Cross posted from my "real" blog.
The world is full of cowards, bullies and hypocritical privileged pieces of shit.
Some of them do this to protect themselves or their livelihoods.
Some of them do it because they like it.
Others do it in fear, a reaction which has a resemblance to flight or fight.
There is something else in the mix though - to be punished for standing up for what one believes in or a person who genuinely challenges a wrong only to be met with cries of #abuser or #victim shaming...is disappointing.
We now live in a society where all genders are empowered but social media as a creature is out of control. Opinion has become "truth" and so has ideology if one shouts and screams loud enough.
However, imagine for a moment that there is no truth - only fact and when in happenstance, someone warps the facts to suit themselves, that could be perceived as....evil? Hitler did it, Putin is doing it as we speak. Trump has been doing it...well, since he went on the campaign trail. Don't get me started on Syria either.
So, disappointment? No....this feels more like a tribal approach with a hint of something I cannot quite put my finger on right now.
This kind of behaviour is not only happening on a global scale, it's happening on a macro one which has had a serious impact upon my well being to the point where I am reviewing my options regarding my anti-depressant medication.
But the worst thing is....the impact upon me has come from so called "fandom" - a mechanism designed to celebrate and bring out the best in people but I believe we are in dark times when people "moneytise" their output and depend on others like little parasites to pretend their careers are legitimate and worthy of recognition.
Publishing and fiction are dying, cinema is decaying...as consumers we have killed all the markets to the point where social media considers us all creators of content, except...most of that content is execrable. We're just little people, sitting in our boxes pressing like buttons that shape our universe. Or even more horrifying, participants in a Milgram experiement.
However, do you know what disappoints me more - passive behaviour. The willingness to sit by and tolerate negative, bullying activities with the excuse of "I cannot step in, my book is in danger". That is bullshit and if you say that, you're an enabler.
Think about that for a moment - shout down the actions of others, deny that activities have taken place and endorse poor behaviour? Well time travel back to Germany in 1914 and measure your activities against...well...you do the math.
So, either be passive or challenge at the sake of reputational risk? The choice is yours, if you have a choice that is?
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.
We do what we're told.
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