Clancy trial sparks disturbing social media trends, behaviour

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source The trial of Lindsay Clancy — the mother who killed her three small children in a fit of what her defence lawyers called postpartum psychosis — has sparked a number of disturbing trends on social media. The case, which was declared a mistrial after an 11-1 jury deadlock, gained worldwide media attention and started intense debates over a number of issues: criminal accountability, limited resources for women who suffer postpartum disorders and a growing public divide over such issues. But worse than that are growing online trends across social media reacting to the Clancy trial and its conclusion. Along with the expected Monday morning quarterbacking, social media users are posting macabre clips with their babies in support of the murderous mom — some have mothers directly in front of the camera rocking their infants back and forth with captions reading 'Same, Lindsay,' or 'Me Too, Lindsay,' with the soundtrack of Clancy's private writings about how she was overwhelmed as a parent and was struggling with mental illness. Critics have said while one can sympathize with serious mental illness, tearfully mugging for the camera with an infant in support of a woman who killed her children crosses the line — especially when they get clicks and likes for it. Author Allie Beth Stuckey calls support for Clancy a form of 'toxic empathy.' 'The Lindsay Clancy support is why I use the term 'toxic empathy' rather than 'suicidal empathy,'' Stuckey posted on X. 'Suicidal empathy is just one of the toxic forms of empathy, but it doesn't describe much of what we see from liberal women today. The deep empathy they feel for Lindsay isn't suicidal but homicidal. It does not endanger them; it endangers others. 'Toxic Empathy is when you allow your deep feelings for one person to blind you to both reality and morality. So focused are you on the plight of one group or individual that you forget about those on the other side of the moral equation.' Another online trend has users declaring whether they'll date somebody based on their opinions on Clancy. Posted one user: 'If I want to date a man, first date question I'm always going to be asking him is 'Do you think Lindsay Clancy should go to jail for what she did?' And if that man says yes, I'm getting up and walking out right then and there.' The trends are having effects offline. An Illinois woman now stands accused of killing her 2-year-old son last week and faces three counts of first-degree murder. According to witnesses, Corrie Walsh, 40, 'had recently become very invested in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial' and talked about it on a regular basis in an online group chat with friends almost up until when her son was found slain, according to CNN.