Cancel culture is just another form of purity culture. It is the idea that the range of acceptable ideas must be constrained into a very narrow field, and any illusion of freedom of thought is maintained by lively discussion only within the acceptable range. Any individual with ideas outside of that acceptable range, regardless of how well they may have been accepted in their own society, cannot be studied, lest "unacceptable" ideas proliferate.
I should probably brush up on Cicero's work. I briefly encountered it when I was studying Latin (my courses focused almost entirely on Horace, and when my father studied Latin, his courses focused on Julius Caesar), but based on what I have read from his supporters and critics alike, I'd very much like to dive further into the subject. Perhaps when I'm not so busy.
Cute cat, BTW. Yours?
I totally have a problem with the idea that someone gets to decide what discussion parameters are acceptable for me to engage in. Guess I am an Unacceptable then....:)
That said, you beyond succinctly put into words what cancel culture is, I hate it so very much, it's so restrictive and ultimately leads to the worst kind of coercion, the purity test kind. Yuck.
Throughout life I have come across Cicero's work from time to time, but I hadn't ever studied who he was in more historical and personal depth until recently. Just what little I learned has made me want to learn more about him along with some of the other historical figures who's work I have perused.
And that is our cat Jager. He is quite the feline, a very vociferous boy lol.
Thanks for the super awesome reply!
Jager. German for hunter. I love your cat. :)
Thanks @carolkean😊 Right now he's hunting a candy wrapper pretty intently lol!