Eumundi Voice Issue 114, 3 April 2025

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Have you been “cancelled” lately?

The term “cancel culture” has swept around the globe in recent years. It was the Macquarie Dictionary word of the year in 2019 and shortlisted for the word of the decade in 2021. The concept of “cancelling” someone is not new. In ancient Athens, ostracism was the process by which any citizen including political leaders, could be expelled from the city-state for 10 years. Once a year, ancient Athenian citizens would nominate people they felt threatened democracy – because of political differences, dishonesty, or just general dislike.

Today, groups, organisations, celebrities and many ordinary people have been cancelled by someone. The repercussions are often not on the people who cancel but those who have been cancelled.

In many instances there may be a legitimate reason to cancel someone. What is worrying is when someone cancels someone from their lives and does not tell them why. Perhaps if the reasons were articulated, they may not seem as rational or could be open to challenge. Could “cancelling” someone be considered a form of cowardice? Is there pleasure to be gained by exerting power over another? Is it about revenge, or alienating someone in a group?

If I was a parent, friend or colleague and I knew someone was about to cancel someone I would advise them to:

1. Think on it.

2. Put yourselves in their shoes.

3. Weigh up the pros and cons of telling them why. The reason for this is if you cancel someone without explanation, it can be a form of psychological cruelty towards another person. Unless this is the intent of your actions, the questions to be considered are: is this how you want to behave towards others, and are there any unintended consequences of your actions? Food for thought …

Jenny Brice – Executive Coach