Chick Chat With Cornelia O’Dwyer: Public Shaming

 

Hey Guys! It’s #TalkTuesday A.K.A #ChickChat

Getting angry and getting into conflict is normal through out the course of life but in getting mad, do we lose some of our ‘salt’ by taking things further to shame a person publicly? I wonder why it’s so difficult to master the art of getting angry but still remain civil.

I have brushed on this before but it’s worth another conversation. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are littered with all kinds of wars. Both here in Nigeria and beyond. Both celebrities and non- celebs are “clapping”. Folks are using it as an opportunity to call people out for ‘bad behaviour’ and it is so easy to get carried away. It’s one thing to have a disagreement, break up or fight with a person but why must people go further to ‘win the hearts of the public’. Is seeking public empathy in a rant an insecurity a justified way of expressing feelings?

A little while ago some silly muffin felt I ‘stole’ her idea and decided to plaster it on social media and to any group on BB or whatsapp that would listen. It was a public smear and it was an accusation that I genuinely felt was necessary to address but with the help of my good girlfriends, I chose not to ‘clapback’ and left it to die in silence. Based on my persona, resisting the urge was tough but, I took the road less traveled and I’m glad I did. With so much sensational activity going on in the digital space, we are all two seconds from being a meme.

A few clap backs and call outs have rubbed me off the wrong way, especially when people kill ants with sledge hammers. Nasty name calling and hitting below the belt is just mean. The punishment should really fit the crime in my opinion and whilst public shaming is someone’s justice and their vindication when they feel cheated, it is someone else’s life exposed to the court of public opinion. I don’t like people who fight dirty. In fact I hate people who do!

I must admit that SOME responses are needed when some basic people try it. People who don’t stay in their lanes should be put in their rightful ‘place’. But, how did we resolve conflict before social media?

In the past, there were only so many people you could verbally tell the story to without getting repetitive but at the push of a button today, a larger audience can hear what you have to say. Getting on television hasn’t always been easy and is still not as easy; so having the power of the media in ones hands can be tempting. My question though is, are clap backs or public smear campaigns  sometimes necessary or deserved?
We are all human and practising restraint is a strength and discipline but in using our church mind, shouldn’t we try to be circumspect in our utterances for peace to prevail or is that for the birds these days?