Should Vacation Photos and IPL Cricket Matches during the pandemic outrage us?

As the second wave of Covid19 ravages our nation, there are many rightfully outraged that the government was not only ill-prepared to handle the crisis but also prematurely declared victory over Covid19 just a few months ago.

In addition to this rightful outrage, a micro-outrage sprung in some quarters. The targets of this micro-outrage are the IPL cricket matches and celebrities escaping to exotic tourist destinations.

My neighbor summarized the sentiments behind this outrage 

“People are groveling before hospitals for beds and oxygen. There are queues outside crematoriums. But our cricketers are busy minting money playing IPL matches. Our film stars are posting videos of themselves dancing on beaches."  

"How about using your talents to raise funds. Can stars not organize a concert remotely from their palatial mansions, broadcast it online, and raise funds. Is it so complicated for the IPL to convert itself into a continuous fundraiser for COVID victims and their families and use their influence to create a medical bank or fund an Oxygen plant?" How about just parting with a small percentage of your millions." 

"But no, they will not. This is the height of insensitivity towards the very people who made you rich and famous. It’s the collective lack of empathy that’s the issue. Let them die while we indulge in merrymaking”

There is a general consensus in society, you do not indulge in any ostentatious display before those less fortunate. For instance, you do not reveal the amount on your restaurant bill after a party before your chauffeur, perhaps because it is several times his monthly pay. Your chauffeur probably is aware of your lifestyle and its associated expenses, you just do want to rub the disparity in his face.

It is not just about the display of wealth or affluence, you do not indulge in aggressive physical activity in the presence of the physically impaired or wax eloquently about a beautiful painting in the presence of the visually impaired.

It is human empathy and decency to gloat about your privilege, affluence or ableism in the faces of the less fortunate. The importance of that rule is amplified a billion times when the less fortunate are suffering.

One would hope that human empathy prevails among all of us, regardless of our social or economic backgrounds. On a separate note, this may be a good time to rethink whom we look up to as our idols.

But insensitive as some of the behaviour may be, we must not overstate the impact it can have.

As it currently stands, India has a total of 2,682,751 Covid19 cases. India’s share of global active coronavirus cases now stands at 14.22 percent i.e. 1 in 7. The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases and is probably on its way to becoming the worst affected country. The situation is critical. The suffering for those affected is inexorable.

What is the likelihood in this dire situation that those among the suffering or their close ones will access social media to view photos of vacationing celebs? Even if they accidentally do view these photos while frantically looking for assistance on social media, what is the probability that this will affect them in any way? Also, what is the possibility that they will be in the frame of mind to watch a cricket match and be offended by the display?

Usually, when the situation is grave and the prospect of death is real, the mind is so focused and nothing, i.e. no IPL match or Social Media Post, can ever cause even a smidgen of distraction.

It also has to be remembered that one of the side effects of the pandemic, the lockdown and the perpetual bad news is serious mental stress. In such circumstances, some levity via fun social media post or cricket matches may be helpful in alleviating the feeling of doom and gloom. 

It must also be understood that the road to recovery from any ailment is usually hastened by activities that cause joy. It is also unreasonable and unrealistic to expect everybody to abandon everything to focus on Covid19 all the time. The human mind needs a break to recharge its batteries.

But we are living in the age of outrage that knows no rationality. It is hard to know if social media caused this phenomenon of the perpetually outraged online lynch mob or if it merely provided a medium for the eternally outraged to congregate.

A crucial component of the outrage is virtue signalling. Where some disparage others for being tone-deaf or insensitive or offensive merely to feel good about themselves. They are outraged because they are virtuous and they are also relieved that they aren't ‘offensive’ like a privileged.

But if one is going down that route, a similar charge can be leveled about these self-appointed custodians of societal morality.  

Why are they outraging about cricket matches or social media posts instead of helping those in need? Why are they spending precious time browsing through pictures of celebrities on vacation when they can actually help those in need? Also, what if those less fortunate accuse them of living in their comfortable apartments while they languish in their cramped rooms?

It is most easy to look for excuses to outrage and recommend the morally righteous path for others while perched comfortably on a cushioned seat before your computer screen.

Perhaps it is time to tread the relatively hard path of being the change that you claim to want to see in others?