What's The Point of Over-Praising Basic Acts of Kindness
Hey, do you remember the time in school, kindergarten, was it? When did we learned about being kind and respectful to one another? There were songs, too, that we had to learn and sing for assemblies.
But as we graduated to higher classes, we no longer had to sing these songs or give exams on whether or not we comprehended a lesson on kindness. Because by that time, it was supposed to have been etched in our minds that this is what humanity is like. We must show respect to other human beings.
When we went off to college, we didn’t have to be reminded that, by the way, that person who just fell down, maybe just ask if they are okay. Because all of these sympathetic feelings stem from humanity. We all have it. We are supposed to act humanely towards each other.
But now that we have social media, and every aspect of our lives must be posted and analyzed, suddenly, these basic manners have become a feat.
It’s not a simple act of kindness anymore. These acts have evolved into things only superheroes are capable of.
You see a clip of a cabin crew member handing out a napkin, and that becomes a cause of celebration. A woman holding a door for the elderly? Wow! She’s so respectful. A man picking up a toy a kid dropped? That’s the kindest person ever!
Now, admittedly, these are acts of kindness, but social media doesn’t celebrate kindness. It points out that only a few people are capable of it, and the rest of you, including you, the viewer, are uncouth and would never show such kindness to anyone.
Because remember, social media is not only entertainment, it is a reminder of all the things your life lacks, because look at all the things other people have. They go on fancy trips and to expensive restaurants? And you? You’re trying to survive the day and comforting yourself by eating a noodle cup.
When celebrities get involved, it becomes a different matter altogether. If a celebrity helps a paparazzi find their missing footwear when they rush at the celebrity, it becomes breaking news.
Look how kind that celebrity is! Her parents, who were actors too, have raised such a well-mannered nepo-baby!
Or if a celebrity catches some food that was about to spill on their expensive, designer (and mostly rented) clothes, it becomes a viral clip.
Check out the reflexes! Check out how cool they are!
Perhaps the most cringeworthy videos are those of celebrities doing charitable acts. That is when the entire camera crew is around them, filming them from every angle, posting their clips before fans are able to, so the entire world knows that they hugged a crying person who is down on their luck, but was told beforehand to act surprised they spotted the celebrity.
There may be some celebrities who genuinely care and donate to charities, but more often than not, you will find social media full of clips and thundering music that portray them as superheroes of the world.
So…what’s the point of praising basic acts of kindness?
Are we pointing out that people are not capable of kindness? Are we saying only celebrities can be kind? Or are we putting forth the fact that only people with money are able to show kindness and should therefore be glorified?
Why is something as basic as human compassion glorified when it should be normalized and included by everyone in their daily lives?
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