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A review by dizzy_reception
So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
5.0
I originally checked this book out because I was publicly shamed about 5 years ago. I thank God everyday that I was not shamed on the Internet, but just in the small community where I was raised. However, even that relatively small shaming completely wrecked my self-esteem and made me afraid to leave my home.
I have been getting my life back together, and I picked up this book in hopes it would have some kind of advice. This book has some interesting interviews and case studies that help you feel as if you are not alone, but it is not a self-help book. If you are looking for tips on how to recover from a public shaming, this won't necessarily give you that.
However, I did finish this book feeling like I learned a lot. It made me examine my own thoughts on online shamings (I don't participate in online shamings and never did, but I have found myself silently judging). It made me realize that a lot of public shamings get so ramped up on the Internet because people are rewarded through likes and interactions with their pages. It might not always be a monetary incentive, but when a person participates in a public shaming they are part of a feedback loop that helps the shamer feel like they are doing the right thing and are morally superior.
Since this book has been published, many other people have gone through Internet shame campaigns, and the vitriol seems to have gotten worse. The most alarming instance of this happened very shortly after publication when GamerGate was released upon the world. Scumbag YouTubers made their entire careers off of public shaming during GamerGate We have also seen the rise of cringe compilations and accounts like Libs of Tiktok. Furthermore, public shaming has become even more politicized since the publication of this book.
The rise of "cringe culture" is part of the reason I gave this book 5 stars despite it not being exactly what I thought it would be. The message of this book is more important now than ever. There are people now who proudly exclaim "Bring Back Bullying", and as the author stated towards the end of the book, if people have to constantly censor themselves out of fear of public shaming, then our culture is going to become very bland.
I also found it interesting that public shaming doesn't just impact the shamee. It sends the message that you must conform to what the hive mind believes or else. It silences new ideas and is often used as a tool to further oppress marginalized groups. People who happen to even share the same name as a shamee could have their careers and livelihoods destroyed because more and more employers conduct Google searches on potential employees.
Those of you who say things like, "Well just think before you post" have absolutely said something online that could be interpreted in the worst possible way. There is not a single person among us who hasn't made a joke that didn't land or said something to a friend that could be misinterpreted by an outsider. Next time you want to shame someone and send an Internet army after them, consider the skeletons in your closet, or at the very least ask yourself why you feel your actions are a benefit to society because the research shows that the shaming is rarely effective.
I have been getting my life back together, and I picked up this book in hopes it would have some kind of advice. This book has some interesting interviews and case studies that help you feel as if you are not alone, but it is not a self-help book. If you are looking for tips on how to recover from a public shaming, this won't necessarily give you that.
However, I did finish this book feeling like I learned a lot. It made me examine my own thoughts on online shamings (I don't participate in online shamings and never did, but I have found myself silently judging). It made me realize that a lot of public shamings get so ramped up on the Internet because people are rewarded through likes and interactions with their pages. It might not always be a monetary incentive, but when a person participates in a public shaming they are part of a feedback loop that helps the shamer feel like they are doing the right thing and are morally superior.
Since this book has been published, many other people have gone through Internet shame campaigns, and the vitriol seems to have gotten worse. The most alarming instance of this happened very shortly after publication when GamerGate was released upon the world. Scumbag YouTubers made their entire careers off of public shaming during GamerGate We have also seen the rise of cringe compilations and accounts like Libs of Tiktok. Furthermore, public shaming has become even more politicized since the publication of this book.
The rise of "cringe culture" is part of the reason I gave this book 5 stars despite it not being exactly what I thought it would be. The message of this book is more important now than ever. There are people now who proudly exclaim "Bring Back Bullying", and as the author stated towards the end of the book, if people have to constantly censor themselves out of fear of public shaming, then our culture is going to become very bland.
I also found it interesting that public shaming doesn't just impact the shamee. It sends the message that you must conform to what the hive mind believes or else. It silences new ideas and is often used as a tool to further oppress marginalized groups. People who happen to even share the same name as a shamee could have their careers and livelihoods destroyed because more and more employers conduct Google searches on potential employees.
Those of you who say things like, "Well just think before you post" have absolutely said something online that could be interpreted in the worst possible way. There is not a single person among us who hasn't made a joke that didn't land or said something to a friend that could be misinterpreted by an outsider. Next time you want to shame someone and send an Internet army after them, consider the skeletons in your closet, or at the very least ask yourself why you feel your actions are a benefit to society because the research shows that the shaming is rarely effective.