The visit of any head of government is an honorific moment for any local independent business.
In February 2024, a pastry shop in Cornwall, England, received a visit from Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Given the rarity of such an event, Philps of Hayle proudly uploaded the photo to its Instagram account.
The response was staggering.
A few opted to make light of the situation, with one commenter saying that the PM’s taste in pasties was “all he’s got going for him.” The light-hearted comment was in a minority, however, with scores of anti-conservatives vowing to never purchase from Philps again. Within minutes, the post restricted comments before it was deleted entirely, with the shop apologizing for the upload and denying any political affiliation to the Conservative Party.
“We have decided to remove our post regarding the surprise visit from the Prime Minister today,” the shop posted. “It was with no intent to cause offence and was merely recognition of the Prime Minister popping by for a pasty. We apologize to anyone who feels disappointed or offended, certainly no political affiliations were intended.”
Conservatives and Social Media
The absurdity of the situation is an everyday reality for conservatives across the world, heightened by the easy access of social media. Before the internet, such events led to businesses receiving publicity in the local media, and objections to visits by government officials could only be communicated by contacting the store directly.
However, the rate of technological advancements means it is now possible to comment on a story regarding a place someone may have never visited. More than five billion people are now on social media, each of whom could theoretically vehemently spout vile towards a pastry shop in a small corner of England – even if they live thousands of miles away from it – if they so wished.
For conservatives – whether they’re employees or employers – it can be comforting to network with those who possess similar viewpoints should there be concern over cancel culture. This provides a safety net of support should woke ideologists attempt to “cancel” you or your business for your moderately conservative views.
It is also advisable for conservatives to maintain professional social media accounts separate to their personal views. While it may seem contradictory to business and self-marketing, it can prevent a woke extremist rampage should you hold an opinion contradictory to the woke ideology.
The Importance Of Respectful Debate
Of course, that’s not to say one should fear expressing their opinions on social media. A society where different views are not tolerated resembles the horrific dictatorships not seen in the western world since the 1940s, and so expressing beliefs is vital to a healthy democracy.
Perhaps the pastry store in Cornwall could have refrained from deleting their post, and instead encouraged commenters to disagree respectfully. Either way, promoting constructive, engaging debate is important, particularly when naysayers resort to personal insults. Taking the higher ground, surprisingly, is an effective argument in any debate where one’s opponents have a viral meltdown.
Nevertheless, social media is a great tool for communication but be sure to remain vigilant in your online presence, no matter your viewpoint. Generally, if you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, it’s best not to say it at all.