I was recently in Warsaw, where I presented a keynote entitled “What I Hear vs. What I Know: Battling Misinformation from the Newsroom to the Facebook Comment Section.”

So, it would be hypocritical of me to sit this one out. I believe in truth, I believe in facts. And I believe in speaking out when misinformation begins to take hold, when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s local and especially when it’s directed at me.

I can’t believe I have to post this, but here we are.

Vigilantism, especially when it drags in people who aren’t even involved, is not just wrong, it’s deeply damaging. It’s reckless, misinformed, and ultimately counterproductive. Attacking your neighbours based on hearsay and rumours that you believe happened gets ugly fast.  Before you go down that cancel culture route, reach out and ask for the truth first.

And truly, why do you want to cancel people? 

I’ve been caught in the crosshairs of this kind of behaviour recently, and I need to set the record straight.

This week, I received a message from a friend asking if I was the person who wrote the current petition requesting that Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland step down. My response?

 

My father died. 

I don’t have time to bother with the mayor.

Please screenshot and add that to the post. 

 

 

What I didn’t realize was that a few folks in that conversation thought to take action against me, in what we now call cancel culture. All because they THOUGHT I wrote a petition. 

One of them went as far as to send an email to the community radio station (that I volunteer at, mind you) and accused me of making false statements about the mayor on-air to “influence my listeners.” They questioned my ethics, my integrity, and my role as a volunteer.

What makes it even more absurd? They didn’t even bother to get my name right. They half-guessed it, used my married name (which I rarely use on-air), and made it crystal clear that they’ve never actually listened to the shows I host. Which is too bad, because they’re missing out on getting to know some very special and incredible community members. 

Shameless Plug Time: Listen to Northumberland Women Mondays between 8-9pm on Northumberland89.7

 

Over the past year, I’ve hosted two shows:

1. Northumberland Women
2. Northumberland @ 5 (Wednesdays)

Mayor Cleveland has been a guest on Northumberland @ 5 multiple times. Our conversations have been thoughtful, challenging, and, above all, honest. I know they strike a chord because I’ve had people tell me I was “too hard” and/or “too soft” on him, simultaneously (that’s when you know you’re doing something right).

The mayor and I don’t always agree. In fact, he’s told me that some of my positions are too conservative for his taste. But we show up, we talk, we engage, because that’s what community media is for: broadcasting diverse voices from various perspectives. 

Let me be clear: we live in a news desert. We have precious few outlets that offer a variety of viewpoints, and that’s dangerous. That is how misinformation thrives and echo chambers grow.

Northumberland 89.7 is a community radio station. We provide a platform for voices from across the county. Most of us are volunteers. We aren’t driven by profit or political gain; we’re here because we care. Silencing someone because you assume they don’t agree with you is absolutely ridiculous. 

If you disagree with a viewpoint? Challenge it. That’s how we learn and grow as a community.  

Northumberland 89.7 is always open to hearing thoughts and ideas from the community we serve, and are always looking for volunteers. If you have a show idea! Send them a pitch at info@northumberland897.ca

Don’t like a petition? Great. Start one that reflects your views. Why waste energy to cancel someone out? We live in a democratic society that provides us with the tools to express our disagreements openly and constructively.

Cancel culture isn’t a left- or right-wing phenomenon. It’s a ridiculous notion. So much time is wasted trying to shut down others, while that time can be spent using our own voice to amplify what we are saying. I mean, trying to get someone fired? Shut down their events? Calling their advocacy work a cult?  Bonus points on the drama and decisive language but most of us that do work in activism and advocacy, have heard worse than being called a cult. 

The secret is, not to listen to to loudest ones, because they are simply distractions.  Continue to do the work that you believe in.

We will never all agree. That’s life. That’s politics. That’s human.

Let’s do better. Let’s talk to each other, not about each other. 

Let’s build community, not tear it down. 

And most importantly, spend time amplifying your message instead of shutting down someone else’s. 

XOXO – Maria