has transpired since Tammy Ireland surprised her husband, Pastor Bruce Ireland, with the news that she had purchased the former Eldred T...
    Read More...
    {"newsletter-daily-headlines":"Daily Headlines", "newsletters":"Newsletters", "to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Supreme Court to take up case about which sports teams transgender students can join
    Nation & World, PA State News
    Supreme Court to take up case about which sports teams transgender students can join
    By MARK SHERMAN - Associated Press 
    July 3, 2025
    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear a case over state restrictions on which school sports teams transgender students can join....
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Social Security Matters: Would taxi job hurt my Social Security?
    Business, Local News, News
    Social Security Matters: Would taxi job hurt my Social Security?
    By RUSSELL GLOOR 
    July 3, 2025
    DEAR RUSTY: I opted to draw my Social   Security retirement benefit early and work part-time. The company I work for has decided to pull me from field...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Bradford Era mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Bradford Era on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Bradford Era
    Submit Content
    • Submit News
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Place Wedding Announcement
      • Submit News
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    • Place Birth Announcement
    • Place Anniversary Announcement
    • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
      • Place Birth Announcement
      • Place Anniversary Announcement
      • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
    Subscribe
    • Start a Subscription
    • e-Edition
    • Contact Us
      • Start a Subscription
      • e-Edition
      • Contact Us
    CMG | Community Media Group
    Illinois
    • Hancock Journal-Pilot
    • Iroquois Times-Republic
    • Journal-Republican
    • The News-Gazette
      • Hancock Journal-Pilot
      • Iroquois Times-Republic
      • Journal-Republican
      • The News-Gazette
    Indiana
    • Fountain Co. Neighbor
    • Herald Journal
    • KV Post News
    • Newton Co. Enterprise
    • Rensselaer Republican
    • Review-Republican
      • Fountain Co. Neighbor
      • Herald Journal
      • KV Post News
      • Newton Co. Enterprise
      • Rensselaer Republican
      • Review-Republican
    Iowa
    • Atlantic News Telegraph
    • Audubon Advocate-Journal
    • Barr’s Post Card News
    • Burlington Hawk Eye
    • Collector’s Journal
    • Fayette County Union
    • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
    • Independence Bulletin-Journal
    • Keokuk Daily Gate City
    • Oelwein Daily Register
    • Vinton Newspapers
    • Waverly Newspapers
      • Atlantic News Telegraph
      • Audubon Advocate-Journal
      • Barr’s Post Card News
      • Burlington Hawk Eye
      • Collector’s Journal
      • Fayette County Union
      • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
      • Independence Bulletin-Journal
      • Keokuk Daily Gate City
      • Oelwein Daily Register
      • Vinton Newspapers
      • Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan
    • Iosco County News-Herald
    • Ludington Daily News
    • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
    • Oscoda Press
    • White Lake Beacon
      • Iosco County News-Herald
      • Ludington Daily News
      • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
      • Oscoda Press
      • White Lake Beacon
    New York
    • Finger Lakes Times
    • Olean Times Herald
    • Salamanca Press
      • Finger Lakes Times
      • Olean Times Herald
      • Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania
    • Bradford Era
    • Clearfield Progress
    • Courier Express
    • Free Press Courier
    • Jeffersonian Democrat
    • Leader Vindicator
    • Potter Leader-Enterprise
    • The Wellsboro Gazette
      • Bradford Era
      • Clearfield Progress
      • Courier Express
      • Free Press Courier
      • Jeffersonian Democrat
      • Leader Vindicator
      • Potter Leader-Enterprise
      • The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright The Bradford Era 43 Main St, Bradford, PA  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA