Unveiling the Dark Side of Social Media: Why We Need to Learn from History and Stop the Hate
The current world we live in can often seem chaotic and unprecedented. However, if we delve into history, we will realize that many of the challenges we face today are not entirely new. Pandemics, political upheavals, controversial elections, hate crimes, and riots have all occurred in the past. It's essential for us to remember and learn from history, even if we didn't pay close attention in our history classes. Fortunately, in the digital age, information overload is just a vocal request or quick search away. We have the opportunity to educate ourselves beyond what we were taught in school. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. is not just a road name; he was a prominent civil rights leader.
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So, why do we act as if these issues are completely novel? And why does that embolden some people to express themselves in racist, judgmental, and rude ways? Social media platforms are flooded with posts criticizing individuals for virtually anything. No subject seems to be off-limits.
Now, I believe everyone has the right to express their opinions, even if they choose to be mean-spirited. However, what concerns me is that these individuals often seem oblivious to their own cruelty. These posts often take the form of public service announcements, proclaiming, "Hey everyone, here's my racist, judgmental, rude rant. Now that you know how I feel and why I'm right, you can go on with your life... as long as it aligns with my beliefs."
When we fail to see each other as fellow human beings, as someone's mother, daughter, sister, father, brother, or son, we all lose. Period. We lose sight of our shared humanity. While there are certainly individuals who exhibit extreme and disturbing behavior, at the core, we are all human. Deep down and on the surface, we are more alike than we realize. My hope for the entire human race is that we can find a way to love and understand one another. Or, at the very least, stop perpetuating the problem by constantly criticizing and belittling others. So, please, Karen, just stop!
Here are some things I wish people would stop saying:
Blaming everything on Republicans or Democrats and using them as scapegoats.
Making blanket statements about Baby Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z, blaming each generation for society's problems.
Spreading harmful narratives about immigrants.
Associating Chinese people with the coronavirus or blaming them for its spread.
Insinuating that certain groups of people are terrorists based on their ethnicity or religion.
Dismissing the existence of racism and disregarding the Black Lives Matter movement.
These are just a few examples, but the list goes on. What are some things you are tired of hearing about?
