Jon Ronson: So You've Been Publicly Shamed

Modern-day shaming is an intense, and - thanks to the internet - lightning-fast form of social control. In his new book, "So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed," the Welsh journalist and humorist Jon Ronson winds his way through a recent who’s who of social media pariahs, whose impromptu postings and photos led to personal humiliation and professional downfall. Ronson, who was himself impersonated by a Twitter spambot, will explore why shaming, once abolished as public punishment, has returned, and the demoralizing effect of the online pile-on version of citizen justice for the shamed and shamers alike. He will be in conversation with Abraham Levitan.
This program was recorded on October 31, 2015 as part of the 26th annual Chicago Humanities Festival, Citizens: chf.to/2015Citizens
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[@mickmauser3618]

I remember a moment, in primary school, being caught up in the mob hysteria during the bullying of a kid one time. Some how I managed to take step back, saw what was happening and felt quite ashamed of myself. It was a poignant moment in my life.

[@juliababb9097]

I quit social media about a dozen years ago after being mobbed by people I didn’t know. Shirley Jackson’s “the lottery” is what it feels like to be shamed. And it just snowballs and you can’t make it stop. I’ve become more or less a Buddhist but I’m pretty much anti social media and now it even happens in public…i.e. “Karen’s”. I think people suck, which means I’m a rather poor Buddhist. I’ll be checking out the book but in the meantime I’d like to recommend Dr. Loretta J Ross’ work on “calling in the calling out culture “. Self righteous indignation is a social disease. The internet makes it worse. Thank you. I appreciate your work Mr. Ronson. The gray area is the brain. If people would only make the effort to think before they destroyed others…

[@yolaleah]

Jon's book is so important. It should be required reading. Thank you for sharing this event.

[@patrickjohnstaunton1539]

Leah White you say important as though irony were the chosen precept of acceptance. An acknowledgement of one’s own inheritance.

[@bobby4389]

@@patrickjohnstaunton1539 sus

[@Mrsbeatle1968]

Fantastic book, funny, interesting and scary- I know that he's had a bit of a backlash from various quarters, but the one great thing is, he doesn't care he's still standing. This is a great interview too. Odd but brilliant!

[@s.b.3275]

7 years and this got a whole lot worst

[@GenXersJustWalkItOff]

"Unpaid shaming interns" So well said.

[@halneufmille]

Yes, but interns usually dislike the menial tasks given to them. Partaking in a public shaming has been a fun activity since the dawn of societies.

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

Such an interesting topic. Scary times though...

[@patrickjohnstaunton1539]

More & more is understand the laziness of grammar in context as though personalised by persona. Meet the face that creates the race, a written jingle a la Mars a day helps you work rest & play. The compromise found at the other end of turmoil.

[@mistakensirens8422]

Hi, I have only got through a portion of your video (thank you), but felt I had to say that getting the balance between empathy and competitive capitalism is quite difficult (for me, anyway).

[@gregoryalanelliott8795]

I like Jon Ronson.

[@garvax9802]

Nod

[@hystoryan]

People literally are afraid to talk shit about powerful people now, its so terrible. You criticize politicians, you know the most powerful people, and you get called racist ect. But a random person on twitter making a slightly offensive joke you can literally call for their death.

[@Chrisflyism]

Unpaid shaming interns for Google!

[@patrickjohnstaunton1539]

We are clever & we’re stupid. we’re good & we’re bad. Now how the narrative, like some brand exalted by the very idea that presentation were the reference.

[@pseudonymous8702]

Why did he admit to fabricating quotes? Why not just say he was mistaken and do some equivalent of a retraction? Wouldn't be the first time a book got a fact wrong

[@ln6202]

The problem with the dupe twitter account of Jon Ronson is the photo of the real Jon Ronson. The name can be anybody's.

[@samuelwoods164]

Hahaha you should have asked for oxycontin, genius.

[@amerbur]

I just read on Twitter that this book has bestiality in it. Is that true?

[@gitchygitchyyaya]

In what context?

[@orionrestorationbeyond7390]

That’s funny he said twitter is doomed… he was right. Thank you Elon Musk, you’re awesome man. Even though I e got no money I’m down on my luck and my father has has shamed me throughout the community everywhere I go…robbed me of my gf job and dehumanized me… I’ve got your back 100%

[@CraigsOverijse]

Sadly still happening just look at the backlash against JKRowling for accidentally liking something people felt was transphobic

[@samantaray]

I wonder if Jon looks back at this in hindsight and thinks differently about BLM given its misrepresentation of the facts and misappropriation of funds. And actually folks often become more conservative because they see the consequences of an uber liberal life.

[@johnholeman2966]

Jesus Christ made himself of no reputation, Phillipians 2:7. ???