Cancelling
Before these technological times, common people didn’t get to express their opinions at the same level as personalities, politicians and others, and it was impossible for them to raise their voices to the world to listen to them at the same time, and with the same power. Voices had limits, it doesn’t matter if they sound angry or happy, or if they like people or a specific person. Critical and angry voices stayed away from this unachievable world, and they lived their lives in silence, and they hadn’t opportunities to expose their anguish to others.
Before these technological times, ideas of freedom or free speech stayed inside of hearts and minds, but now this anguish gained wings. Through the internet, sons and daughters cultured by this creation gained their own wings. And now their voices are flowing into the world in seconds, in real-time; a network without control or regulations. They became the terror of governments, enterprises, and celebrities who thought that they were protected. Before this, famous people made contact with common people when they were pursued by governments and enterprises because they lost their protection.
Everything turned over. Freedom became a terrible being, running without control throughout virtual spaces and then anonymous voices gained power.
And now these voices judge celebrities or any people who gain notoriety for any reason. Freedom and the lack of security in these spaces run together. Nobody can feel safe after that when they say or do anything on social media. In the past, people’s opinions were made on the pages of magazines and newspapers. Nowadays, words, expressions, opinions, and behaviours have answers in real-time. In the past anonymous people heard and they couldn’t speak. Anonymous kept their opinions within their minds. Nowadays, common people can cancel whatever they are. This judgment keeps celebrities in check, especially if they think that they are immune, and living on a supposed superior level. And then, celebrities, politicians, and so on see their followers changing their touches of humour, and they feel it on their egos and budgets.
Cancelling is a kind of judgement in a public space and everybody is submitted to it. And this judgement happens among common people and not common people as well. The existence of robots turns our life works into virtual and real life at the same time. Now, will we know if we are being criticized by algorithms or real people? How will we know if these algorithms are laughing or scorning us, and beyond them there are mentors?
Are freedom times, times of security? To keep us safe, the only possible weapon is the truth. The question is if it’s possible to find the truth and if it can become real or not.
Fake news is the creature of this freedom because, at the same time, the truth can be a lie or not. Both are confusing and at this moment the truth is being cancelled.
Celebrities, politicians, and entrepreneurs are not safe. They are afraid of virtual reality when they aren’t afraid of the old reality. Sad times when our lives flow between normality and supposed freedom. What can we do when all people can judge everybody, and it’s enough that they have a Wifi and a keyboard in their hands?
Photo from: Foto de Pedro Sanz na Unsplash
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