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When I was at university, we often had political candidates come for debates. It was during these debates that students would heckle the candidates they didn’t like, especially when there was a talking point they disagreed with. The rowdiest were when representatives of different youth wings debated each other. The students heckled them a lot, especially over policies.
It was amusing to read in the mainstream media about local body candidates complaining about heckling during candidate debates and public meetings. As mentioned in a previous article, things that were considered normal in politics and towards political figures such as heckling are suddenly being amplified as something of serious concern by the political establishment.
Heckling is normal in politics. Being able to handle being heckled is a skill to learn for public life. This is not just an issue in politics: it happens in entertainment too, where the most common targets are comedians who often have to come up with the best comebacks on the spot.
Heckling is essentially the real-life version of YouTube comments. In the public square, it is the expression of feedback by society and the general public towards the views and opinions of those who have put themselves forward as society’s representatives, whether in politics or entertainment. Heckling can also be a way for the public to raise objections to things they don’t like to hear.
I would also suggest that heckling is a test. It tests the mental and psychological mettle of public figures. To be a public figure is to make yourself a target. Therefore, you must be able to withstand heckling and learn how to handle the comments from the public: to toughen up. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
