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A review by a_reader_of_book
So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I honestly think this book should be required reading for all 18-year-olds. Why is it so easy to contribute to hateful comments online? How can it be so compelling to bully, attack, and demand punishment over the internet when the average person would never be so hateful in person? And what can we do about this? Jon Ronson attempts to analyze these questions in "So You've Been Publicly Shamed" (SYBPS). I absolutely LOVED this book! Even though it was published in 2015, and therefore a little outdated, its message is still so applicable to current life. Social media and the internet has opened a lot of doors for us, but it's created a new stage for the, typically vengeful, court of public opinion. And this has quite literally ruined people's lives. I wholeheartedly agree that people should be held responsible for what they say and do, but the viciousness expressed by many people online can be disturbingly shocking. I think if more people read this book, they'd think a bit harder before joining in with potentially hateful internet mobs.
Ronson discusses many different cases of public shaming, often trying to illuminate both sides of the issue equally. I seriously commend him for this! Instead of making quick judgements, he seeks answers and understanding. I think a lot of us need to use this as an example for ourselves, especially nowadays. I found myself literally dropping my jaw in shock while reading many of the chapters. From the historical use of public shaming, to various scientific studies of human behavior, to deeply personal narratives of regret, Ronson highlights the many aspects of shame and the very real repercussions. I could honestly go on and on about this book. If you are looking for a compelling non-fiction read, this is it!
While I connected to all of SYBPS, the last few pages describing the feedback loops utilized online really says it all for me:
"...they're turning social media into 'a giant echo chamber where what we believe is constantly reinforced by people who believe the same thing.' ...'It locks people off in the world they started with and prevents them from finding out anything different. They get trapped in the system of feedback reinforcement. The idea that there is another world of other people who have other ideas is marginalized in our lives.' ...We see ourselves as nonconformists, but I think all of this is creating a more conformist, conservative age. ...We are defining the boundaries of normality by tearing apart the people outside it."
Ronson discusses many different cases of public shaming, often trying to illuminate both sides of the issue equally. I seriously commend him for this! Instead of making quick judgements, he seeks answers and understanding. I think a lot of us need to use this as an example for ourselves, especially nowadays. I found myself literally dropping my jaw in shock while reading many of the chapters. From the historical use of public shaming, to various scientific studies of human behavior, to deeply personal narratives of regret, Ronson highlights the many aspects of shame and the very real repercussions. I could honestly go on and on about this book. If you are looking for a compelling non-fiction read, this is it!
While I connected to all of SYBPS, the last few pages describing the feedback loops utilized online really says it all for me:
"...they're turning social media into 'a giant echo chamber where what we believe is constantly reinforced by people who believe the same thing.' ...'It locks people off in the world they started with and prevents them from finding out anything different. They get trapped in the system of feedback reinforcement. The idea that there is another world of other people who have other ideas is marginalized in our lives.' ...We see ourselves as nonconformists, but I think all of this is creating a more conformist, conservative age. ...We are defining the boundaries of normality by tearing apart the people outside it."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment