People getting fired for an allegation that doesn't pan out, but by then their reputation and career are already destroyed.
Or comments taken out of context or missing nuance.
Or punishment out of proportion to the offense.
In the past, boycotts were aimed at corporations. Not buying or consuming a specific product, or protesting that company. Cancel culture is more aimed at individuals.
Suing for defamation can be expensive and risky, and doesn't necessarily restore reputational damage even if you win.
Obviously, some people clearly guilty of the accusations against them and deserve the consequences being meted out against them.
But there is also a long history of "witch hunts" and people being punished in ways that don't deserve. Social media is enabling a new form of that, which is what we call "cancel culture".
Or comments taken out of context or missing nuance.
Or punishment out of proportion to the offense.
In the past, boycotts were aimed at corporations. Not buying or consuming a specific product, or protesting that company. Cancel culture is more aimed at individuals.
Suing for defamation can be expensive and risky, and doesn't necessarily restore reputational damage even if you win.
Obviously, some people clearly guilty of the accusations against them and deserve the consequences being meted out against them.
But there is also a long history of "witch hunts" and people being punished in ways that don't deserve. Social media is enabling a new form of that, which is what we call "cancel culture".