Cancel culture needs to be cancelled

commentaries

Anne Nicole CARIG

This just, all “

the more, goes to show that cancel culture takes effect on the people themselves and not on the mistakes that they have made. With all these said, cancel culture may just be equated to “blatant hate”, and it is not quite an effective measure to address issues of indifference.

Cancel culture needs to be cancelled

Cancel culture is a direct attack to someone’s identity more than to the problematic, culturally inappropriate and socially immoral behavior or statement that one has committed or said.

President of the Mises Institute, Jeff Deist, identified cancel culture as the “means of shutting people out of jobs, opportunities, platforms, and social setting— attempting to impoverish people, financially and otherwise.” An article from 2019 suggests that the reference of this culture is believed to have originated from the 1991 film New Jack City which had the word “cancel” directing to a person in the script, a line from a character which put forward the idea of removing a person from someone’s life owing to the violence that the person has caused. From 2014 to present, social media users have recognized it even more and made use of the term “cancel” to collectively shun and boycott people whose behaviors are perceived offensive and/or unbecoming. At length, there are a number of celebrities and influencers, both internationally and locally, who have been “cancelled” by a vast population of social media users, specifically on the Twitter platform.

There is no way racism, sexism, homophobia, and other derogatory remarks would have been acceptable and it is just right that we reach out to people who have perpetrated such insensitivity and draw apology, atonement and changed actions from them. However, as time progressed, the cancel culture has suffered grave repercussions as people deliberately abused it to instigate hate on social media and worst, it even led some to exercise entitled vigilantism. In the light of mob mentality in social media, a lot of people nowadays refuse to understand an issue and its underlying factors, and eventually just side with what the vast majority thinks is correct and proper, disregarding the possibility that it could have not been the absolute truth. It does not only hinder growth and improvement but also unintentionally promote cyberbullying, online negative criticisms, and toxicity which can potentially harm the target’s mental wellbeing. Also, cancelling someone does not necessarily guarantee the downfall of the wrongdoer’s career and reputation, if that is the supposed goal of the act. This just, all the more, goes to show that cancel culture takes effect on the people themselves and not on the mistakes that they have made. With all these said, cancel culture may just be equated to “blatant hate”, and it is not quite an effective measure to address issues of indifference.

To be fair, cancel culture would not have existed and further ensued had there been an effective implementation of the law to everyone. It primarily aimed to serve social justice for those deprived of it and to hold people accountable for their unbefitting conduct. We cannot deny that for some, it could have been the last trope for someone to finally speak up for the long withheld grievance. However, cancel culture does not just impose the scheme of “eliminating” as the means of “correcting” but also propagates the idea of exclusivity and casting out.

There are so much more “humane” alternative ways to correct someone’s improper behavior, and one of which is to educate and let them learn what could have they possibly done or said wrong. We must also give them room to have character development, most especially when they have sincerely atoned for their past mistakes. Even the law is considerate to every punishment it serves; it gives people a chance to correct and realign their lives. Inculcating a culture that does not allow growth ruins the opportunity to shape a better and harmonious society. Above all, we must also understand that there is a bigger challenge we must solve that lies in our distorted stigma and old ideologies that push people to be indifferent or ignorant of these issues. COVID-19 Special Issue Volume 40, Issue 4

ILLUSTRATION BY CATHERINE ESTORIL

COVID-19 Special Issue Volume 40, Issue 4

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Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa: The aftereffects

Last May 6, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the implementation of Executive Order No. 114, also known as the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program, to primarily decongest Metro Manila by sending back Filipinos— those in the capital and overseas alike—to their respective provinces while providing them financial and industrial aid. Alongside this is the Hatid Probinsya Program, which is the government’s scheme to transport stranded Filipinos back to their homes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. While these programs may seem sound with their vision of “disinfecting and decluttering” the capital, even with the many clauses on paper they prove to be ineffective at all to curb the more apparent dilemma the country is facing against COVID-19. In fact, these programs may actually be making the situation worse.

Although E.O. 114 has been suspended since June 11, the detriments of this so-called “effort” have already taken place in the southern regions. Evidence shows that states that were already struggling to contain the virus by themselves plus keeping their economies afloat showed a resurgence of infections after the first few batches of the BP2 beneficiaries were sent their way. These people were only found out to be carriers of the virus when they already arrived in their respective destinations, unknowingly spreading the virus undetected as they were asymptomatic. Not only did this create a new bloom of cases, but this only transferred the COVID epicenter from NCR to provinces that were supposed to be barely unaffected at the least.

Adding to that, the program also covers sending students studying in the capital back to their distant homes, forcing them to make decisions that may set them back on their education more than they would do them good; they have the choice to either go through online classes with the subpar internet services available (that is if they have access to the internet in the first place), transfer from their schools in the capital to those in their provinces, or skip the incoming academic year altogether. It is a shame that the youth, whose role as key to the country’s future is becoming clear day by day, have to make such sacrifices when they shouldn’t be present at all.

While the BP2 program may have a long-term plan of helping the country’s overall economy especially in agriculture, the way it was implemented in haste proved to be more harmful and less useful in the Philippines’ fight against the virus. One cannot help but think that the only reason why it was approved immediately was that the principal author of the program is endorsed by the one who executed it, without reviewing further its clauses and if it would actually help beat the current health crisis.

BP2, although earnest and ideal in what it wants to achieve, is not a solution to eradicate, or at least alleviate, the growing number of cases in the country. The immediate concern is to address the pandemic by implementing plans and programs formed from the advice of those who are actually in the medical field, and this program is definitely not one of them. If the government actually took precedence in the implementation of mass testing as well as a comprehensive contact tracing system, then perhaps all pushes to restart and improve the economy will find success. Otherwise, if their priorities are left askew as they are now, the Philippines’ state will only go downhill regardless of the exhaustion all of those at the frontline have experienced and will continue to. Can we really afford that to happen? Marella Iris PALCES

Otherwise, “

if their priorities are left askew as they are now, the Philippines’ state will only go downhill regardless of the exhaustion all of those at the frontline have experienced and will continue to. Can we really afford that to happen?

quarantimes

COVID-19 Special Issue Volume 40, Issue 4

Illustration by: YUBHEL INOCERTA

GROWING FAD: Tiktok as a platform

Sharmaine MARARAC

The worldwide health situation during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been devastating. Most of those who have the luxury to do so turned to social media applications as a means to escape this reality, and video-sharing platform TikTok has only gotten immense popularity as more people are now staying indoors with more free time until the crisis is handled.

For people who have time to kill, TikTok’s short-form videos that can easily be put together with in-app functions and its “For You” page that is personalized for every user allow them to escape the unlikeable reality of a pandemic into an easier, relaxed other-world. An alternate world where we get to see users lip-sync to bad movie lines and trendy songs, act out scenarios that could only get so cheesy, post skits and other comedy content, dance and sing regardless of talent, and guiltlessly enjoy it. It is addicting. However, we can’t pick apart reality and just focus on the parts we like. At some point, we’re going to have to get off our phones and really deal with the “new normal”, whatever that means. Or we could put it off for as long as we like. We shouldn’t, but before the inevitable, it could be that the reason we are so into it is that the entertainment we find in TikTok gives us new ways to keep our mind off the stress even for a while. It helps users be more creative during a trying time. TikTok user @davaoconyo has been clever in incorporating humor in different situations, at times featuring Filipino TV clichés and using high-context Filipino jokes. Meanwhile, TikTok user @macoydubs’ videos showcasing Filipino interactions, such as the stereotypical Filipino mom’s way of tutoring her child, is something that many find hilarious. This type of content presents scenarios that we feel we could find ourselves in as Filipinos and so we relate to them. Some content creators on the app also do not shy away from social commentary when it comes to mass testing and government response. As for other TikTok content, there’s always a friend who’s doing another dance challenge, and no matter how overdone a trend is, we tend to just take it. We associate seeing the same type of formula with a sense of familiarity. There is calmness in knowing you’re participating in something that others are also enjoying to do, as if you’re bonding with others even though you’re physically apart. Maybe this sense of belonging is why we love harmless humor that is hinged on Filipino experiences, it feels inclusive. TikTok isn’t a life-changing platform that cures depression or directly saves lives, it is what it is, though every once in a while we see wholesome videos that give us good vibes too. It’s been a part of the quarantine life of many.

TikTok can also be a place where we can be educated and help important topics be heard, as long as it is used right. When the pandemic hit, different coronavirus-related content emerged, such as providing insights on how to deal with being under quarantine, encouraging people to stay at home, sharing personal stories on how one’s spending their time on lockdown, or just finding humor in the different aspects of life when you’re encouraged to stay inside. Relevant topics being brought to light in TikTok, such as the lack of better and sufficient pay for most essential workers, is a step forward. The surge of useful TikTok content related to the pandemic can help us be more active in doing our part for others’ sake. Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) joined TikTok with a video featuring 3 of its personnel dancing to the song “The Weekend” while safety tips on preventing COVID-19 showed on the screen. TikTok star Charli D’Amelio worked with a brand in a campaign that promoted social distancing. TikTok also made an effort in fighting misinformation amidst pandemic. It engaged in a partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) through creating an informational page about the pandemic on the application last March 2020. This is to help users have accurate and crucial information easily accessible to them. In addition to that, WHO in its official TikTok account also offers users with trustworthy, timely information, as well as tips on staying safe and preventing spread of COVID-19. Sensor Tower reported last April that TikTok had already reached more than 2 billion downloads globally. This shows that TikTok has a wide reach, and this influence can help combat false news.

Of course, another point to make when talking about the trend application is that we should be careful not to let TikTok desensitize us. Seeing funny content related to life in quarantine, while these videos were intended to help us see things in a positive light, should not downplay how the pandemic in the real world, outside our screens, is affecting real lives. The pandemic is taking so much from so many. Such a powerful platform can highlight a socially aware vision, or it could turn us tremendously unconcerned.

Many resorted to TikTok as a way to pass time and temporarily evade the pressure of our current reality, but we can also utilize it to uplift, raise awareness, and disseminate crucial information. TikTok can be useful in conveying public health messages in an ongoing pandemic, and we acknowledge that. We only have to be so careful in not letting it detach us from everything else entirely, but it’s alright to loosen up a bit every once in a while. We’re all trying to get by.