To Vilify or Not to Vilify: That is the Question

Recently, I have been noticing a new trait in myself that I don’t like very much. After discussing it with other people, it appears that others have been developing the same trait. Perhaps I have been developing this trait because I am becoming more aware of the world and the people on it, but I just wish that it wasn’t forming. This trait is feeling immediate indignation towards others when they don’t share the same ideas or opinions as me. It makes me feel negative towards others and myself to criticize a person so harshly for what is sometimes a very small thing.

Let me explain. As I have expressed before in previous posts, people have opposing opinions to others and the pandemic has just brought these opinions to light even more apparently. If people refuse to view the pandemic in a way that is conscientious to others, I immediately vilify them. It is so much easier to see people with differing opinions of your own if you are on social media or keep yourself updated to any news source. I feel like it is almost every day that I feel some sort of indignation towards a person because they post something about eating healthily and that will prevent them from contracting the virus. I immediately jump to extreme conclusions about a person because they expressed a certain thing. Or even hinting towards things of this nature. 

Most of the judgments these days usually are something like: “how could they be so selfish?” or “aren’t they concerned about others?” I know people might have certain criticisms about me because they think differently to me. Some days I just want to lock myself away from the world because it seems like I can’t get away from it. It is all just too much, especially for someone who chooses to believe that people are inherently good.

But this time has really got me thinking: have people always being so judgmental towards each other and have I just been naïve or have we all just become more aware of people’s opposing ideas on how the world should be? Regardless of the answer, we are in a time of division and we need to decide how to move forward in this world of people with polarizing viewpoints. 

One tactic that Gen Z has tried to implement is cancel culture. If you aren’t aware of cancel culture, it is essentially trying to destroy celebrities careers because they said something or did something problematic either in the past or in the present. These problematic things can be a wide range of things, even sometimes a bit mundane. While I very much appreciate the spirit of this: making sure celebrities and others don’t get away with doing or saying harmful things, I don’t believe this is a viable tactic. This is because cancel culture is in its own right toxic and problematic. People most definitely need to be held accountable for their actions and expressions, however cancel culture does not allow for growth. I know many people believe that you should not be given a second chance no matter what, but in some of these situations I think the simple solution is education and self-improvement. We can forgive without forgetting.

It has most definitely been an inner conflict in myself to decide what sort of judgements I should have towards people who don’t think the same way as me. This, of course, is in reference to bigger issues that have to do with people’s well-beings; not if I like Moroccan food and you don’t.

I don’t think we can simply continue just criticizing others, thinking ourselves as better people for not agreeing with them and then moving on without any other thoughts or reflections. We need to think critically in a new way.

First, we need to understand that fundamentally everyone thinks differently. In the modern world, we all get our information from different places and sources. All of these sources, no matter what they are, have a biased skew to them. The following quote describes it best, “If you don’t read the news you’re uninformed, but if you do read the news you’re misinformed.” I think there is some truth in this statement due to these subjective biases in all news outlets. 

Second, I really do believe that the majority of people believe that the way they think is the most beneficial for themselves and others. We are all taught different things and our experiences shape how we view the world around us. We all have different experiences, so there is no possible way for us to all think the same way or have the same truths. We need to try to understand where the other person is coming from before we can make judgements or criticisms about them.

Let’s use the example of if non-essential businesses like restaurants should be open or not. Some people think the research is inconclusive about whether restaurants and other non-essential businesses cause higher spreading so they believe these businesses should remain open for the economy and so people can still have a livelihood. On the opposite side of this, some people believe that all non-essential businesses should be closed in case there is any higher chance of catching the virus at them at all. In many instances, if you believe either of these sentiments, people with the opposite viewpoint will believe you to be a selfish person. The only idea that I am trying to point out here is that people believe that they have the most scrupulous opinion in both scenarios. If we stop the thought process after the criticism, we are unfortunately creating more division and not allowing for us to understand another person’s experience or point of view. Like I said, I’m very conflicted about this, but I am trying to use this as an opportunity to try to comprehend how other people think and trying not to jump to extreme conclusions.

All of this being said, I definitely believe that there are some situations that we can be more definitive about without further consideration. These situations are if someone has a belief that is harmful, hateful, or dangerous towards themselves or others. These should without a shadow of a doubt not be tolerated and most definitely should be condemned. 

In all other situations, we need to consider having a more generous and sympathetic mindset to others with differing opinions. At the end of the day, I don’t know if we should just vilify others for thinking in such a way. I will definitely have to do a lot more contemplation on this, and I hope you do, too. But, everyone has to make the most fastidious decisions for themselves. 

Is this the right path to take? For me, I think it is, but I can’t be sure. Am I being naïve? Maybe. But, as a person who chooses to believe that all people are inherently good because that makes me view the world in a better light and makes me a better person, I am definitely going to try to do some more considering before denouncing a person outright. This is because I believe for myself that is the best action to take. You have to decide for yourself, too. Ultimately, I do believe that keeping an open-mind is the best way to lead our lives. And, I believe that as long as we are holding ourselves and others accountable, and if they are willing to improve themselves for their own selves and the greater good then there is hope.