It's important that the man who made those explicit threats to Agrima Joshua faces legal action, but he's unfortunately part of a larger problem that we must start speaking up about more: the 'provocative opinion' culture that's spread across social media as a cancer.
#Thread
#Thread
A cursory glance through the profile of the man & it hits every beat of trending topics, especially toxic male favourites of 'fake feminism' & 'go to Pakistan'.
In his most recent videos, he's literally said he made the threats because his fans wanted him to speak about Agrima.
In his most recent videos, he's literally said he made the threats because his fans wanted him to speak about Agrima.
He is a product of an internet culture we are all guilty of creating & consuming:
First, we share memes of their abusive lines.
Then, we cheer for them on a reality show.
Then, we retweet their videos for laughs.
Then, they become famous enough to join politics and set agendas.
First, we share memes of their abusive lines.
Then, we cheer for them on a reality show.
Then, we retweet their videos for laughs.
Then, they become famous enough to join politics and set agendas.
This is a dangerous trend where so many of us have turned our timelines into our own, individual reality TV shows, where we are both 'Raghu', abusing others for not being good enough, and the Roadies contestant dying to seem good enough for likes, shares, followers and retweets.
There are many famous/infamous examples of those who have massive following online, who do provocative commentary for a living, pointing out how they respect women, LGBTQ, Muslims, while individually targeting people from each marginalised group, only because it gets them likes.
For too long we have been feeding this monster, but now we have reached that point in this vicious cycle, where men are now giving public and graphic rape and death threats to women, only because it will appease their followers.
What a shame this is, and what a shame we are.
What a shame this is, and what a shame we are.
To do better, we need to ensure punishment to the many men who are giving brazen threats to Agrima, but individually, we need to be wary of the people and voices we choose to amplify, even - or especially - if it is to laugh at them.
We are only making them more visible.
We are only making them more visible.
And let's stop seeking opinions from, or pushing opinions of, provocateurs, even if their bias is the same as ours.
Because the most radical thing we can do on social media now is to ignore those who are speaking only to be noticed, and not because they have something to say.
Because the most radical thing we can do on social media now is to ignore those who are speaking only to be noticed, and not because they have something to say.
I really hope Agrima takes strength from all the people speaking for her today, and even more so, I really hope we raise a storm large enough against the men threatening her, so that more women don't have to face the targeted harassment she did.
