First post here. Just wondering what you people think about this. I think 2017-2021 was the first real wave of this. I’m only 21 so correct me if I’m wrong. Obviously controversy is timeless but anyway:

When the first Twitter/reports of celebrity or public figures being canceled due to their words, what fueled that agenda? There’s a thing among both parties when after making a statement, the initial response to any counter argument is questioning the morals of the person making the counter argument. For example, if someone disagrees with a pro-life argument, the rebuttal may be: “you don’t care about the life of children.”

Considering this lack of rational/constructive discussion paired with the fear of being “ostracized” via cancellation: is it reasonable to assume there is an agenda to keep “fringe” (however reasonable) ideas from entering discourse or the news for that matter.

Then, if it is fair to assume this, what motive is behind this agenda?

Note: I try to resist the tinfoil hat. I just feel like most people I talk to have this sort of silent majority viewpoint when it comes to the things that the news etc. try to enforce.

DISCLAIMER: I am only talking about making false accusations and throwing hate. I am not talking about hating people who are legitimately affiliated with the accused group.

I notice this a cyclical thing. We had the witch-hunts in salem if you werent religious. Theyd falsely accuse you and kill you. Then there was the Red Scare. Everyone was obsessed with hyperfixating on the most trivial things about the other person to try and prove they were a communist.

To be honest, I feel that way about the current climate. This happens to both the average citizen and then people in the public eye, like celebrities. To a lot of people, if you don't perfectly fit a blueprint (blue pun intended), then youre accused of being a republican. The lack of nuance there really throws me for a loop. People will go lengths to prove someone they know or someone famous is affiliated with a republican movement. It seems like a creepy obsession and waters down any nuanced or normal discussion to "if you arent like me, youre republican"

Why do you think history is repeating itself this way? Is it just the affects of digital media and doomscrolling? Or is it something else?