Feb 22 - Millions Suffering Poverty, War & We're Worried About Sam Smith? - Daily Drop #6

I’m annoyed.

I keep seeing posts on conservative Twitter, especially the Daily Wire, worried that Sam Smith’s Grammy performance poses a serious threat to the fabric of society. Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro have both been wringing their hands as “Satanism at the Grammy’s”, warning that this is the apocalyptic end of our culture as we know it.

And I’m like, “Huh? It’s a performance. It’s entertainment. Why are you scared?”

First, I just don’t get it. It’s like the 80s and 90s all over again. Then, we were worried the heavy metal music was turning kids into Satanists. Then it was Marilyn Manson. Then, it was Eminem and Lady Gaga. Now, Sam Smith? Who’s next? Who knows?!

Are social media pundits like Peterson and Shapiro simply getting old and cranky? Unable to “keep up with the kids”, have they lost the ability to, I don’t know, chill out and let the young have fun and express themselves? Are they becoming just a bunch of grumpy old men? Is this going to happen to me?!?!

Secondly, I really don’t get it. In a world where there are real existential threats, like poverty, war, pollution, and so on, Sam Smith is the one tearing up the fabric of our precious society? A precious society that, in the US at least, requires its citizen to do a crowd funder if they get cancer and want to live. A society that allows the UK’s NHS to deteriorate to such an extent that it strains to achieve it’s primary function - to take care of the health of the nation’s people, something these people are paying taxes towards, out of a salary that barely covers food and rent?

Aren’t these things tearing at the fabric? No? No, these systemic issues are not the problem. No, it’s Sam Smith’s satanic performance at the Grammy’s that’s destroying our world.

And I know this is me doing a case of “what aboutery”. Of course folks can critique his performance and critique social systems that leave people struggling to eat and threat their illnesses. That’s totally doable. But, Sam Smith? Really?

The only reason I can see for this is these pundits can’t help chasing clout.

Social media platforms, like Twitter, and independent media platforms, like The Daily Wire, all tempt these content producers towards easy hits. Criticise and attack something that’s currently popular and, boom, you got a lot of engagement. I mean, I’m kind of doing the same thing here. Which proves my point - perhaps somewhat painfully. Ouch.

So, yeah. I’m annoyed. I would love folks who gain notoriety to focus on things that really matter, and not get distracted by vacuous popular happenings. But, here we are. Even me.