its weird how many people will get mad at you if you suggest something like "i try not to entertain any instinct to make fun of someone - anyone - even if im arguably ethically justified for doing so" like i thought that was a really basic idea, really essential
it feels REALLY righteous to make fun of someone. especially someone doing things you dont like, or things that are generally just harmful, or for any other reason. if someone espouses an idea you oppose, it feels good to make fun of them. because finally, finally! a target! a target to receive my justice, even if they'll never actually witness my ire, and they only serve as an ideological punching bag to get my companions and peers to agree with me. that feels good. it feels right.
but after trying it for a few years ive realized that good things dont actually come out of that. especially if it becomes a social event. you just get better at making fun of people (which will eventually come around to bite you, like one day you'll be low energy and you'll find yourself pointing your mockery at someone who DOES see it, who IS affected by it, and who WILL be hurt by it - like a friend, someone you love), and you'll surround yourself with people who connect with each other through making fun of people. this results in only bad things.
but if you practice not reacting to things that do not really, actually, immediately demand a reaction from you, it becomes easier to not engage with things that piss you off, things that get you riled up. it clears your mind. makes it easier to know which things you can actionably affect, which things you can participate with and enact justice within, and which things are just weird or bad but ultimately you cant do anything about except live your own life. and honestly there's no better ethical action out there than just living your own life
