Social Media - The Self-Righteousness Obsession
Oh hi, hello again! While, I’m planning on getting back with a little “sequel” for the last post on “law of attraction” and how I was trying to rationally dissect that idea, I’m back with a weird topic this week.
As an avid internet consumer, I, of course watch a bunch of the main “high-key” youtubers, and I of course get sucked into the “drama” and commentary videos out there too. So recently, in the past few days, I’ve been finding myself get sucked into the comments section of youtube debating certain videos and I almost never do that, I rarely get into conversations like that over the internet because they never go anywhere and I see myself hitting a wall with people. In any case, the point, though, is that I started asking myself what is the purpose of these “commentary” channels where a certain Youtube personality gets dissected for what they allegedly have or have not done, and how they should act, and what they should say in regards to a controversial topic.
So, to give an example, youtuber A is accused by this youtuber B of encouraging their fans to go on bash on other people’s fans or other youtubers. And I’ve been patiently reading and scanning through the comments on this “commentary” channel, and what I see this flow of self-righteousness towards morally judging others. And yes, of course I believe people should be entitled to have their own opinions, and freedom of speech and all that, but also, I don’t really understand it when youtuber B comes on assuming implication of other people, placing people in the same bucket, tagging them without proof and just by random association with another person; and then proceeds to presenting things through the lens of their own opinion as if they were facts about this other person-holding morality judgement over the other person’s actions.
And then I started thinking about this whole “cancel culture” concept and, listen, I agree people should be held accountable and if such is the case that someone’s hurting someone else with their direct actions and intentions, especially breaking laws or community standards online. Yes, they should be reported and dealt with legally; but reaching this ridiculous point where everyone is digging dirt from 4/5/10 years ago on someone about something they posted online years ago and ruining their careers today, is just down right disgusting to me. I have even, recently deleted my Facebook account because Facebook had not taken any action on my reports of people’s comments blatantly harassing and demeaning other people.
I love social media, I am a geek and always have been for it, and I love the freedom and connection and possibilities it brings for people all over the globe and I just am heartbroken by that it’s now become so weaponised and hateful and mean and mentally instable. Sure every great thing, brings a bad side to it, but should we all spend some time to reflect on it for a little bit? I’m just saying…
Now, what is underlying this “accountability watchers” out there? I mean I’m wondering what social function is becoming so prevalent that it’s spiking into an overspill of accountability guardians? What does this say, overall, about our global society? Are people so hurt and so disconnected from each other’s conditions and environmental contexts, that they can no longer understand how anyone else can non-intentionally “slip” and maybe not be their best self , yet not meaning to hurt anyone?
What makes us so self-righteous to start commenting on another human being’s conditions and conclude on their morality bar as if we were the ultimate perfect-behaviour, “Mary-go-happy”?
I just personally think we are all guilty of either one side or the other throughout our lives and I think it’s a symptom of a chronic separation disease of seeing others as “THE OTHER” and of an inability to relate and empathise and it’s saddening.
On a happier note and to send reference to my thumbnail picture, I recommend watching the best teen-angst TV SHOW ever, SKAM (Norway) !
