A few weeks ago, I read the new reports based on tweets made during the diversion of a flight, on which Keanu Reeves was travelling.\u00a0 And it left me a little disturbed about our social media focused society.<\/p>\n
The plane had a minor mechanical issue and had to divert to Victorville, CA, instead of continuing to its intended destination.\u00a0 It was uneventful, and Keanu Reeves was photographed in a number of selfies and praised by everyone for the way he acted in response to the incident with his interaction and kindness.\u00a0 That’s admirable.\u00a0 But what was very disturbing was the reference by numerous people on the plane to Keanu Reeves as a “hero” on their\u00a0 tweets.<\/p>\n
Hero?!<\/p>\n
Isn’t that the term we use for the police and fire personnel who risk the lives for life and justice?\u00a0 Isn’t that the term we use for valor in military action that fights evil and saves lives? And more importantly, is that the only word that comes to people’s minds when they wish to praise someone publicly?\u00a0 Seemingly, this is the way things are sadly headed… especially in social media.<\/p>\n
To be clear, Keanu Reeves actions were indeed praiseworthy, but poorly mislabeled.\u00a0 He did what would make a father or mother proud of their son.\u00a0 He was the model of a gentleman.\u00a0 If you’ve never seen the movie, I recommend you watch Blast From the Past (1998, Brendon Fraser).\u00a0 Dave Foley’s character reads the definition of a gentleman he looks up in the dictionary: a man who goes out of his way to make sure that the people he is with feel comfortable around him.\u00a0 Other than using the word woman, the definition is no different for a gentlewoman.\u00a0 You won’t find the definition written like that in Google: it’s answer is in the context of a title, and is far too shallow.<\/p>\n
This is a very ugly effect of the super-hero culture we live in today.\u00a0 Since social media requires people to speak up to be heard (and usually loudly or using shock tactics), the superhero character appeals to the masses because 1) superheros do great and inspiring things, and 2) superheros get mass recognition.\u00a0 But to label what Keanu Reeves did as “superhero” shows how this escalation has gotten out of control.\u00a0 The Romans documented hundreds of years ago something called the seven traps in logical arguments.\u00a0 They basically list seven traps which begin with “argument based on\u00a0 …” with names like “unverifiable authority”, “emotion”, etc.\u00a0 Labeling an act of kindness as if it is an act of heroism is “argument based on emotion”, and in this case… destructive hyperbole.<\/p>\n
It is important to realize that escalating anything beyond what it requires, raises (or lowers) a standard which should not have changed.\u00a0 If you feel the need to post something on Facebook, leave out the temptation to give it an emotional sales pitch.\u00a0 Let the event or article speak for itself.<\/p>\n
It is, in fact, a form of crying wolf… which can done with both complaining and praise.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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