REQUIRED: How One Stupid Tweet Blew Up Justine Sacco’s Life – The New York Times

We will be discussing Internet shaming in class. Read this before Wednesday. See you soon!

Still, in those early days, the collective fury felt righteous, powerful and effective. It felt as if hierarchies were being dismantled, as if justice were being democratized. As time passed, though, I watched these shame campaigns multiply, to the point that they targeted not just powerful institutions and public figures but really anyone perceived to have done something offensive. I also began to marvel at the disconnect between the severity of the crime and the gleeful savagery of the punishment. It almost felt as if shamings were now happening for their own sake, as if they were following a script.

Source: How One Stupid Tweet Blew Up Justine Sacco’s Life – The New York Times

Please follow and like us: