In this world, this social media climate, there is something that can easily get you ridiculed, disrespected, and even “cancelled.”

Your opinion.

Yes, that thing that everyone has, that allows you to feel however you want, about whatever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want. Your mind thoughts, that nobody else can control, and nobody can tell you how to control them.

Your opinion.

Imagine a world where you go to see how others are living, what they’re doing, and what they have. They put it out there for you to take in and observe, at times even going live with what they have going on in the moment, and post picture after picture, and post after post, just for you to consume.

But you better not have an opinion on it. Especially if you’re disagreeing with whatever they’re posting, no matter how bad they make themselves look or dress, how ridiculous they are acting, no matter how off their words are, spelling is, grammar is, and how off putting their beliefs are.

DO NOT PUT YOUR OPINION!

Here’s the truth though:

Everyone is sharing their lives for one purpose: for attention. What we must understand about attention is the power it contains in today’s climate. Think about this, just for a second. Who would these people be without the power of momentary attention:

And there’s more than these people, but I think you get the idea. All they had to do is get themselves in the right positions, and attention made them stars. What are their attributes? What makes them special? Who do they give to other people (besides entertainment, because a random baby can provide hours of entertainment:

(See what I mean, and this is just a gif.)

Entertainment isn’t exactly worth much, especially when everything is made to entertain us as people, and it comes in so many different forms. Even things that aren’t meant to be entertaining will have millions of clicks, views, comments and mentions. Entertainment, while not necessarily easy, often happens accidentally, and that includes people getting famous after capitalizing off of random moments, who they happened to be with, or acts that they committed over time. People want attention more than they want just about anything else, including God, money, and love. No matter the type of attention, they will attempt to catch your eye, and explain their actions later, which can open them up to scrutiny, especially on social media, which is where everyone is free to express their opinions, right or wrong, offensive or respectful. Attention attracts, and oftentimes, people can not select the type of attention they receive.

Opinions that are not in line with the person who posted are often mislabeled as hate or slander. Far be it for someone to disagree on how a picture makes someone look, or disagree with a point that someone posted that they’re sure is a “fact,” then that person who disagreed with the poster must be hating. Even though they posted whatever it is that you’re commenting on, there isn’t much one can say if they disagree with the post. People will often say things along the lines of:

“If you don’t like it, why did you scroll past it?”

“People should just mind their own business.”

“If you don’t like it, delete me.”

Among other lines, these are common, with people not realizing the irony of their own words. Nobody has to necessarily like what they see on their timeline to have an opinion on it. It just has to evoke a response from them (positive or negative), and they are allowed to respond however they choose, whether or not you like their response or not. Liking something is not a prerequisite for commenting, contrary to popular belief. Secondly, people are minding their own business when they’re scrolling down their own timeline, and your post happened to be on there. Apparently, they wanted to see whatever business you wanted to post at the time, otherwise your post would not pop up on their timeline in the first place, and you wouldn’t be their friend. Social media is just that, and whatever you post becomes news for the other person, whether you like it or not. Disagreeing shouldn’t always lead to deleting, because a difference in dialogue can often lead to necessary growth. As long as they keep it respectful, it is always conducive to not have yes men around, and allow someone to challenge your boundaries, and challenge your own perspective.

Question: What do you believe about sharing your opinion nowadays? Do you feel free to do so, or do you sometimes feel hampered?

Black History Fact:

Esther Jones was the real Betty Boop

The iconic cartoon character Betty Boop was inspired by a Black jazz singer in Harlem. Introduced by cartoonist Max Fleischer in 1930, the caricature of the jazz age flapper was the first and most famous sex symbol in animation. Betty Boop is best known for her revealing dress, curvaceous figure, and signature vocals “Boop Oop A Doop!” While there has been controversy over the years, the inspiration has been traced back to Esther Jones who was known as “Baby Esther” and performed regularly in the Cotton Club during the 1920s.

Baby Esther’s trademark vocal style of using “boops” and other childlike scat sounds attracted the attention of actress Helen Kane during a performance in the late 1920s. After seeing Baby Esther, Helen Kane adopted her style and began using “boops” in her songs as well. Finding fame early on, Helen Kane often included this “baby style” into her music. When Betty Boop was introduced, Kane promptly sued Fleischer and Paramount Publix Corporation stating they were using her image and style. However video evidence came to light of Baby Esther performing in a nightclub and the courts ruled against Helen Kane stating she did not have exclusive rights to the “booping” style or image, and that the style, in fact, pre-dated her.

Baby Esther’s “baby style” did little to bring her mainstream fame and she died in relative obscurity but a piece of her lives on in the iconic character Betty Boop.