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doriangrayscale's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual content
kaimju's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Suicide
plantbasedbride's review against another edition
challenging
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
In So You've Been Publicly Shamed Jon Ronson explores the big bad realm of online shaming. I decided to pick this one up on a whim after hearing it mentioned in several YouTube videos discussing cancel culture within the span of a week, and I was surprised to see that this book was published back in 2015. In the 6 years since this book was released not only has online bullying not been eradicated, but it has become even more extreme. I wonder what Ronson would think of the cancel culture of today?
I have always been a bit confused by the concept of cancel culture, I must admit. While I wholeheartedly support accountability, I find the tendency of the mob on social media to tear someone apart before any evidence or context can be applied, acting as judge, jury, and executioner, both confounding and mildly terrifying.
As Ronson stated in this book; “we know that people are complicated and have a mixture of flaws and talents and sins. So why do we pretend that we don’t?”
There is so much nuance in the ways human beings communicate and act and live, and yet online our entire personhood is forced into two dimensions. As a YouTuber, this is even more obvious to me. The way I present myself online through my content, and the way others perceive me through the screen, is not an all-encompassing representation of the multifaceted and flawed human being that I am. Pretty much every fellow YouTuber I have ever talked to has expressed a sentiment I know well - self-censorship as a means of self-preservation. Of course, all of us practice self-censorship to a certain extent every day every time we communicate, but as a public-facing person on the internet, the possibility of being misinterpreted and canceled looms larger than life.
Ronson said it succinctly here; “We were creating a world where the smartest way to survive is to be bland.”
I don't know what the solution is to the problem of an avalanche of cancel culture, but I do know that compassion and a nuanced approach both go a long way.
While I found this book a quick, informative, and interesting read, I did have a few qualms with it.
First of all, Ronson tiptoes around the fact that women experience public shaming on a different level and in different ways than men, yet never actually dives into those distinctions or explores the implications. This was a missed opportunity. He also expresses some questionable ideas such as implying he doesn't believe in white privilege and fully standing behind his conviction that Justine Sacco (who tweeted a terrible racist tweet and was canceled for it) did nothing wrong. Lastly, the structure of this book was a bit half hazard and confusing as Ronson constantly switched between case studies at breakneck speed.
Despite my criticisms, I found this book to be a thought-provoking read with some valuable insight into this worrying trend and I would recommend it.
“We are defining the boundaries of normality by tearing apart the people outside it.”
I have always been a bit confused by the concept of cancel culture, I must admit. While I wholeheartedly support accountability, I find the tendency of the mob on social media to tear someone apart before any evidence or context can be applied, acting as judge, jury, and executioner, both confounding and mildly terrifying.
As Ronson stated in this book; “we know that people are complicated and have a mixture of flaws and talents and sins. So why do we pretend that we don’t?”
There is so much nuance in the ways human beings communicate and act and live, and yet online our entire personhood is forced into two dimensions. As a YouTuber, this is even more obvious to me. The way I present myself online through my content, and the way others perceive me through the screen, is not an all-encompassing representation of the multifaceted and flawed human being that I am. Pretty much every fellow YouTuber I have ever talked to has expressed a sentiment I know well - self-censorship as a means of self-preservation. Of course, all of us practice self-censorship to a certain extent every day every time we communicate, but as a public-facing person on the internet, the possibility of being misinterpreted and canceled looms larger than life.
Ronson said it succinctly here; “We were creating a world where the smartest way to survive is to be bland.”
I don't know what the solution is to the problem of an avalanche of cancel culture, but I do know that compassion and a nuanced approach both go a long way.
While I found this book a quick, informative, and interesting read, I did have a few qualms with it.
First of all, Ronson tiptoes around the fact that women experience public shaming on a different level and in different ways than men, yet never actually dives into those distinctions or explores the implications. This was a missed opportunity. He also expresses some questionable ideas such as implying he doesn't believe in white privilege and fully standing behind his conviction that Justine Sacco (who tweeted a terrible racist tweet and was canceled for it) did nothing wrong. Lastly, the structure of this book was a bit half hazard and confusing as Ronson constantly switched between case studies at breakneck speed.
Despite my criticisms, I found this book to be a thought-provoking read with some valuable insight into this worrying trend and I would recommend it.
“We are defining the boundaries of normality by tearing apart the people outside it.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Misogyny
Minor: Rape and Suicide
jbellomy's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, and Sexism