Joseph Addison: Ridicule

In The Spectator, Joseph Addison talked about the talent of ridicule. Addison's opinion that ridicule hurts people as often as it benefits them is true. Sometimes people ridicule folly, and sometimes people ridicule solemness, but if they properly choose and use satire to laugh out something that the world will be better off without, they can make a difference. 

Instead of mocking something considered decent, why not mock vice or folly? Not only will it change the mindsets of corrupted and foolish people, but it will also make a difference in the world. For instance, in the essay "I Want a Wife" by Judy Brady, Brady uses a sarcastic tone and one-sided opinions to criticize the unrealistic expectations of married men. By doing this, she strives to change men's views on women. She also points out that marriage is a partnership, not ownership. This benefits people, unlike the many times ridicule hurts someone: like something as simple as making fun of women drivers saying that they are incompetent and shouldn't be behind the wheel. This could hurt the feelings of a woman learning how to drive and discourage her from driving. Even on social media, people target celebrities and try to find whatever dirt they can find on them. And, if by chance they found something, they alter the information to make it sound bad, and almost everyone knows. 

Ridicule hurts more people than it benefits. Only if people stop making fun of normal things and focus on getting rid of corrupted mindsets, ridicule will be of some use to the world.