Shame-Magnet Randi Zuckerberg Begs You To Stop Shaming People
Randi Zuckerberg, famous for her accomplishments in the field of being related to her own brother, loves the public eye. Except when it's mean. So please, Randi implores, only nice attention from now on.
The sad request—"Let’s All Agree To Stop Social Shaming One Another, Ok?"—comes via Dot Complicated, which is sort of like Randi's version of GOOP, only less literary. What's "social shaming"? Making fun of bad dogs, teasing your neighbors about their Christmas lights, tweeting about fat people at Wal-Mart, etc.
And then, there are the self-gaffes: embarrassing shit you create yourself, which Randi knows all about. After all, she has a strange, self-mortifying relationship with publicity. This is the same Randi Zuckerberg who considers sharing things people put online a matter of "human decency" after an intimate kitchen moment was inadvertently spread by the hundreds of thousands, exposing her family hypocrisy. Once again, your privacy mattered less than Zuckerberg privacy.
Don't Stop Believin' from Imagine Photo + Video on Vimeo.
It's also the same Randi Zuckerberg who has foisted herself on us, whether by cheerleading her brother's company, producing a disastrous reality TV show, boasting of "going to Hollywood," performing multiple, ill-advised live musical performances (including an acoustic set at this year's CES), and is now working on a book. A book she describes as "crazy." Not serious, or interesting, or thoughtful, but crazy. Crazy like someone who both bangs the drum of decency and makes constant, confusing grabs for attention.
So what's the takeaway before that book (and its PR blitz) arrives?
Maybe in a world where everyone is a critic, we all just need to toughen up a bit and grow thicker skin? But I feel like that’s not quite the answer, either. What we need are better unspoken social rules and etiquette around this sort of thing, so we can all navigate the gray areas together. I think we can all agree that a quick laugh at a funny photo is not worth hurting someone’s feelings.
Oh but Randi, you've already proven that it is.
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