Why PC And Cancel Culture Won't Work | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

You’ll Never Win Anybody Over If All You Do Is Complain About ‘PC’ Or ‘Cancel’ Culture

The terms "PC" and "canceled" no longer hold the same meaning they originally held in communication.

262
You’ll Never Win Anybody Over If All You Do Is Complain About ‘PC’ Or ‘Cancel’ Culture

The beauty of technology and the adoption of social media into our daily lives means that we can be heard even when our real voices seem small. If you're passionate about an issue, you can tweet your support. If you're excited about an event, you can share a post. Even if it's only one other stranger, your words are heard by somebody.

However, just as much as people's positive thoughts and life works can be found online, so can different forms of ignorance.

Opinions are rampant on the Internet. And, the additional ability to post without evidence, context, or reason encourages the free-flow of opinions even further. The same opinions can be milestones in human social history or can be hateful vitriol against a group of people. What has sprung up, rather strongly, from this divide are the terms "PC" and "cancel" culture.

PC (politically correct) infers language that is generally accepted by society as appropriate surrounding issues of controversy or even just everyday life. Cancel culture has developed through social media as a means to "cancel" a person, for example, a socially-prominent online celebrity, for their ignorance.

Now, I'm not saying that people shouldn't be held accountable for their actions (they should), but I can understand how someone, as a critically-thinking member of society, can feel stuck between a rock and a hard place because they're not sure if someone has gone too far to be remedied, or if their ignorance can be addressed.

When it comes to PC culture, people wrongly assume that just by tutting the words, "Oh, you're just trying to censor me with your PC language," that they have revolutionized the conversation by contributing their controversial opinion. Someone defending their culture when they feel they are being cornered and someone expressing their frustration at another person refusing to acknowledge their pronouns aren't fighting against freedom of expression but defending their right to live safely and securely. That so-called "PC" terminology should be protected and respected.

In the same way, simply "canceling" someone because they behaved in a way that was ignorant, negates the idea that there's room to grow. Again, people who acted harmfully towards a person or participated in a hate group aren't given a free pass because they hurt someone. For example, we don't provide the benefit of the doubt for someone who has committed assault. However, where there is minor ignorance or lack of understanding, there is a space where one can learn and become a more dynamic person.

Just tossing out the terms "PC" and "canceled" does nothing to actually address the communication issues that we have between differently-minded individuals on the Internet or in real life. Actually sitting down and educating each other, while recognizing our own shortcomings does more for our society as a whole in the long run.

Report this Content
Entertainment

11 Ways To Survive Finals As Told By Leslie Knope

Because you know you're going to be stressed out, and Leslie knows exactly how to survive.

37
Everything hurts and I'm dying

So finals are on their way. That's right everybody, finals are about to start.

But hey, don't panic. Start getting your affairs in order and prepare for a week of hell. Here's a few things Leslie Knope wants you to do to make your finals week just a little bit less stressful:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

40 Perfect Gifts for 'I Have No Idea What I Want For Christmas' 🎁✨

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

117852
Christmas gifts
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2023, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading...Show less
Kent State University
Great Value Colleges

If you go to or went to Kent State, then more than likely you have done or will do some of these things.

1. You’ve slipped and fallen on the ice at least once.

The winters at Kent are brutal, and while the heated sidewalks and some great snow boots are always a help, there’s no chance you won’t bust it on the ice at least once in your four plus years at school.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

5 Reasons Why Finals Week Is The Worst For People Who Love Christmas

Christmas is on the brain during the month of December, not finals! How do you expect me to study?

134
santa claus with red background
Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash

Christmas is literally so close. We can almost taste it. But there is just one thing standing between you and the big day: FINALS. It's not the studying, lack of sleep, last minute cram sessions or crappy food intake that is the worst... but the fact that you cannot focus because, well, CHRISTMAS. How do professors expect you to focus when Christmas is soooo soon. For all my fellow Christmas lovers out there, I feel your pain.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Library Struggles Every College Student Will Understand

Are you really a college student if you don't stay up all night studying in your pajamas?

704
sleeping in the library
Daily Fun Lists

One of the most dreaded places on campus is the library. Nothing awesome ever happens here. Usually, the only reason you're here is because you've procrastinated so long that the library is the only place you'll actually get stuff done. It gives you this feeling of sadness and impending doom. You have no idea how this is going to go or how long you'll be here, but you do know it is about to be the most excruciating experiences yet. But it has to get done, so you drag yourself to the lovely library.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments