We all need to stop fuelling the fire

Lets not forget, this isn’t fiction — it’s someones reality

I don’t think there has yet been an official statement about why Caroline Flack sadly took her own life this weekend. But it probably comes as no surprise, those close to her are blaming the negative attention she had been receiving regarding her personal life.

Quite rightly, a lot of those who knew and loved her are angry and calling out the press and people who are now paying their tributes, when a few weeks ago they played a role in causing, what is now, irreversible damage.

There is a call for stronger measures to be put in place to protect those in the public eye from the constant scrutiny and uncensored abuse they receive. Treating it with the same punishment we do when such behaviour happens in the real world.

If a person posted death threats, followed or abused someone to their face there would be serious repercussions. However, for some reason when someone is behind a screen and allowed to act anonymously they are not held accountable for their words or behaviour. Which is madness, given how much of our lives are now spent online.

I agree all of this is right to be questioned.

But I think we also need to look a bit wider than tacky tabloids and online trolls. Yes, they are screwed up for the things they comment and print, showing no compassion or regard for a fellow human.

The trolls are (sadly) doing it to make themselves feel better. Their life must be an absolute pile of shit, if bringing others down is how they get their kicks.

The media are (unsurprisingly) doing to it to make their bank balances feel better. People rowing and spreading hate on social media can be news in itself so also sells via click bait articles.

This is where we need to look at ourselves, because for these magazines and websites to still be in business, they have to have an audience.

Seriously, with all the backlash and high profile cases that have gone before, how can magazines or sites shaming celebrities still exist?

Because morons are still consuming them.

We don’t need to be the ones throwing hateful words in comments to add fuel to the fire.

I’ve never bought one of these magazines and wouldn’t choose to read one. However, I am no angel. It’s easy to end up clicking on sensationalist headlines online and before you know it you’re down a rabbit hole. Just the other day, I found myself watching this intricate story of someone outing a celebrity for some ridiculous thing or another.

I get it — getting sucked into drama is part of our DNA. Stories, heroes and villains is how most of us grew up making sense of life.

But there comes a point when we have to remember these are real people. They are not fictional characters. This isn’t a soap opera for our entertainment. It’s someone’s reality, regardless of whether the truth has been twisted or not.

And if we love drama that much or take pleasure in watching someone fall from grace — that says way more about us than the person in question. It shouldn’t take something so tragic for us to realise this but unfortunately it does.

We can all do better to not judge someone we’ve never met, respect their private matters and focus more of our attention to the people in our “real life”. Check in with them regularly— even the one who appears to be doing ‘just fine’.