What’s the point of having an opinion if you’re not allowed to voice it? What’s self defense without verbal defense? What does freedom of speech even mean? But what if you don’t know the context behind a topic? All these questions, with no answer because of a million different answers. I don’t think that you should voice your opinion when you know nothing about a topic. To me, your opinion is useless. But to you, it could mean everything.
You have a voice, I have a voice, but what happens when we utilize that voice? When we “speak up” there are consequences, good or bad, it always has some kind of effect. Nowadays, many social media influencers and celebrities use their platforms to speak up about certain topics: sexism, abuse, politics etc.. However, most of the time, that conversation is mainly just used as self advertisement—try the new SKIMS tank or buy my handcrafted perfume!“
When it comes to issues in our society, many people are left unheard consequently leaving those affected without solutions. So why should it matter when non-affected groups say something? Is it because of their fame, their reliability or because we want to be just like them? Fans, viewers and what I like to call “regular” peoples’ voices are rarely heard. So what do we do in order to be heard? Nothing! Or better yet, spread fake news!
It is frustrating when people from the “outside” of a situation give you their opinion to something they have no context to. Like when a man says a woman is “too emotional” Despite his lack of experience existing as a woman. So what makes him care in the first place? Why does he feel the need to give his opinion? My guess is that merely, we all want to feel included.
In our modern society, there is an unrelenting stigma of silence. We think silence may protect us, though at the same time the silence scares us. Audre Lorde, a well-known poet and activist once said, “My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.” I think that we can all agree with Audre Lorde. Whether we are silent or not, in the end of our cycle of life, it ultimately won’t do anything to protect us. So does this make people feel like they have something to say, just like their peers? Honestly, I don’t know. Nowadays, everyone has something to say, especially when it comes to topics that do not affect them whatsoever.
News articles, magazines, hot topics on social media and word of mouth are primarily the ways in which we acquire information. Bad news—this information may sometimes be false. The increase of fake news over the past few years has been overwhelming. With people twisting stories and events, it’s hard to get a hold of the honest truth. We use others by misinforming them, taking advantage of our own voices. This generalizes the problem of false news, making it a societal norm, though it is something we should not hold hands with.
Use your voice on topics that impact you, that you identify with and that interest you as a person. Don’t use your voice on topics that you know nothing about and/or are not a part of.
So, should people from the outside voice their opinions on topics that don’t affect them? Yes and no. If these topics don’t affect them, then why should they have a say. Would their opinion be valuable in any way? How come the people that aren’t affected are the people that shine light on topics such as war, violence and more? Honestly, just keep your mouth shut unless it’s doing good.
