Hey, friend. You know how I feel about fake outrage. I mean, it drives me nuts how people take things out of context and get so triggered at seemingly nothing – or worse – made up stuff that isn’t actually happening! What makes it even worse, is when people can so easily become the punching bag for that fake outrage!
I feel so bad for people who experience this type of bullying, especially those who just don’t have the means to defend themselves from it online. It’s completely unfair and almost nobody deserves to deal with this sort of mob mentality. For example, recently I heard a story about a young girl who was bullied online because of something her father had done. It was completely out of her control, yet she was the one who had to bear the brunt of all of the hate from the mob.
When these situations happen, it’s so hard to witness. We feel powerless, unable to do anything to make a difference. But, I believe that we can all try to be mindful of what we are posting on social media and ensure that we are not participating in any sort of fake outrage or bullying. It’s easy to get carried away when you’re in a heated argument online. That’s why I always try to take a step back and make sure that what I’m saying isn’t inciting more hate or victimizing anyone.
I think the best thing we can do when it comes to fake outrage, is be proactive. Instead of reacting, we should be looking for ways to get to the root of the problem and address it in an effective and sensitive way. Take example of the young girl I spoke of earlier, instead of posting hate online, why not take the time to find out more about her story and look for ways to help her? I think this type of positive action and support is a great way to combat fake outrage.
Sometimes it’s hard for us to put ourselves in the shoes of those experiencing victimization, but taking the time to listen and be thoughtful could make such a huge difference. We have so much power in our hands – let’s use it for good.
Another 4 sections
1. Fake Outrage and Bullying:
Fake outrage- that feeling of frustration and anger over something that’s made up or exaggerated- is incredibly real and can have real impacts on its victims. It’s easy to forget that these victims exist and that they’re experiencing actual pain and suffering- which further worsens when they become the punching bag for fake outrage. The internet, especially social media, has given people a stage to express this negative energy, and it can ruin an innocent person’s reputation in a matter of weeks or even days. It’s heartbreaking to see the very people we care about become the targets of incessant bullying and attacks- and it doesn’t seem fair.
2. Managing Fake Outrage:
We need to be aware of how we respond to fake outrage and consider how our actions might be playing a part or making it worse. We need to actively be a part of the solution- not a part of the problem. Instead of instantly hitting the “share” or “comment” button, think about why this situation might be happening. We could be fostering a better online atmosphere if we took a few moments to think before reacting. We should try to lead with thoughtfulness and not let ourselves become caught in the frenzy of fake outrage.
3. Promoting Positive Change:
We should make the effort to replace unhealthy exchanges with positive initiatives. Instead of bashing someone who doesn’t agree with us, why not actively seek out conversations that give us the opportunity to better understand their point of view? In my experience, engaging in conversation has done wonders for diffusing potentially explosive situations. A fresh perspective could be what ultimately encourages people to take a step back and reassess the situation.
4. Do More:
A lot of us say we don’t want to be a part of the problem online, but few are willing to take that extra step to make a change. I believe it’s time we all realize the potential we have to make a difference. Of course, it might be uncomfortable, and it might require some effort on our part, but that’s the only way to make sure that these victims of fake outrage don’t get drowned out in theformaliziacrime and hatred. It takes all of us to do our part and stand up againstbullying in whatever form it comes in, so let’s be brave and take a stand together.