Why Cancel Culture is Toxic

We’ve become uncomfortably familiar with the rhythm of cancel culture: an off-color joke surfaces, a controversial opinion gets aired, or past behavior comes to light. Within hours, the collective online fury ignites: calls for boycotts, demands for firings, and an onslaught of public shaming follow. Cancel culture markets itself as swift justice, but at what cost?

The Problem with Canceling People

• Stifling Dialogue, Not Just Speech: Witnessing someone’s reputation destroyed over a single questionable statement sends a chilling message. People become terrified to speak on complex issues, offer half-formed opinions for discussion, or risk evolving their viewpoints publicly. This stifles the kind of open dialogue that helps us grow, individually and as a society.
• Where’s the Due Process?: Cancel culture thrives on speed, rarely pausing to consider context or allow the accused a chance to respond. Nuance gets bulldozed, and people are condemned without a fair hearing. This undermines basic principles of fairness that should apply even when addressing controversial topics.
• Consequences Gone Wild: Far too often, the punishment outweighs the original offense. One insensitive remark can lead to lost livelihoods. This isn’t accountability – it’s retribution, and it often leaves both sides hardened instead of focused on resolving real harm.

A Better Path: Principles for Meaningful Change

• Restorative Justice – It’s About Repair: Accountability shouldn’t just be about inflicting pain. A restorative approach prioritizes fixing the damage caused – sincere apologies, efforts to make amends towards the affected party, and demonstrable evidence of learning and change. Where possible, open dialogue between those harmed and those causing harm can pave the way for healing.
• From Shouting to Understanding: Opt for open, albeit challenging, conversations instead of instant ostracization. This takes patience on everyone’s part and a willingness to truly listen even when we strongly disagree. It’s the only way to build bridges and address the root causes of harmful beliefs.
• Consequences That Fit the Actions: We need a spectrum of responses, not a one-size-fits-all demolition. Yes, harmful actions should have repercussions, but these need to align with the severity of the offense for change to be meaningful.
• The Power of Amplifying Marginalized Voices: Those directly targeted by harmful actions or beliefs deserve to have their voices centered. Accountability isn’t about privileged bystanders leading the charge. It’s about respecting the experiences of the affected, being mindful of power dynamics, and actively supporting those working for real change.

Picture This: A Different Scenario

Imagine a podcast host making offensive comments due to ignorance, not malice. Instead of their career imploding, a more constructive path might involve:

• Issuing a specific apology, acknowledging the harm their words caused.
• Engaging in a facilitated dialogue with representatives of the group they offended to gain a deeper understanding.
• Taking action: making donations to relevant charities, using their platform to promote anti-discrimination work, or committing to better educating themselves on the topic.

Call for a More Just Approach

Nobody is saying that words and actions shouldn’t have consequences. But the scorched-earth tactics of cancel culture rarely lead to lasting progress. They silence debate, breed resentment, and do little to solve the problems we desperately need to address.

Let’s strive for a different way: one that prioritizes understanding, growth, and solutions that match the scale of the harm caused. Only then will we move beyond outrage and towards building a truly more just society.