The Things We Used to Fight For

Yeah, so today I wanted to talk about the things we used to fight for. Things we used to support, maybe like 10 years ago. Because I honestly don’t see any of it anymore.

Several years ago, back when I was a teenager just exploring the internet (and to be fair, I started using the computer when I was five), there was this energy. There were so many movements. So many social movements. And they were relatable. They weren’t just hashtags. Anyone could join. Anyone wanted to join.

I recently saw this post as I was going through my old Pinterest likes. I speculate the post is from between 2011–2015 based on the vibes. It was an anti-bullying post. It said something like:

“The guy you made fun of for being poor? He works every night to support his family.”

“The girl you called a slut? She’s still a virgin.”

“The girl you called fat? She’s starving herself.”

And there were more, like:

“The elderly man whose car you mocked? He fought for our country.”

“The kid you called gay? He just took his own life.”

Some people now would say that’s all cringe or too dramatic, but honestly? It was real. Back then, these posts reached people. You didn’t have to call yourself an activist or have a political identity. You just understood that bullying people for how they look, how they speak, who they are—it’s not okay.

Nowadays, though, I don’t see that same energy.

In fact, it feels like if you’re different now, you get bullied. Like… straight up bullied. People will act like they’re being supportive or progressive, but the second you disagree with something or don’t say things the right way, you get chewed up. That’s what’s so ridiculous to me.

Eleven years ago, we were so anti-bullying. And today? People bully you for not being “correct” enough, or for simply existing in a way that makes them uncomfortable. It’s heartbreaking. Like I get it, 2014 had its problems too, bullying definitely existed, but at least people were actively trying to raise awareness.

Now, people just mock. They’ll say stuff like, “Oh, anti-bullying movies were always about some pretty white girl who had friends and came from a nice family.” Yeah, okay, a lot of them were. And yes, we can definitely talk about that that. But that doesn’t mean those stories didn’t still matter. Take “Cyberbully” (2011) for example. People still debate whether it aged well, but I genuinely think it showed something real about what online cruelty felt like, especially back then. It was a product of its time.

Would a movie like that hit the same now? Honestly, I don’t know. I feel like we’re in such a different place.

That said, if you feel like you’re not being represented—whether because of your race, gender, class, whatever—I want to say something: there is representation out there. You just might have to dig a little deeper. And yeah, I agree, that kind of sucks. But also, I’ve said this a million times before and I’ll say it again:

Don’t wait for other people to represent you.

Whether you’re a minority, an artist, a creator, or just someone who feels invisible right now—stop waiting. Don’t expect some company or celebrity or system to speak for you. Don’t let someone else decide what your story is.