Since its appearance on Netflix, 13 Reasons Why has been only growing in popularity and it seems as though everyone has been watching it. With all this attention, much discussion and disagreement has developed. There are people who absolutely love it, people who strongly dislike, and those who find themselves somewhere in the middle. After finishing the series last night, I probably fall into that last category. Overall, I think that it has a powerful and very useful message. At the same time, I understand some objections that people have brought up such as that it glamorizes suicide or neglects to show certain signs of suicide. However, I think that the most important part of this show is the fact that it brings up these tough questions and topics. The fact that so many people are watching a show like this means that it is at least helping to educate and bring awareness to a ton of people. Whatever side of the debate you're on, I think that we can all agree that the show teaches us all to be a bit more aware of our actions and words. We all could be a little gentler and a little kinder. I think that this is the biggest take-away for viewers.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show, it begins after Hannah Baker has committed suicide. Before she died, she recorded thirteen tapes that describe the people in her life and her motivations for her suicide. Viewers watch Hannah's story unravel as the central character, Clay Jensen, listens to the tapes. Her story becomes clear with each episode that represents each tape. The show deals with the mature topics of bullying, rape, and suicide.
Being kinder and gentler towards others could definitely make a huge difference with very little cost to ourselves. It doesn't harm us in any way or take much more energy at all to act a bit nicer to others. It is something that we could all do. I think that this show displays how a few incidences, even if they seem small to outsiders, can add up and deeply affect the victim. In our own lives, we never ever truly know what someone else is going through. We may think we do, but we don't. It is quite obvious (or at least I hope it is) that we should never commit terrible acts against another, but I think that sometimes the smaller ones are less clear. These are the ones we especially need to watch out for. Multiple hurtful actions, even though they may seem small, can add up. After a while, they can affect another person.
We need to be more conscious of how we act towards others. I think we need to be more aware of our actions and the way in which people perceive them. People have different levels of sensitivity, none of which are better or worse than others. We just have to spend time being aware of who we are talking to and the way they might interpret our words or actions. We don't know what else they may be dealing with that day. Sometimes we catch someone right when he/she may have a billion other things going on. Our same words or actions that would not have impacted him/her any other day, may just be the last straw today.
Let's all try each day to be a little gentler and a little kinder to one another. I think it could make all the difference.
