Shallow Activism and Imitative Anger
Be loud. Do nothing.
There’s a growing mob of apathetic warriors who confuse theatrics with action. They don’t wear uniforms, but their constant outrage identifies them (you’ll find them all along the political spectrum, but they tend to cluster on the edges). No matter the hot topic, they have a take and fervently display it — if only for a minute. It'd be commendable if this were genuine concern accompanied by a burning desire to fix injustice. But these cultural soldiers are only passionate about one cause, demonstrating their good character to the world.
You won’t find them solving problems, thoughtfully expressing their opinions, or working within their communities. Yet when an issue pops into the limelight, they’re quick to post on social media, order yard signs, and don t-shirts to ensure the world knows they’re “doing good.” It’s the adult version of a temper tantrum, complete with flailing and cries of “look at me.”
The social media posts are the most suspect. These self-glorifying pearl- clutchers don’t take even ten minutes to express their views, experiences, or opinions; that’d be too much work. Instead, they share a trending post, often filled with propaganda, and propagate its viral spread through cyberspace. Thanks for your service to the cause.
Imagine claiming to be doggedly passionate about something yet unwilling to dedicate even a few minutes to that cause.
If you don’t support their cause, don’t worry. They’ll be on to the next one in a few days or weeks, having done nothing to fix the problem they zealously pointed out to the rest of us.
It’s best, of course, to ignore these sanctimonious folks and focus on being a better person. That’s how real change occurs.
If you choose not to participate in this imitation outrage, you’re sure to be looked at de haut en bas, but that's ok. There’s no sense in getting angry, seeing that anger is rarely productive. Contrarily, it’s almost always counter-productive and begets more anger in return. By reacting angrily, you only fortify the mob’s sense of self-righteousness.
The best course of action is to stop the cycle. Acting equally but opposite only perpetuates the cycle and pushes its participants further to the fringes.
Your feelings and actions are your choices. Why choose anger over calmness? Why choose ignorance over knowledge? When you decide to let your position be known, take that act seriously and put some thought into it. If you don’t want to spend the time, it’s hard to argue you care much to begin with.
Not every flag bearer or champion of a cause is doing so to benefit their reputation. It’s important not to let phonies discredit the real difference makers. In his Meditations, Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius wrote:
“This transference must always spring from a conviction of justice or the common good: and your preferred course must be likewise, not simply for apparent pleasure or popularity.”
People are doing real work and making a difference. They should be celebrated and not lumped together with the signalers — and fear of being confused for one shouldn't prevent you from supporting a worthy cause, but don’t do so haphazardly.
Take time to understand the nuances of the issue. Write your position down to reveal weaknesses in your logic and gaps in your understanding. If you choose to endorse another’s views, a little fact-checking goes a long way. Blindly supporting inaccurate statements is a sign of ignorance in a world filled with noise. Don’t contribute to information pollution.
If you think something will be beneficial to others, share it. The reward is your attempt to share a meaningful message with others — not likes, attaboys, or praise. Being the best version of yourself and helping others is reward enough. But be intentional about what you share and who you support. Real virtue is taking control of your thoughts and actions, not screaming about issues you won’t care about two weeks from now.
When I start to become angered or annoyed by the opinions of others, I try to remember what Marcus Aurelius said in Euripides:
“Why should we feel anger at the world? As if the world would notice.”
When on my deathbed, I hope to reflect on my life fondly and proudly. I want to do good, not seem good. I can do more good by treating those around me with respect than by flying off the handle every time an issue emerges as the media’s latest money-maker.
