I mean, its a news article posted to a news forum. And if we look at the comments the parent comments for the top 7 threads are:

-unrelated anecdote -praose for the idea behind the festival -something removed (probably some random racist shit). Notably the child comments seem to call out the original sentiment. -a request for more info -tangential conversation about what defines a “major incident”

• the classic “OMG wtf”
• a comment likening this to another “needle panic”

I don’t know if your issue is with the content or the reactions but I don’t see how either points to the issues with social media. It’s a bit sensationalist and some of the comments arent exactly thought provokers, but there’s nothing (that I can see) that screams “social media bad”

Even to your point about boots, there are some people who are vegan (by their definition) and wear leather boots. Arguments can be made that leather will (in specific circumstances) result in less animal harm in the long run, and while I don’t personally justify leather this way, I can understand how some have these perspectives.

The real issue is labels. As soon as you apply one, you are subject to everyone else’s understanding of that thing. In my experience, if you don’t meet their understanding of said thing you’re dismissed as not being a “true x”, or it’s “if you truly are X then why do you do y?”

This is why I never refer to myself as vegan/vegetarian and just “I don’t eat meat” (or a more specific statement as needed).

I never say I’m a leftist/socialist I just gestures vaguely at American politics believe that’s kinda fucked and shouldn’t be done that way.

I even dislike saying I’m an urbanist because, even though I despise car-centric design, I’ve been called out for the sin of hiring a car when I visited my hometown last (generally I cycle everywhere or use PT, but I had an ankle injury so woe is me I guess)

At some level we’re all hypocrites, ones intentions are far more important, and shouldn’t be dismissed as easily as they are. What’s more important is to align your actions with your beliefs, be open about what you believe in, be open-minded when someone’s beliefs don’t align with your own, be ready to adjust your beliefs based on new information and experiences but most of all:

Be kind.

Cries in non-eu, non-degoogled android

Cool narrative you got there mate, problem is while the term “alum” was used for (far more than) 5 centuries, the words “aluminium” and “aluminium” were both coined around the same time, roughly 1810ish. Also, Sir. Davy, who coined the phrase that you hold dear, was British.

Tldr: every part of that statement is wrong