Cancel Culture and Free Speech:
- Rikki Schlott examines the prevalence of cancel culture, questioning its escalation and impact on free speech. She investigates the enjoyment of cancellers, reasons driving the increase in cancellations, and the effect on free speech in America. The discourse around cancel culture is linked to "The Coddling of the American Mind" by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff, reflecting how victimhood culture and excessive coddling for children have led to hyper-concerns about dangerous speech.
Effects of Social Media on Cancel Culture:
- Schlott highlights social media's role in enabling rapid spread of cancel culture akin to a meme. This has allowed unprecedented scrutiny on institutions, ideas, and people without engaging with opposing arguments.
Impact of Cancellation Mechanisms:
- Early initiation of cancellation mechanisms due to excessive digital footprints from a young age primes individuals for self-censorship before reaching college. Additionally, subtle methods such as ideological bias testing through questions about specific figures like Jordan Peterson or Ben Shapiro contribute to denigration or alienation based on differing opinions.
Polarization, Gender Dynamics, and College Campuses:
- Schlott discusses gendered tones present in today's political binary and suggests a feminization within left-leaning ideologies. Attitudes towards free speech among students vary, with a notable willingness to respond to speech with violence in some instances, particularly at all-women's schools. Certain topics such as behavioral genetics and evolutionary psychology face heavy criticism, leading to restrictions on discussing these subjects.
Impact of Smartphones on Social Behavior:
- The presence of smartphones has significantly altered social behavior, especially among young people who have grown up with them. Fear of public scrutiny due to online permanence has led individuals to feel constrained from making mistakes or exploring different phases during adolescence.
Consequences of Cancel Culture:
- The expansion of what constitutes a "cancelable offense" has resulted in severe repercussions for individuals expressing views that do not align with prevailing ideologies. Apologies do not mitigate the impact of cancellations, as the focus is more about shaming individuals rather than holding them accountable for their actions or opinions.
Future Outlook and Concerns:
- Anticipation of increased polarization and cultural unrest in future elections, driven by polarizing options and heightened ideological divisions within society. Social media algorithms continue to evolve, potentially contributing to even more sophisticated viral trends and outrage-inducing content.
Cancel Culture: Parenting & Education Systems:
- Rikki Schlott stresses the importance of setting an example as a parent to raise children who are not inclined towards cancel culture, emphasizing understanding vulnerability and fostering a positive restorative framework. There is hope in young people's aversion to cancel culture; potential change through mutual protection pacts is discussed along with combatting elitism within education systems.
- Advocacy for embracing alternative education systems promoting diverse educational backgrounds including large state schools over elite university systems seen as beneficial countermeasures against breeding grounds for cancel culture observed in traditional institutions.
Corporate Response & Dealing with Cancel Culture:
- Companies advised to cultivate a free speech culture from inception despite potential employee turnover similar Netflix's stance on publishing differing viewpoints post-cultural unrest indicates shifting perception regarding institutional neutrality within organizations.
- Standing up for individuals targeted by cancel culture encouraged; profound impact emphasized when receiving support from others. Debate around responses when facing cancellation attempts includes issuing apologies - one viewpoint advocates never apologizing under any circumstances while another allows genuine remorse-driven apologies but cautions against placating unfair attacks.