The Number 1 Problem with Cancel Culture

Cancel culture started out with awe-inspiring activism, but just like everything else lately, it’s become infected with pointless cruelty and entrenched division on key issues. Is it possible to revive the good and rebalance, or is the fall of cancel culture a symptom of something bigger? We can all sense it, a constant tension filled with judgement, inflexible thinking and reactivity. With digital communication, we can make a difference by coming together as communities, a nation, and the world, but only if we can find better ways to relate to one another.

We also sense the need for socio-political structures to keep up with our evolving world. Yet, without critical thinking and intellectual humility among leadership, many have resorted to closing their eyes, plugging their ears, and shouting as loud as possible. Then, popular media magnifies the conflict to manipulate our fight-or-flight responses, adding more anxiety and, well, the urge to fight. With increasing moral degradation, fewer people have guiding values that encourage peace, so many respond to this tension with more conflict. The noise and spectacle drown out any possibility of situational nuance or realistic compromise.

Although we’re facing unfamiliar territory, we also have plenty of historical parallels that can offer insight into a solution. Throughout time, spiritual leaders, philosophers, and civic leaders have come to the same conclusion that a peaceful society flourishes when rooted in compassion, curiosity, and courage: “Returning violence for violence multiplies violence ... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King Jr., 1967, Where Do We Go from Here?

Productive conversation relies on the assumption that people have good intensions, acceptance that people make mistakes, and trust that forgiveness is more effective than “canceling.” We can’t fix or balance the mob mentality of cancel culture without first addressing the bigger picture. We need a new movement to restore our cultural values and remind us of who we really are, so our humanity can evolve along with our other advancements. We’ve got to start somewhere, and that somewhere is with ourselves.