Can the value of dignity drive our digital habits?

Facilitator reads the following and prompts the group: 

• There are times when we have all shared particular content and behave in certain ways online knowing full well that it will be unflattering or embarrassing – to ourselves or to others. Why do we still share it? (Open for responses.)

There is something about the nature of digital platforms that somehow makes it a bit easier to engage in a way that we wouldn’t necessarily do in person. Recalling who sits on the other side of the screen and how to engage with them with dignity is a challenge that is increasing in scope and intensity as we move further and further towards platforms where anonymity reigns.

Facilitator prompts the group: 

• Have you ever shared something online and then immediately deleted it? What prompted you to take it back?
• When have you felt that your own human dignity has been diminished by online interactions and content? If you feel comfortable doing so, explain the details of the situation.

Conclude this Section:

In the modern world, technological devices are in many ways extensions of ourselves. If we know that sharing particular content or behaving in certain ways online diminishes one’s dignity why do we still do it? What compels us?

The question for us to explore is how can increased awareness of one’s human dignity drive our technological behaviors and choices?

Read for context: 

The Hebrew language is layered with meaning and allusions, and as such the concept of human dignity can be appreciated through the lens of how we refer to it in Hebrew.

Share the following about the Hebrew words for “human dignity:”

The Torah teaches us that humans – no matter their gender, race, color or abilities – are all created B’tzelem Elokim, in the image of God. As such, we are inherently worthy. In Hebrew, this value is called kevod habriyot – the honor and dignity of all people.

The word in Hebrew for honor, kavod, is related to the word for weight and heaviness (heavy = kaveid in modern Hebrew).

The value and concept of kavod habriyot then, is related to giving weight to the presence of another human being.

Reflect in pairs ask:

• From this Jewish values perspective, what resonances does “human dignity” hold?
• What does it mean to give ourselves and others the “weight” we deserve?
• When we make light of things, how does that diminish human dignity?

Conclude this section by leading into the values exploration and posing the question:

Let’s explore a little more deeply the value of human dignity using the idea of “weighty” or “worthy” as a guide.

How might we be able to do, say and share the things we really want to do online and still hold the value of human dignity front and center?

In this activity you will have the opportunity to take a few minutes and assess some trends in the usage of your digital devices and how they do/do not reflect your own sense of holding human dignity as a value.

• Take out your phones and select one platform to scroll through. Find at least two posts – they can have been posted by anyone – (images, tweets, videos), that in your mind diminish the dignity of either the subject of the post, or the person posting it.
• Turn to the person sitting next to you and share why you selected those posts and in what ways they diminish someone’s human dignity. Each partner should share.
• Now, together as a pair, try to come up of a reason why the person posting did what they did, even as it diminishes the dignity of another. What did they gain from doing so?
• Now, turn this activity to yourself and return to your phone for a moment of reflection. Scroll through or think of a time when you posted, commented or shared something that diminished your own sense of human dignity. Why did you do it?

Conclude:

Given the speed with which we interact with our devices, we are not always afforded the time to sit back, take stock and assess what we write, the ways we present ourselves, and how we interact with others. Human dignity may be the furthest thing from our minds as we try to look good, defend our beliefs, show support for friends, and share ideas widely. As we become more aware of our digital behaviors, we can also remind ourselves to consider whether our actions reflect the dignity we wish to assign to ourselves and others.