Caution: NSFW [racist language]
What are called “cancellations” are mob actions designed to get people fired or shunned for their “offensive” speech or acts. It is as old as tribal society. But “cancel culture,” as we now call it, has been largely an online phenomenon; it is the new twist social control has taken. It is often very political, a way of striking back at political opponents, of “winning” in the marketplace of ideas by . . . intimidation.
But to what extent have governments and NGOs been involved in the spread of vindictive cancel culture?
Consider the case of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. He was cancelled for a short “roast” of Chinese comic Peng Dang, who had preceded him in a set at a comedy club. While the event happened in Texas, the cancel mob was, it turned out, orchestrated from China. Compare and contrast, as they say, compare and contrast . . . with other cancellations:
For context, here is Peng Dang’s set and the full set, including Hinchcliffe’s roasting response:
And here is what Peng Dang uploaded of Hinchcliffe’s reaction:
However you judge the merits of either comics’ comedy, or of the specific language of Hinchcliffe directed to Peng Dang, and to the audience, the nature of the online cancellation attempt suggests that the Chinese Communist Party likely coordinates online mobs to influence western opinion.
