i called celeb worship ‘pseudo-religious’ and i stand by it because i’ve witnessed 36 hours of outpoured condolences and refined think-pieces about the death of a dude from a defunct boyband from people who’ve not said one word about the multiple atrocities happening in the middle east and across africa and look this isn’t the oppression olympics, i’m not trying to shame anyone into verbalising their opposition to genocides especially if they feel despair and helplessness about their capacity to change the situation – feel/write whatever you want – but exhibiting your capacity to care deeply in the context of someone who made you feel pretty feelings when you were an awkward teen yet struggling to extend such empathy to our fellow planetary roommates currently facing an extermination effort is, put mildly, infuriating.