11 February, 2025

Toward a non-constant cancellation function

https://scottaaronson.blog/?p=8654

The sad part is that, in practice, the criteria for cancellation have tended instead to be things like:

  • Is the target giving off signals of shame, distress, and embarrassment—thereby putting blood in the water and encouraging us to take bigger bites?
  • Do we, the mob, have the power to cancel this person? Does the person’s reputation and livelihood depend on organizations that care what we think, that would respond to pressure from us?