Human
beings often act as if their actions have no consequences for themselves.
A
pattern has become increasingly common in everyday life, especially on social
media. Many people behave as though nothing they do will ever affect them
personally. They casually type words without much thought, leave comments
without considering their impact, and attack other people as if it were just
another part of their daily routine.
Many
people insult, belittle, or judge others from behind a screen. It doesn't seem
to matter who the target is. Even people whose lives appear completely
unproblematic can still become the subject of harsh comments. Sadly, some
people have even turned this behavior into a source of income.
One
interesting example is the role of online buzzers. The term itself wasn't
always negative. In its early days, buzzers were used to promote products,
services, or raise public awareness about certain issues. Over time, however,
the term became more closely associated with attacking, cornering, or bringing
down certain individuals or groups in digital spaces. This shift shows that the
problem isn't necessarily the platform itself, but how it's being used.
These
attacks are often carried out relentlessly. Negative narratives are spread,
reputations are damaged, and other activities are done solely to generate
hatred for the benefit of certain parties. Some people may see this as
perfectly normal. After all, they're just doing their job to earn a living. But
perhaps the issue isn't that simple. It isn't merely a matter of right and
wrong or black and white.
From
a psychological perspective, humans are remarkably skilled at justifying their
own behavior. Psychologists refer to this as self-justification. When we
do something that could potentially hurt someone else, we naturally look for
reasons that make our actions feel acceptable. We tell ourselves that everyone
else does it, that we're just following orders, that it's only a joke, or that
it's simply part of the job.
These
justifications don't always appear because someone wants to be cruel. In fact,
it's often the opposite. Most people want to continue seeing themselves as good
people. So when our actions conflict with our moral values, our minds
automatically search for explanations that help us avoid feeling guilty.
The
problem begins when those justifications become a habit.
A
mistake that initially feels small gradually becomes routine. The routine turns
into character. Eventually, a person no longer feels that anything they're
doing is wrong. They stop thinking about the impact of their words or actions
because everything has started to feel normal.
This
is the point where empathy slowly begins to fade. People don't lose empathy
overnight. They lose it little by little through repeated exposure and repeated
behavior.
Empathy
naturally grows when we're able to imagine ourselves in someone else's
position. We consider how they might feel if they were treated the same way.
Unfortunately, digital environments often remove that process.
The
perpetrator no longer thinks about the victim's emotional damage, the financial
consequences they may face, or the pain experienced by the victim's loved ones.
They see the victim as an object rather than a human being with real
experiences, family, and emotions. All they see is a person defined by a few
seconds of social media content. This psychological distance makes it much
easier to ignore another person's suffering.
Ironically,
people who are used to hurting others often can't accept being treated the same
way.
Someone
who frequently yells at others becomes angry when someone yells at them. A
person who constantly insults others feels offended when they're insulted.
Those who attack people under the excuse of "just joking" suddenly
can't take the same joke when it's directed at them.
This
happens because human beings naturally judge themselves differently than they
judge others. When we make a mistake, we focus on the intentions behind our
actions. We know our reasons, our circumstances, and the pressures we were
facing. But when someone else does the same thing to us, all we experience is
the outcome. As a result, we're much more likely to see ourselves as the victim
than admit that we've also been the perpetrator.
So
the question is: Will someone change after experiencing the same treatment
themselves?
Not
always.
Some
people do become more empathetic after experiencing the same pain they once
caused others. But others continue holding onto the justifications they've
built over time. They convince themselves that their situation is different,
more serious, or more unfair than anything they've ever done to someone else.
Perhaps
the biggest problem isn't that people make mistakes. Every human being makes
mistakes. The more dangerous problem is when someone loses the ability to
reflect on their own actions. When every mistake seems small, always has an
excuse, and can always be justified.
Many
people think of consequences as something that comes from the outside:
punishment, criticism, or revenge from other people. But there's another kind
of consequence that often goes unnoticed. Every action we repeat gradually
shapes the way we think, feel, and see the world. What begins as a simple
choice eventually becomes part of our character.
In
the end, everyone has different beliefs about sin, karma, or moral
consequences. But one thing seems difficult to deny: no action is ever truly
without a trace. Every choice leaves a mark—not only on other people, but also
on ourselves. Perhaps that's why living well isn't simply about avoiding major
mistakes. It's also about refusing to underestimate the small mistakes that,
over time, can quietly change who we are.
"You
reap what you sow."
(Uwie
Puspita)
Has been published on Kompasiana
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