The Daily Think

SUMMARY OF A VIRAL MOMENT
By now, the Breakdancing Olympian from Australia is now a cultural phenomenon and has been talked about more than the shooting guy from Turkiye (see pic.)

Rachel Gunn, or Raygun competed in the first ever Breakdancing Olympic event at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and her interpretive dance of Breaking has made her go viral for the wrong reasons.

COMMENTARY OF A VIRAL MOMENT
I know the content of the video looks funny, but we need to examine and analyze the implications of the video. It became a viral moment where the collective erosion of the world’s empathy was on full display the moment, we had something to make fun of. Ever since her performance, the jokes have been non-stop and if you are human, you have to feel for the lady and her interpretation. But why are we making these jokes, and what does it have to do with the Erosion of Empathy?

WHY WE MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE ONLINE
Although not complete because our motivations for humor can be varied, here are some of the motivations we have when presented with Breakdancing Athlete “Raygun” and her performance and her video and the opportunity to make fun of her online:

1. SOCIAL BONDING: In group settings, humor at someone else’s expense can sometimes serve as a way for individuals to bond with one another. It can create a sense of belonging and shared identity, as long as it’s perceived as harmless by everyone involved. Maybe people made fun of her because they were against the Australians from winning any medals.
2. INSECURITY: Some people use humor to mask their own insecurities. By making others the butt of jokes, they may feel a temporary boost in their own self-esteem or a sense of superiority. Is it possible that many of us felt we could dance better than her, and feel bad that she got to go to Paris and represent her country while we sat on our couches and made snide comments online?
3. SOCIAL COMMENTARY: In some cases, making fun of others can be a way to critique or comment on societal norms and behaviors. Satire and parody often use humor to highlight and challenge social issues. There has been some mocking of her because of her skin tone, and there are critics who feel she may have been mocking a historically black and brown artform with her performance.
4. ENTERTAINMENT: Good old fashioned Don Rickles/Triumph the Insult Dog entertainment. For some, humor is simply a form of entertainment, and the line between harmless fun and hurtful behavior can be blurred. What one person finds amusing, another might find hurtful. And based on the likes and views people are getting with their jokes, it clear people like the attention of coming up with that “sick burn.”
5. ANONYMITY: Online environments often provide a sense of anonymity that can lead people to act in ways they wouldn’t in face-to-face interactions. This can embolden individuals to make fun of others without immediate repercussions. Although not a motivation, it doesn’t hurt to embolden people knowing that their joke will be heard but their identity may be hidden.
6. NORMALIZATION: And finally, in some cultures or subcultures, making fun of others might be normalized or even expected behavior. If people are accustomed to this kind of interaction, they might not recognize it as harmful. Very specific Twitter/X accounts and Instagram accounts are focused on humor, and when an easy target like this comes along, its quite normal for them to have the perfect joke lined up…without one consideration to the person they are eviscerating online.

It’s important to note that while humor can be a powerful tool for connection and critique, it can also cause harm if it targets individuals in a demeaning or hurtful way. Being mindful of the impact of our words and actions on others is crucial in fostering respectful and supportive interactions. But that is the exact point, we aren’t mindful, we aren’t using empathy, and we went further down the rabbit hole of being insult comics instead of compassionate humans.

THINK BEFORE YOU COMMENT
So before you hit like or throw in your comment hoping for a few likes about this specific Breakdancing performance, perhaps consider the people who will be affected by that humiliation. And like any viral video, it will go away, and we will find the next person to make fun of, but as we continue to normalize and look for the next video to mock, it’s pretty clear: The erosion of empathy marches on.