A maze of snakes (reading) and bridges(writing)
By now the realization, simply amazes me, how writing can actually be a sell out of emotions fake and real or both.
Curious beings that we are, we have always been drawn to new ideas and information. Most narratives are a part of the greater truth. Can it be dangerous? I believe it can be and very real. We live it every single day.
Call it the wonders of newspapers, or technological connectivity of social media, its so rampant. We face this dilemma every where. The point being, every single one of us color the facts to our opinion. It is the most common example of freedom of expression, abused. A shared responsibility how we all fail to give truth it's rightful place.
Some great writer had quoted, how there are great many dangers to a single narration. It paints the truth in one sided narration. There is a saying in Igbo (From Africa), "Until the Lion tells his side of story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."
It is important to know others perspective before one starts judging a narrative. Every individual now feels empowered to be heard which is an amazing achievement of democracy. However one also has to be more cautious and be responsible. Sometimes this freedom can be misused if it was not hindered appropriately or made responsible, in simple words.
By the very act of writing, I am using my right, voicing my opinion. In a public domain I should expect to be scrutinized. Anything I put there should not escape censorship solely because although I have the right to expression, I have also the responsibility of such an action.
Without recourse, it is the same jungle law that will manifests itself as an unthinking mob. It is important to be aware and Govt's should comprehensively make laws to inculcate a sense of responsibility for the users.
Many of the user's identity are blurred out because of the fake accounts created to voice bigoted propaganda. These accounts are solely for the purpose of mouth piecing something a person would not otherwise take responsibility for. They pose a great threat to the sanity of free speech. Greater becomes the threat when someone without cross verification takes it for its face value. It creates a web of rumors which eventually triggers violence and hatred. This needs to be weeded out.
We have proclaimed ourselves stepping into the threshold of modernity and we have the technology to support us. All we need is a little attitudinal change to equip ourselves to be less vulnerable. First and foremost, verify whether its fact or just an opinion. Know that if it claims to be a fact, what are his sources and where does he quote them from. Cross check the source for reliability and you will already know a fact from opinion.
If we don't want to be responsible at all and verify the facts, the simple solution is not believe it and even better, not spread it! That will create a lesser problem. We need to remember that in public domain if we are not careful it will create a menace and the worse thing we want is a govt censorship because we behaved irresponsibly.
When you say out loud in a public platform it is suggestive you are screaming your words aloud for everyone to be heard. In doing so, people are going to hear you, you cannot ask another person shut out in public. That right becomes your responsibility when you express it.
It is a very basic form. When we were children parents often set limits to our rights in order to instill a sense of responsibility, and when we become responsible, the limits automatically comprehended in our subconscious.
I have often heard people say, who are they to judge, but this connotation may only be right, if it is for self consumption, alone. It is in this attitude I find the right violated many a times sometimes even among friends, community, religion all of which has become, of late a very touchy subject to broach.
The carelessness of speech, finds many manifestations in everyday life. Be it putting up Facebook status, commenting or sometimes sharing contents which figuratively screams of attention.
Especially in times of crisis, it takes a very rudimentary form, rumor triggering mass violation, clouding sensible minds making them a mere mob. In making this statement, many would argue why should freedom of expression be curbed, in an era of empowerment. I only meant to essentially remind one how such casual approach to both reading and writing in the name of rights has actually destroyed its intent.
This Right can be equally menacing if one used it as a propaganda. If it has given democracy a wonderful meaning it has also hastened to threaten the very essence of humanity, of concord and of tolerance. By saying tolerance, I am bringing in the practical notion of communal harmony.
As a diverse country and a plural society ,that we are, in India, we cannot claim to understand different cultures but we can be tolerant and open to difference. The idea is not to mainstream cultures but to accept the fact that we are different but we learn to coexist in such plurality.
Somewhere because of our own ignorance we promote abuse, sometimes by carelessness but far more worse is becoming a victim of such a gimmick of an alternative reality created by morphing facts.
The unsettling truth, by far remains, that we still promote an abused of freedom of expression, which all of us claim is innate. So its time to take writing seriously, even more carefully assess what you read because somewhere it will change the truth colored by your understanding of reality.
Peace out!!
Curious beings that we are, we have always been drawn to new ideas and information. Most narratives are a part of the greater truth. Can it be dangerous? I believe it can be and very real. We live it every single day.
Call it the wonders of newspapers, or technological connectivity of social media, its so rampant. We face this dilemma every where. The point being, every single one of us color the facts to our opinion. It is the most common example of freedom of expression, abused. A shared responsibility how we all fail to give truth it's rightful place.
Some great writer had quoted, how there are great many dangers to a single narration. It paints the truth in one sided narration. There is a saying in Igbo (From Africa), "Until the Lion tells his side of story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."
It is important to know others perspective before one starts judging a narrative. Every individual now feels empowered to be heard which is an amazing achievement of democracy. However one also has to be more cautious and be responsible. Sometimes this freedom can be misused if it was not hindered appropriately or made responsible, in simple words.
By the very act of writing, I am using my right, voicing my opinion. In a public domain I should expect to be scrutinized. Anything I put there should not escape censorship solely because although I have the right to expression, I have also the responsibility of such an action.
Without recourse, it is the same jungle law that will manifests itself as an unthinking mob. It is important to be aware and Govt's should comprehensively make laws to inculcate a sense of responsibility for the users.
Many of the user's identity are blurred out because of the fake accounts created to voice bigoted propaganda. These accounts are solely for the purpose of mouth piecing something a person would not otherwise take responsibility for. They pose a great threat to the sanity of free speech. Greater becomes the threat when someone without cross verification takes it for its face value. It creates a web of rumors which eventually triggers violence and hatred. This needs to be weeded out.
We have proclaimed ourselves stepping into the threshold of modernity and we have the technology to support us. All we need is a little attitudinal change to equip ourselves to be less vulnerable. First and foremost, verify whether its fact or just an opinion. Know that if it claims to be a fact, what are his sources and where does he quote them from. Cross check the source for reliability and you will already know a fact from opinion.
If we don't want to be responsible at all and verify the facts, the simple solution is not believe it and even better, not spread it! That will create a lesser problem. We need to remember that in public domain if we are not careful it will create a menace and the worse thing we want is a govt censorship because we behaved irresponsibly.
When you say out loud in a public platform it is suggestive you are screaming your words aloud for everyone to be heard. In doing so, people are going to hear you, you cannot ask another person shut out in public. That right becomes your responsibility when you express it.
It is a very basic form. When we were children parents often set limits to our rights in order to instill a sense of responsibility, and when we become responsible, the limits automatically comprehended in our subconscious.
I have often heard people say, who are they to judge, but this connotation may only be right, if it is for self consumption, alone. It is in this attitude I find the right violated many a times sometimes even among friends, community, religion all of which has become, of late a very touchy subject to broach.
The carelessness of speech, finds many manifestations in everyday life. Be it putting up Facebook status, commenting or sometimes sharing contents which figuratively screams of attention.
Especially in times of crisis, it takes a very rudimentary form, rumor triggering mass violation, clouding sensible minds making them a mere mob. In making this statement, many would argue why should freedom of expression be curbed, in an era of empowerment. I only meant to essentially remind one how such casual approach to both reading and writing in the name of rights has actually destroyed its intent.
This Right can be equally menacing if one used it as a propaganda. If it has given democracy a wonderful meaning it has also hastened to threaten the very essence of humanity, of concord and of tolerance. By saying tolerance, I am bringing in the practical notion of communal harmony.
As a diverse country and a plural society ,that we are, in India, we cannot claim to understand different cultures but we can be tolerant and open to difference. The idea is not to mainstream cultures but to accept the fact that we are different but we learn to coexist in such plurality.
Somewhere because of our own ignorance we promote abuse, sometimes by carelessness but far more worse is becoming a victim of such a gimmick of an alternative reality created by morphing facts.
The unsettling truth, by far remains, that we still promote an abused of freedom of expression, which all of us claim is innate. So its time to take writing seriously, even more carefully assess what you read because somewhere it will change the truth colored by your understanding of reality.
Peace out!!
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