I think what often gets mistaken for “cancel culture” (which is really just public boycotting) is a culture of disposability which is the product of capitalism, in a literal sense. With the ideal of a economic growth, consumption is not only encouraged but required, which in turn requires waste and landfills. When the logic of consumption is applied to the social realm, dehumanization and objectification become the norm — we can especially see this with our relationship to non-human animals, whose flesh are literally consumed and disposed for the sake of pleasure and profit. Treating people like objects informs our attitudes about love, where love is seen not as extending the self nourishing the other’s spiritual growth but about mere satisfaction of desire. Relationships become seen as fungible—just throw the other away, all relationships are identical, the other is not unique and can easily be replaced as they are a mere supplicant for wish-fulfillment. It’s the commodification of persons, alienation from species-being.

We can reject this logic — through mutual aid and solidarity, compassion and commitment (and do not think this commitment means staying in unhealthy or abusive relationships, abuse and love cannot coexist). Mutual aid is so much more than charity. It means strengthening communities of care and rejecting the logic of commodification and disposability. This is why it is the basis for prefiguring anarchism, for anarchism seeks the triumph of freedom and love, and can only be created through love and freedom. We first have to realize that we are worthy of love, then be determined to act with a generous heart and open mind.