When Did We Stop Believing in Second Chances?

Picture this: You're scrolling through your social media feed, and suddenly you see it—another public figure being "cancelled" for something they said 15 years ago. Your heart sinks a bit, doesn't it? Because deep down, you know that could be any of us. The digital guillotine falls swiftly and without mercy, leaving no room for context, growth, or redemption.

Remember when you were a teenager? Those cringe-worthy opinions you had about music, fashion, or even more serious topics? The way you confidently declared that your favourite band was the greatest musical achievement in human history, or how you adamantly believed that your fashion choices were absolutely timeless? Now imagine if those thoughts were permanently etched into the digital sphere, waiting to be discovered when you're running for office or applying for your dream job two decades later.

"But that's different!" you might say. Is it though?

The Evolution of Public Discourse

Let's step back for a moment and consider how we got here. In the past, our mistakes, learning moments, and evolving views were largely private affairs (yay for being an 80s kid). You could have a heated debate at a dinner party, say something you later regretted, apologize, and grow from the experience. The moment lived only in memory, gradually fading with time.

Enter social media. Suddenly, every thought, every opinion, every moment of anger or confusion becomes a permanent record. It's like we're all carrying around every yearbook photo we've ever taken, including that regrettable haircut from grade 9, and being judged solely based on our worst styling decisions.

The Time-Travel Trap

Here's a thought experiment that keeps me up at night: Imagine you make a post today about your favourite management methodology. Nothing controversial, just your professional opinion about agile development or lean manufacturing. Fast forward 20 years, and suddenly that same methodology is considered deeply problematic for reasons we can't even fathom today. Perhaps we've discovered that daily stand-ups contribute to some form of cognitive bias we haven't even identified yet. Should future society have the right to "cancel" you for views that were completely acceptable—even progressive—in 2024?

Spoiler alert: They shouldn't.

Think about how absurd this would be in other contexts. Imagine cancelling Isaac Newton for his belief in alchemy, or dismissing Einstein because some of his personal views didn't align with modern sensibilities. Progress isn't linear, and neither is human growth.

The Human Element

Let me share something personal: Last week, I caught myself using outdated terminology in a conversation about neurodiversity. I was mortified, apologized, and learned the current preferred term. And you know what? The world didn't end. My colleagues appreciated my willingness to learn and grow. One even shared their own similar experience, leading to a meaningful conversation about how language evolves and why certain terms fall out of favour.

But online? Oh boy, that's a different story. The same scenario playing out on Twitter would likely result in a vastly different outcome. Screenshots would be shared, context would be stripped away, and suddenly, a learning moment becomes a weapon.

We've somehow created this perfect storm where:

• Our mistakes are permanent, archived in the digital amber of the internet
• Our growth is ignored, with past statements treated as current beliefs
• Our humanity is reduced to our worst moments, captured in 280 characters or less
• Our context is stripped away, leaving raw words without the nuance of time and place
• Our intent becomes irrelevant in the face of impact, regardless of how much we've changed

Does this make any sense? (I'll wait while you shake your head no.)

The Accountability vs. Cancellation Conundrum

Now, let's get something straight—this isn't a free pass for harmful behaviour. There's a massive difference between holding someone accountable and participating in cancel culture. The distinction lies not in the initial call-out, but in what happens next.

Accountability looks like:

"Hey, that thing you said was hurtful. Here's why..."

"I understand. I'm sorry and will do better."

Learning and growth happen

Community provides space for change

Future actions demonstrate understanding

Cancel culture looks like:

"I found this tweet from 2008!"

"DESTROY THEM!"

No room for growth or redemption

Past apologies are dismissed

Change is considered impossible

Intent is irrelevant

The key difference? Accountability aims to improve society by helping people grow. Cancel culture seeks to improve society by removing people from it. One of these approaches is sustainable; the other creates a culture of fear and performative perfection.

The Reality Check

Let's be real for a moment. We're living in an era where:

• Our views are more public than ever before, with social media archiving our every thought
• Social media has made our past searchable, creating a permanent record of our evolution
• Society's values are evolving faster than ever, making it impossible to predict future standards
• Technology has eliminated the natural erosion of memory, making past mistakes eternally present
• The context of our statements can be stripped away with a simple screenshot
• Yet we're somehow less forgiving than ever, despite our own imperfections being equally visible

Doesn't this seem like a recipe for disaster? (That's a rhetorical question—we both know it is.)

Consider this: In the past decade alone, we've seen massive shifts in societal understanding around gender, race, mental health, and countless other issues. Many views considered progressive in 2014 might be seen as problematic today. Does this mean everyone who held those once-progressive views should be cancelled? Or does it mean we're all on a journey of understanding together?

The Psychology of Cancel Culture

What drives our participation in cancel culture? Often, it's a combination of:

• Righteous anger at genuine injustice
• The desire to be seen as being on the "right side" of history
• The satisfaction of collective action
• The illusion of making positive change through punitive measures
• Fear of being targeted ourselves

But here's the thing: While these motivations might feel satisfying in the moment, they often work against our stated goals of creating a more just and equitable society. When we make growth impossible, we remove the incentive to change.

The Way Forward

So what do we do about this? How do we create a culture that allows for both accountability and growth? Here's a comprehensive approach:

1. Embrace the Journey: Recognize that someone's views from 2005 don't necessarily reflect who they are in 2024. Document your own growth journey to understand how views can evolve.

2. Practice Proportional Response: Ask yourself, "Does this decade-old tweet really warrant destroying someone's career?" Consider whether the punishment fits the crime and whether it serves any constructive purpose.

3. Encourage Growth: Create space for genuine apologies and learning. Share resources rather than shame. Offer pathways to redemption through action and understanding.

4. Check Your Timeline: Before reacting to old content, consider:

• The context of when it was created
• The prevailing social attitudes at the time
• The author's subsequent growth and actions
• Your own evolution of understanding

5. Be Human: Remember that you too have grown and changed over the years. Document your own learning journey to build empathy for others'.

6. Understand Context: Consider the full picture:

• The person's complete body of work
• Their actions since the contentious statement
• Their efforts to learn and grow
• The impact of their positive contributions

7. Foster Dialogue: Create spaces where difficult conversations can happen without fear of permanent repercussions. Encourage questions and learning.

The Power of Redemption

Let's talk about the transformative power of allowing people to change. History is full of examples of individuals who held problematic views and later became powerful advocates for justice. From former extremists who now work to deradicalize others, to politicians who evolved on social issues and helped pass progressive legislation—change is possible when we allow it.

Consider these scenarios:

• The environmental activist who used to work in the oil industry
• The diversity advocate who overcame their own prejudices
• The mental health campaigner who once stigmatized psychological issues
• The disability rights supporter who previously used ableist language

Should these people be defined by their past views, or by their journey toward better understanding?

The Call to Action

Here's what I want you to do:

1. Next time you see someone being "cancelled," pause before joining in. Ask yourself:

• "Would I want to be judged by my past self's understanding?"
• "What would be the most constructive response here?"
• "Am I contributing to positive change or just participating in punishment?"

2. Share your own growth story. Talk about views you once held that you've since changed. Let's normalize growth by:

• Documenting your learning journey
• Acknowledging past mistakes
• Highlighting what helped you change
• Supporting others in their growth

3. When someone apologizes and shows genuine growth, amplify that story. We need more examples of redemption in our narrative. Share:

• Stories of positive change
• Examples of successful accountability
• Cases where cancellation was avoided through dialogue
• Instances of communities growing together

4. Create spaces for learning and growth by:

• Hosting discussions about evolving understanding
• Sharing resources for education
• Supporting those on their journey
• Celebrating progress and change

Remember: We're not fossilised in amber—we're living, breathing, growing beings. It's time our online culture reflected that reality.

The Future We Choose

The next time you're tempted to participate in cancel culture, ask yourself: "Am I helping create the kind of world I want to live in? A world where growth is impossible and past mistakes are eternal? Or do I want to build something better?"

Because here's the truth: The same mercy you show others today is the mercy you might need tomorrow. We're all one archaeological dig through our digital history away from being cancelled. But we have the power to change this dynamic.

The Bottom Line

In the end, it comes down to this: We're all works in progress. Every single one of us. And while the internet might be written in permanent ink, human beings are written in pencil—always capable of erasing, rewriting, and improving.

The question isn't whether people should be held accountable—they should. The question is whether that accountability should leave room for growth, learning, and redemption.

Isn't it time we remembered that?

Think about the future you want to create. A future where:

• Mistakes are opportunities for growth
• Learning is celebrated, not punished
• Change is possible and encouraged
• Communities support evolution
• Redemption is always an option

Your turn: Share this if you believe in second chances. Share this if you've ever changed your mind about something important. Share this if you think we can do better than cancel culture.

Because we can. And we must.

The choice is ours: We can continue down the path of permanent judgment and impossible standards, or we can create a culture that recognizes our shared humanity and capacity for growth.

What will you choose?