I have always been of two minds regarding “cancel culture” wherein the moment someone makes a transgression, they are automatically made example of in rather dramatic fashion.
On the one hand, we are human. We learn that the fire is hot by touching it ourselves more often than not and there is something to be said about someone realizing that what they did or thought at one moment in time is incorrect, then evolving.
The “then evolving” part is key here, but the issue is that we give no one time to evolve. In an era when mistakes are often public and immediately known on a wide scale without any context of the person being dragged across the social media landscape, we can often lock a person in time when time itself is still working on them.
In spite of what we strive to be, we are people still becoming and we have to recognize that other people, no matter how popular or famous or “put-together” they are are still becoming as well. If you genuinely mess up and make true, consistent, maintained effort to be a decent human – not perfect, but decent
On the other hand, I am a man of standards. If I decide to cancel you, on a personal level, I’m not going to make a big deal about that exit. I never have. With that in mind, I will also not support people who are unrepentant in their racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, and general ignorance.
All of this stuff where you could learn to be better, but you don’t? Cancelled. I do not have the time or energy for educating beyond the single time I am going to bring the issue to your attention and even that requires a pretty solid relationship in the first place.
All of this stuff where I am finding people to have long histories of abusing others in any way? Cancelled. It is not my place to forgive you for what you’ve done to other and I cannot support you while those you’ve abused lie wounded and, in most cases, voiceless. I can, however, stand with the abused and offer comfort and solidarity, so I will. Every time.
I don’t think we as netizens should be unduly judgmental, but I think we must also avoid being unduly forgiving. If you care about your faves, then give them the gift of accountability for their words and actions.