“Cancel culture” is a bit of a loaded term and so the replies to you have been somewhat charged. Most people view the situations public figures find them in as just the necessary consequences of their actions. And like you, I agree that each situation should warrant a measured response from individuals based on the severity of the issue. It’s okay to not want to support people you don’t agree with, especially when the reason is agregious or harmful to others. The issue then is that everyone uses the same cudgel in the same manner for every crime regardless of severity.

But sure, if you don’t want to support someone for even the smallest of infractions, that’s your right. No one can take that from you. I may not agree but I support your right to do so. My only wish is that we at least give pause to think about the high bar for acceptable behavior we’re putting on public figures. I am as much for accountability as the next person, but I also think we’re humans capable of mistakes and capable of change. And right now, I don’t think a culture of grace is necessarily present online. We don’t have to tolerate hate or harm, but we can leave room for redemption. Maybe I’m being naive, I don’t know. But that’s my take.

Yea I set myself up for that one.

I have a strange fear of being engaged by trolls. The thought alone is exhausting. I may or may not take the bait but the possibility of wasting my time on a useless argument means I’m hesitant to post. Not sure if anyone else has felt like this.