Increasingly the objections to offensive speech or bad behavior are being amplified by social media to a degree that people are afraid to speak about their beliefs or behave in ways in which others do not approve. Not only are the on-line reactions sometimes vitriolic but actions taken against the “offenders” are decimating.
A recent example comes from New York City, where a white woman called the police on a Black man who had objected to her walking her dog in a dog-free zone established to protect bird life. While it was newsworthy as an example that similar incidents frequently happen to innocent Black men, the identity of the white woman did not need to be broadcast. Her face could have been blurred.
What advantage to society was gained by identifying her? The outrage that the incident rightly created was not diminished by knowing who she was. Surely she became aware of what the larger society thought about her very dangerous and bigoted behavior and many people who knew her would know who she was even with her face blurred. But having much of the social network coming down on her and, in some similar cases, losing jobs, destroying personal and professional relationships was not justified.
We must draw a clear line between private citizens and public figures. This does not excuse bad speech or behavior, but as a larger society we must find the balance between free expression and public reaction. We must not let the fear of honest expression be trampled by public punishment.
Our mistakes should not define us. We must allow for growth and accept imperfections from ourselves and others. And to paraphrase Jesus, let him (her) who is without sin cast the first stone.
David Hart, Torrey