Virtual lynching - modern world

Lynching is a form of violence used as form of public punition in many places. This is a terrible practice that should be eliminated, but in modern era of internet, mobile phones and social network, it seems that a modern type of lynching is emerging, the “virtual lynching”. This kind of episode, however, is becoming more common every day. Every person that does not comply with the “politically correct” value set can become a target for public aggression. The combination of emotional reactions with the facility to say things over internet starts an instantly reaction that can only reinforce rage and contribute to worsen social conflicts. In the politically correct era, it seems that social debate, which should be a healthy process, is giving place to extremism.  Any person that disagrees with homosexual marriage or that makes the mistake of saying something not well reflected about an ethnic group is considered a monster and accused of hating the referred group. Trying to oppose what is socially acceptable can cause very emotional and violent reactions.Strong emotional reaction is the main driving force of any case of lynching. When a group of outraged people get together the consequences tend to be disastrous, especially if there is a target the group feels capable to attack. The same principle is applied to our modern version, the “virtual lynching”. One person feels angry about a racist statement and believes he/she has the right of being angry and answer the aggressor with even more aggressive words. The outraged person writes a nonsense precipitated message over a social network, some friends immediately start to share that message or write worse ones. The same pattern will be repeated by thousands or millions of people, to the point that the “criminal” is severely punished by making a terrible mistake that will be forgotten as soon as a new scapegoat appears.For the perpetrators of such an “exemplary punishment” the effects of these facts are temporary. Many are just trying to demonstrate how much better than the punished person they are, which is not true. However, for the lynched one, the effects can be devastating. Many lose their friends and jobs, suffer physical aggressions and, sometimes, have to move and try to start over again.