Those who denounce “Cancel Culture” stem from a lineage of condemnatory individuals, theorists, and self-righteous purists. What was once generously acknowledged as a “fall from grace” has now been distorted into the battle cry of abusers and their eager accomplices. Instead of facing the consequences of their actions, whether justified or not, they deflect the argument back towards the accusers or anyone who has exposed their wrongdoings. They claim that it is the light that blinds, insisting that everything was fine in the darkness.
These critics of “slippery slopes” embody the religion of stoic-whataboutism, operating in perpetual bad faith. They enter every conflict ready to claim victory without acknowledging their own losses, let alone the collateral damage caused by their scorched-earth warfare. How do you find middle ground with such thinking? How do you negotiate with someone who refuses to take responsibility for their actions? The truth is, you cannot. You can only momentarily appease them with minor concessions to their theories, just enough to maintain their attention. Yet, in gaining their attention, there is little to be gained.
No matter the point one tries to make, they traverse a minefield of buzzwords. “Leftist Mobs.” “Right-wing Fundamentalists.” Empty terms we absorbed from fervent voices on AM radio. Lost in the haze of political tribalism is the recognition that each of us, as individuals, is more capricious and prone to self-contradiction than we care to admit. Our worldviews, shaped by experiences, are also easily compartmentalized, labeled, and stashed away to rot within the confines we have assigned them. In fact, we have so little in common with the leaders and pundits that they transform into loud, caricatured archetypes, and we hardly notice the shift from charlatan to despotic guru.
The corridors of our private opinions are filled with countless twists and turns. Yet, instead of taking the time to explore those halls or marvel at their complexities, we observe the maze from a distance, reducing it to a mere symbol. We do this in our quest to find a place to belong. But to fit in, one must become a malleable shape, willing to force their square thoughts into round holes.