In the run up to and after the General Elections it was very difficult to stay neutral in many of the discussions that have occurred. It seems like everyone has something to say. The highly active political commentary that flooded social media highlighted opposing political views that people have. With both sides forcing each other to get defensive, it all too frequently erupted to hostility. Due of course to the availability of our voices through social media platforms many more people can join the frenzy and are likely too as well. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that posts that provoke angry reactions are more 34% more likely to be shared; topping the bill when it comes to internet content.
And amidst this confusion and anger hostility never strays far. With Facebook posts such as “If you voted Tory please remove yourself from my friends list”, provoking discussion, anger and sometimes even fear for someone holding a different opinion to yours.
However some views are dangerous, problematic or prejudicial, inspiring acts of discrimination or hatred. Most people would agree that these views are not to be tolerated but how far can we agree to disagree, and how can we not be disagreeable?
2015 has been a fitting year to discuss these issues, with the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris and the subsequent freedom of speech demonstrations, to demonstrations of solitary to African-American victims of police brutality, and with the general election and the anti-austerity marches that have taken place. It’s clear that people’s underlying beliefs are being voiced. And all of these movements have caused backlash too. Many people are also realising that people they love hold some problematic or contradictory opinions to their own.
How do we approach these opinions? And the people that hold them?
There are two words that describe why I love Sonic Youth so much and they are … wait for it … KIM GORDON. Kim Gordon was the bassist, guitarist and vocalist of Sonic Youth. She went to art school and was the only ‘girl in a band’ [Sonic Youth – Sacred Trickster]. She is known as the ‘Godmother of Grunge’, she is kickass and taught me that I can do whatever men can do. She being the only girl in such a successful alternative band really inspired me. I guess it taught me that I, too, can be kickass, my angry opinions can demand to be heard and any girl can successfully make it in such a male dominated industry.
TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE — JONNY PENN
TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING
DISAGREEABLE