10 Ways to Promote Accountability BESIDES Cancel Culture

Let’s start with: What is cancel culture? There is no academic or working definition of this because it’s a media-made concept that has taken wind in the last generation of young adults (i.e., Generation Z). It has done its job by capturing the attention of many.

Regardless if it is not academic, it has made its concept into Merriam-Webster. For these purposes, we will refer to that definition as one of the definitions today.

According to Merriam-Webster, cancel culture is defined as a noun, “: the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure.” Those of you who know me, know that i thoroughly enjoy urban dictionary.com. This is a platform where people can submit their own definitions from either their own view or lived experience. Then people will thumbs up or thumbs down; and the one with the most thumbs up will be the primary definition. According to Urbandictionary.com from user astronomia, they say cancel culture is defined as, “the act of damaging someone's life or career because they made human error.’

This is the 2024 version of people throwing rocks, vegetables, and booing as a collective. Now that we know throwing stones is cruel, it appears that strategically destroying someone’s career, life, finances, relationships and socially isolating them is the new stoning.

We have learned a thing or two about the importance of “being a part of the crowd.” Considering an innate human desire is to be liked and understood as shown by social science for decades. We are social, communal creatures. I think the drive to partake in cancel cancel is very human, yet we have also known humans do have the ability to act in cruel ways to remain safe. Yet let’s shield ourselves from the reality of the behavior and call it accountability, that appears to support it’s validity and reliability. I won’t excuse mass murders of innocent people as human error. I also won’t excuse mass social isolation and bullying as acts of kindness.

Although I can understand where cancel culture has picked up population, it is still difficult wrapping my head around systemic bullying by a collective group saying something should be done a certain way. It includes but is not limited to inserting selves where we don’t belong due to not having all the information, attacking someone’s character, and in the worst cases stripping someone of their ability to evolve and take accountability for their own actions.

I will openly admit being sucked into “cancel culture” as an observer. Watching it from a social science perspective and both understanding the reasons it happens, validating both sides, and more. I will also admit that when it comes to imminent risk, danger, or cruelty and cancel culture commences, I have said to myself, “They got what they had coming.” As if it’s my job to promote revenging or avenging. I also tend to be involved with what Generation Z fights for and against because I treat this population primarily and they come in with these stressors that arise from cancel culture.

I feel for Gen Z. They are trying to adopt their own freedom of thought and there is a fear in doing so. There is a culture of “speak up for yourselves and don’t stay silent” while “speak and stand with us or else.” Some may also be dysregulated by topics to the point where it affects their mental health. Even when they know they shouldn’t be hyper-focusing on the topics, it is hard to let it go when it’s everywhere in their media. There is a lot of dissonance to belong but also to be your own person. This all happening while the brain is hyper-developing until you’re 30. And to be fair, their global lens and experience hasn’t developed in a pattern so as we all know, we often feel differently in our 30s than we do in our 20s and so forth. But we can’t expect them to know that or feel that because they haven’t lived it. They’re evolving.

I also feel for the people being canceled because it often promotes one-sided approaches or views, misinformation, assumptions about character, often does not consider science and human error, and more. It sometimes doesn’t give enough of a window for someone to “repent,” take back, repair or make things right. Yet, I do enjoy it brings forth patterns of behavior when people are entitled, have been told, and are still negatively impacting others without consequence. We can see all sides here. The truth is any generation feels relief when something they believe in is promoted or brought to justice.

Yet we have to face a couple things.

“If you won’t grow, we will force you to grow.” White Knight Syndrome in disguise by calling it herd-promoted accountability still has some concerning components. Perceived stress is at its highest in younger generations due to them inserting themselves into other people’s situations and calling it “empathy.” “Defending people who cannot defend themselves.” “If they won’t listen to what we think or feel, then we will make them listen.” On the flop side, older adults and generations belittling younger generations for their evolution is not okay either. Entitlement is a dangerous beast, in ANY generation. None of us are safe from cancel culture, to be honest. I even thought in my head the potential kick back if one person gets this, hates it, and places it on blast. They could make a decision I am a harmful therapist, promote it on social media, everyone leaves reviews or calls my job I worked hard for and gets my fired because of an article that didn’t harm anyone but shared considerations and some opinions.

There is some cognitive dissonance for me as this generation speaks for mind yet I question what is from the herd or horde and what is from them. Which has also led to fear culture impacting everyday living. I see young adults in therapy afraid to speak their mind because it increases their chance of social isolation. Just like I almost did by not releasing this article.

Are we in Zootopia right now?

I wanted to give 10 considerations of how to promote accountability in those around without partaking in The Horde/herd mentality and systemic bullying.

All of these are to be considered if no individual is in imminent risk or immediately unsafe (i.e., as I do believe stepping in or asking for immediate help is needed in these cases. I am noting this because exception culture is also a thing on the internet where people like giving exceptions to averages, so placing this right here to help with any confusion). Please consider the following:

1. You consider what you believe, how you were brought up, DEI-related cultures and the impact, experience etc. and come to your own conclusion about what you think or feel about it. Sit with it for 1-2 weeks (maybe even months) and see if it’s still the same.

2. You share your feelings and thoughts with those close to you.

3. When you interact with others or with youth in the future, you promote consideration and freedom of thought.

4. You do research on the topic, person and come to your own conclusion. This includes asking more questions and reviewing reliable sources.

5. You can systemically advocate for chnages thorugh policies, workforce groups, advocacy programs,

6. Promoting education to reduce misinformation regarding topics.

7. You promote freedom of thought within yourself and encourage it with those around you.

8. Practice and begin to promote self-regulation.

9. Begin to develop your own moral compass and decision making models.

10. Live your life.

Now during all of this time, the person involved with the situation will have natural consequences to their actions. Some of them take longer than others. Some of them never happen at all because some can buy their social and emotional freedom. I am not saying I like either of those or that they are fair. I do know that becoming physically and cognitively activated by human error and people living their life is perceived stress and perceived stress has medical implications long-term. I want a fulfilling life that is as long as possible and perceived stress impacts that. If I am not or someone is not in imminent risk or immediate danger, I stay in my lane. it isn’t complacency. It’s a choice for self-preservation. “Put your safety mask on first before you help others.”

The amount of anxiety, burnout and compassion fatigue in today’s world is concerning and I worry about that as a healthcare worker and as a woman. That is my perceived stress problem as a therapist and a generation between all generations in 2024. It isn’t a “poor me.” It’s a, “I am sorry.” I am sorry that things are still not “fair.” They are improving, yet they are balanced. That means the “good” is bringing relief and harmony and the “bad” is getting more dangerous. We cannot override balance and equlibrium as much as we try.

I will say: I appreciate the efforts.

Please consider picking and choosing where you allocate your energy. We are not made to fight any war but our own. If you choose to sign up for someone else’s war, just be prepared there sometimes needs to be reatreat and eventually retirement.

Speaking of. This writer is tired. Evolve and heal on, my friends. Any way you know how. At any pace.

AT

NOTE: All of these are considerations, they are not medical advice or formal recommendations. This does not replace nor claim to be medical treatment or advice; informational and educational only. Please consult your care team or behavioral health providers about topics of interest as this is a patient right. Your medical care and freedom of thought override.