INSTAGRAM AND PC CULTURE
I used to be one of those ride-or-die PC culture activists when I was younger. I followed tons of Instagram feminist/social justice accounts and subscribed to their every word. I thought I was one of the good guys and that everyone else who thought differently from how I thought was a bad guy, a racist, a homophobe, an all-around horrible person.
As I grew older, I began to realize that life isn't so black and white. Sure, there are actions and words that are almost universally considered "bad," but other than that, everything is a gray area, a spectrum up to interpretation. I began to see the radical nature of some of the posts on these accounts; I began to understand how one-sided their arguments were and how inaccurately they depicted situations, even flat out lying sometimes to support their narrative (NOT ALL ACCOUNTS THOUGH).
Anyway, "The Word Police" reminded me of my experience with these accounts that claimed that certain words are bad and can never be used. This extreme censorship is unreasonable and has the opposite effect; instead of creating a more free environment, it leads to restrictions that aren't helpful and discredit their own movement.
It's been a while since I've visited these Instagram accounts, and I wonder if they've changed their ways (I hope they have). Those corners of the Internet can really easily become echo chambers where everyone just agrees with each other and augments their radical feelings. Instead, I hope they've realized that not everyone is their enemy, and words, although powerful, aren't black or white.
As I grew older, I began to realize that life isn't so black and white. Sure, there are actions and words that are almost universally considered "bad," but other than that, everything is a gray area, a spectrum up to interpretation. I began to see the radical nature of some of the posts on these accounts; I began to understand how one-sided their arguments were and how inaccurately they depicted situations, even flat out lying sometimes to support their narrative (NOT ALL ACCOUNTS THOUGH).
Anyway, "The Word Police" reminded me of my experience with these accounts that claimed that certain words are bad and can never be used. This extreme censorship is unreasonable and has the opposite effect; instead of creating a more free environment, it leads to restrictions that aren't helpful and discredit their own movement.
It's been a while since I've visited these Instagram accounts, and I wonder if they've changed their ways (I hope they have). Those corners of the Internet can really easily become echo chambers where everyone just agrees with each other and augments their radical feelings. Instead, I hope they've realized that not everyone is their enemy, and words, although powerful, aren't black or white.
Hey Carol, I can relate to your post a lot. It's funny because I thought the same way when I was younger too. I think as we grow older we realize that life is complex and ever-changing. It is difficult to place yourself on one specific side. As circumstances change, so do opinions. So we should learn to judge situations based on considering all the facts and stories.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol! I really like how you talked about the fact that words don't always have to be so black and white; I explored a similar topic on my blog this week regarding finding a middle ground in the movement of political correctness. It definitely seems as though sometimes, despite trying to encourage harmony, the "word police" seeks out enemies that wouldn't exist if we were simply more willing to communicate with one another. Great insight!
ReplyDeleteCarol, I really liked your post! I love how you pointed out the fact that words aren't black and white and that everything is open to its own interpretation. I think this is the main reason why restricting language isn't the answer- one cannot just claim that a word is "bad". It's great that you realized how extreme some arguments can be and that it's important to step back and realize what kind of information you're reading.
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