FASHIONABLE INDIGNATION

FASHIONABLE INDIGNATION … PERFORMED LIVE by FOLK IN THE ROAD @ THE CATFISH

We have reached the abyss in human communication with Social Media yes it is great we can communicate with old friends and meet new friends, enjoy cute puppy photos and funny memes but … it has also become a vehicle for, hatred, vitriol, finger pointing, baseless accusations and of course fake news.

It seems that with Social Media if you don’t agree with someone’s comment you are free, despite not really knowing anything about that person other than the comment made, to slag, belittle, abuse with the foulest of insults and condemn the commentator to eternal damnation.

If you are for the right of women to control their bodies you are labeled a baby killer and showered with photos of dead babies and fetuses … if you are against abortion you are labeled a Nazi, conservative, bible bashing Neanderthal. There is no allowance, no matter the subject, if you don’t agree with my position then you are wrong … one does not need to argue a point of contention just throw insults.

If you do not believe that rioting, looting and violence are reasonable reactions to a social injustice you are labeled a racist on the other hand if you see social injustice and call attention to it, even physically peacefully protest it, you are a fascist, a criminal and left wing loony.

The thing about fashionable indignation on social media is … you can call someone the foulest of names without the danger of having that person knock your block off, which you would if you used the same approach face to face … protected by technology.

There is no middle ground on Social Media and it seems that it is fashionable to be indignant something to brag about how you shot someone down on Facebook. The old adage of, if you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all, is completely non-existent on Social Media. When you don’t agree with something … I must comment, abrasive, extravagant, radical opposition to anything even the simplest of opinion about music, sport, even the weather must be contested. If you don’t agree great make your point but if you can’t and can only resort to abuse because someone doesn’t agree with you … perhaps some anger management, English composition, public speaking courses are in order or you can just turn off Social Media.

Fashionable Indignation it’s all rage … but it doesn’t have to be … I must admit I have been guilty of it myself but I now guard against personal insults and stick to debate of the subject matter or, this works too, don’t comment at all.