Cancel Culture: Words, Consequences, and the Public Square

Freedom of speech is one of the most cherished principles in American democracy, but how it plays out in today’s culture is the subject of much debate. Some see “cancel culture” as a threat to open expression and free exchange of ideas, while others view it as a form of accountability when words cause harm.

At this meeting, we’ll explore how freedom of expression intersects with social norms, accountability, and the changing ways people respond to public speech.

We’ll ask questions such as:

• What do you think freedom of speech was originally meant to protect, and how has that meaning evolved?
• Can you recall a time when someone being “cancelled” felt significant to you? What made that moment stand out?
• Have you or someone you know ever felt “cancelled” or silenced? What was that experience like?
• In what ways do you see cancel culture protecting people, and in what ways might it silence them?
• How should we balance an individual’s right to free expression with a community’s desire to hold people accountable?

Other Questions

• How do you think social media influences or distorts the boundaries of free speech?
• Would you like to see the limits of free speech expanded, narrowed, or defined differently?
• In your view, what do the words we choose reveal about our character, values, or intentions?

This will be an opportunity to engage with a range of perspectives and consider how freedom of speech, accountability, and culture influence our democracy, communities, and personal lives.

Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.

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