This is the practice of going through the social media history of a public figure to find offensive or embarrassing things they have said in the past.
This expression “offence archaeology” was drawn to my attention by 2GB’s Luke Grant.
Many millions of social media users at one time or another have posted something that someone, somewhere will be offended by.
And, since the Internet is forever, you can bet an offense archaeologist is digging into it, particularly if you are a public figure.
According to the Urban Dictionary this involves: “Examining the digital past of a contemporary public figure in order to unearth any statements that might be offensive to the ruling class. These offenses are best presented devoid of context or intent, which maximizes the potential for self-righteous virtue signalling among the people who are pretending to be outraged.”
But offense archaeology isn’t reserved solely for celebrities.
Anyone who has ever posted on social media is a potential target.
The late Sir Roger Scruton was a distinguished English philosopher who specialized in traditionalist conservative views.
He became a victim of offense archaeology after he was appointed to advise the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as the unpaid chairman of a new public body to champion beautiful buildings.
The offense archaeologists—who are notably left-wing—began digging.
Politically incorrect phrases were unearthed, torn from their original context, and passed around like a shame file.
Sir Roger was also one of the most brilliant, articulate, and wide-ranging intellectual figures in the English-speaking world—a man of intelligence, sensitivity, and political courage.
In the 1980s, he worked tirelessly and at great personal peril behind the Iron Curtain to help those fighting against the totalitarian jackboot of Communist tyranny.
Which made his attackers appear ridiculous to everyone but themselves, but not, alas, any less virulent.
But where so many other victims of offense archaeology eventually apologize for past statements, Scruton did not, but he did resign from the body to which he was appointed.
Offence archelogy wins again.
That is the ugliness of the world we live in.
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