Well, you better not do that, because you will be labeled as such.
I’m sure I’m not the only person whose head is spinning after reading endless headlines on the internet shouting who was offended by what happened during the Super Bowl. She wasn’t surprised by the criticism of “Raise every voice and sing” before the national anthem. But this was just one of a number of controversies sparked by social media surrounding the Great Game.
What happened to the winners — excuse me, the commercials are the most discussed aspect of the Super Bowl?
shoot. It was baffling enough to read/hear about one or another awards show controversy… even without Will Smith smacking the mess of Chris Rock during the 2022 Academy Awards. There have been enough other notches.
This year’s Super Bowl, which has all hosted a-Twitter, a-Facebook, and a-et cetera on issues that ranged from conservative politicians complaining about Sheryl Lee Ralph singing the so-called black national anthem (and speculation that her performance was lip-synched) As people ruffled their feathers over who the rich man Elon Musk was sitting next to in the game. And look, I’ve given up on trying to pursue the whole M&Ms affair.
Just forget cancel culture. Get Offended / Finger Pointing Culture has become a Go Game. You know how, as you get older, you stop being able to keep up with the latest dances and songs of youth, let alone sing or perform? That’s what trying to keep up with all the jarring issues of the culture wars feels like.
If you notice black history or yell out against the injustice of people of color, you’ll be attacked for being an “awake” — a now derogatory term that has popped up everywhere from Super Bowl “discussions” to geesh, the Facebook group for Twilight Zone fans you’ve chosen to leave. If you vote as a member of the Recording Academy or the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, your choices may lead recipients to criticize the awards as “too white”. (Yes, I saw the story about this hashtag’s comeback. Beyoncé has more Grammys than I have pairs of shoes, but there’s an internet mourning over her departure from the “major” Grammy.)
It’s no longer about just calling you racist or sexist, or even homophobic. Depending on what you stand for and the battles you choose to fight, you may be labeled transphobic, co-award recipient, snowflake, socialist, fascist, Karen, or Florida man.
I fear that the result of it all will be people who are reluctant to speak out or act against real cruelty and injustice. Sadly, many of us fail to see that there is enough of the two to overcome us all, regardless of our race, creed, religion, sexual preference, or gender identity.
Simon Cooper seems to have been interested in this when he wrote about the social media trading trend in his May 2020 op-ed, “Welcome to the Age of Insult, Snow,” on the Financial Times (ft.com). “Insults often set the tone for the Internet, because they stick in the mind,” Cooper wrote. Their intent is not to persuade, but to intimidate and silence opponents.
“However, any strategy for dealing with abuse, Cooper adds, must begin with realizing how off-target it is,” before moving on to listing what he calls “common insults that don’t make sense or become so” — one being (ha) a white man. “
Previously in this space, I asked Rodney King, named after the first man who made headlines for a video showing him being beaten up by cops: “Can we all get along?”
I’ll answer my own question: Apparently not, as we seem very intent on turning to the Mad Max community.
The best advice I can give myself and others: We should take a break from trying to keep up with all the disagreements and fighting, and do it, no matter how “done” a group might be. Sign out and take action Don’t stifle silence.
Ideally, though, our “work” will be preceded by research, soul-searching, at least some Golden Rule study (if not Bible study), and the realization that yes, we’re all in this together.
Oh, and congrats, chiefs.
Before you take my advice and sign out, email: [email protected]
