Has social justice become the enemy of freedom of expression?
Politically correct
We live in the rise of the Internet, social networks and basically a digital world where the common characteristic is our expression, we have the freedom to express what we think about anything, or so it seems. There is currently a kind of paradox where it seems that the more freedom of expression you have, then the less freedom you will have to express yourself. There is a term that has become very popular in our times, the so-called being "politically correct", which already seems a state of human transcendence where you can win any discussion based on transgressing what anyone says (or at least dig deep for the smallest "mistake") in order to show your "moral superiority ". If we have reached this point, it is then possible to say that we have forgotten what is really important.
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Social Networks
With the power of dissemination proposed by social networks, one of the best things we can do is educate, without a doubt. In previous times this did not exist, your culture, your thoughts, your customs, everything was based on what was around you, in your community, but the Internet, social networks and this globalized world have allowed us to connect with other people and all that it confers. As mentioned above, there is then "freedom of expression", but this time it is on a completely different level, your words are subject to the critical eye of millions of people where most definitely do not think the same as you, now you have chains. The solution that the current world has found to avoid repression by others is to be "politically correct", where apparently you take into account all cultures, existing minorities, the states of a person, etc., basically, any human difference must be taken into account when giving an opinion. This is impossible. Nobody knows everything in this world. But it seems that many people do not consider it that way. We take the time to "cancel" people, movies, characters, books, facts, etc. from past ages, to misrepresent what others say, to search between words for any kind of term that indicates a lack of inclusion or a minimum of ignorance that we forget the power that has been conferred on us, to educate.
The true and correct objective
How wonderful would it all be if instead of canceling other people and judging with disdain it was changed by teaching and education? Not to feel good about ourselves, but to do what will really do well in this world, defend those who have been repressed for years, expose taboos in society, find solutions to the problems that affect everyone. Nothing better than a world that seeks to help others.
I completely agree. Yes, there are things that should be discussed and not repeated, but there is always freedom and opinions. Although my thinking about this has changed since I wrote this article, my position on freedom of expression remains the same.
Sometimes our liberty depends on a system where there aren't many options and we are chained to what the people think on the social networks.
I think that you have a very good point.
Hi María! I think your topic is very important nowadays, I can't more agree that cancelling what you don't like is so toxic, and that's where the paradox you mention comes from, it's difficult to "beat down" bad comments but with a good basic education of respect everyone can. Regards 👌