An Era of Faux Outrage

From: Nathan Martin

What does it say about our culture that we thrive on faux outrage?

What does it say about our culture that we actually seem to enjoy being offended?

What does it say about our lack of humanity that we openly look for things that spite us?

I touched a little on this in my post on conviction…but it just seems that for all the good that social media has wrought, it has become a breeding ground for pure. unadulterated. hate. Not just dislike (ironic for a site that only has like buttons). Hate.

But not just any kind of hate.

Faux hate. Faux outrage.

And this faux outrage happens everywhere and in every corner.

Here are a couple examples:

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3 Comments

Filed under Culture, faith

3 Responses to An Era of Faux Outrage

  1. Fred Mostoller

    Great point… and I think I have an idea for a sequel article: An Era of Faux Apologies

    I’ve noticed over the years, every time there’s a perceived (or real) offense, it must be followed up by a public apology. The result is a culture of phony offenses followed by correspondingly phony apologies. The effect is a sort of demonic social engineering since most of the offenses and apologies have a suspiciously leftist and anti-Christian tone.

  2. Al Peffley

    I agree with your thought-process, Fred. Some of the recent apologies to phoney or trumped-up offenses featured on mass media sources seem so shallow and after-the-fact (if ever any of the “facts” are adequately reported in public outcry situations by the majority of electronic and published media sources.) Some apologies appear to be offered to appease a third party group who thinks they totally control an individual (Robertson’s treatment by A&E is a good example) involved in a widely-publicized, “perceived” violation of human rights, justice, equality, and/or decency.

    Today you seldom see or read about the recipient(s) of a person’s or group’s offensive behavior. There isn’t a public statement of acknowledgement and acceptance of a formal apology. The reported or televised “victims” never seem to publicly admit their own social communication failures or personal responsibilities in the outcome of the unacceptable social statement. People who often have good intentions in an awkward and unfairly-reported social incident are bombarded with outcries of rejection and outrage over the Internet. They are harshly criticized for simply being “human” with expressed emotions and strong personal convictions (sometimes misguided or not well thought-out) during times of excitement, spontaneous response to threats to beliefs and ideals that they value highly, personal stress, and unintentional miscommunication. What ever happened to basic “human decency” in personal relationships through public domain media reporting and comments?

    Making a big deal out of patriotic graphics or a person’s political correctness failures is a mind-game tool used by Progressive intellectuals (AKA “communists” and their international terrorist recruits) and tyrants. They desire to distract the public at large from expanded knowledge and awareness of other more volatile plans and social re-engineering activities that they want to “disappear” from mass media sources.

    Private apologies are acceptable between directly-affected parties. Genuine and sincere apologies need not be publicized for additional critique and propaganda use by outside parties and politically-motivated “spin doctors”. Respect, honor, and forgiveness must be practiced by everyone of good will. However, there is only one Christian authority to judge all of our actions and relationships with other folks, and it isn’t networked people on Facebook, Twitter, or MSNBC talk shows.

  3. deanmccrea

    I couldn’t agree more with this gentleman’s point of view and conclusions. Although, my experience is that it is not all faux outrage and hate. A lot of what I have witnessed appears quite real to me.