2012 Is Coming: Make A Stand, Speak Up
The Internet has become a dwelling place for many of us. As the number of people surfing the Web increases, the more it is becoming a potent force for change but, being part of them, have we done our share to make it a better place to live? Have we not been gullible to ‘like’ and ‘share’ unverified reports that made some people feel miserable? Yes, we may enjoy the ride when we join a bandwagon but is that where you want to be?
The Internet is a level playing field. The suggestions and opinions we post in it have the same weight with that of others regardless of our race, age and gender. Each one of us can make a choice on any issue presented to us. You can choose to be silent and just watch things happen but that’s not the best thing to do. Complacency has no place in the current dangerous world that we live in. You must make a stand, speak up and be counted.
The year 2011 had not been so nice to some netizens because of cyberbullies and trolls who find happiness in mocking their fellow beings. I, myself, was a victim of a libelous blog post by a fellow who had tried to use me as the scapegoat on a malversation case he committed. I sought legal remedies but the absence of a law on Internet libel had caused the case I filed to languish in the prosecutor’s office for almost a year now.
Though you may have not been victims of these unwanted web creatures, I urge that you do our part in making the cyberspace a safe place for everyone. The personal experience I mentioned above has strengthened my resolve to adhere to ethical net practices. More than anything, we should speak up in 2012 and commit ourselves to do the following:
- Resist Cyberbullying – We may want to do it just for fun but joining a bandwagon to mock someone for what he said or what he did is a sure way to cause harm. Cyberbullying is not a joke and can cause immeasurable stress to victims. To my knowledge, there had been no reported suicide caused by cyberbullying in our country but this should not be a reason for us to post anything that could negatively affect anyone.
- Avoid Sharing Unverified Information – How many time have we forwarded or shared information that we have not first verified? While we may not get ‘burned’ in the few instances that we disseminate false information, let us stop now and not wait for the time when our readers would no longer believe us.
- Respect the Intellectual Property Rights of Others – Using pirated software and plagiarizing the literary work of others are violative of our existing law for the protection of the intellectual property rights of writers and developers. When we steal the work of others, we not only violate the law but we also disobey the Golden Rule that says “Do not do unto others what you do not like others do unto you.”.
- Do Not Be Silent, Say What You Want – Each of us is entitled to our own opinion but we would not know what you want if you won’t tell us. There’s time to listen and there’s time to speak. You won’t get what you want unless you go for it.
Change can make things better. Resist change and and we won’t prosper. Given the chance, what would you resist and what would you change in 2012?
Change changes things for better! Change is a way of life. If there’s no change in one’s life, he could not appreciate something good or better of what he’s doing.
Change is contagious. Everyone will be affected. And most important thing to inculcate is not to resist change. Progress, improvement, betterment or whatever for the better would not be realized.
Comes 2012, I do support your suggested four things to do, to stand, to speak up and to be counted as true advocate of what a real blogger is!
One thing that is also scary is cyberstalking. We can protect ourselves from this by ensuring we have tight privacy filters.
I agree especially #2. There are just too many who share something unverified and everyone else will usually end up with a virus, a scam or a phishing site.
I also change or removed all my info on social network, I try also to hide my identity as well, but I am not that famous siguro para pag-interesan ng iba at lalong di rin naman mayaman.
Wow! This is such a flavorful post. Thanks for this points to ponder as part of my year end resolutions. I am also repulsive of sending off my full info and identity over social networking sites. We ought to protect ourselves against identity theft really..
My children are active online but I told them not to entertain whatever they are seeing online. I don’t want them to comment too and make interaction. I don’t want them to get bullied especially they are just kids. They are online to have fun and learn along the way.
“Think before u click..” sabi nga ng GMA7,,, everyone must be responsible enough in using social media:) nice post
GMA 7’s social media campaign is very timely. Indeed, we should think before we click. And we should think many times over. Social media has given everyone the power to communicate, react, influence things. That’s a good thing. BUT, when that power is abused/misused, it becomes ugly.
Speaking out what we really feel is the right thing to do. Like what you have said we should be counted. But together with our freedom to speak out and rights to give opinion we should always remember the responsible way of doing it.
some online users are still immature and sensitivity-wise on a certain issue, they couldn’t care less. I believe, we through our sites/blogs can help educate the system.
Interesting read. As I have observed, as we advance in technology, we regress in morality.
Social Media should be used to showcase more what is good in about our country, lets speak up and show resistance to negative propaganda about the country. Great post Ed!
Hi Jhong,
Thanks for the visit and the comment. You are right, we should use our blogging prowess to project a positive image for our country. Enough of negative write-ups, it’s time to join hands and show how nice it is to have the Philippines as our country. Speak up in 2012, speak up about the good side of the Philippines!
I am sorry that I need to use an alias here. But I can’t help but comment. I am a victim of cyberstalking. I used to blog but because of my opinions, my image was tarnished by one blogger who opposed my opinions. From then on, she would cyberstalk me , and used the information from my blog posts to attack me on her blog (Good thing, her blog has the world’s lowest Alexa) .
Filing libel charges was an option but could take precious time from my vocation and occupation and seriously, big bucks (though I know I’d win). Besides, I believe in karma. I had to delete all my online presence –all including social media networks, Twitter, Stumbleupon, etc. —-because she hawks and haunts my online presence to write lengthy posts about me. My family advised me to stop blogging for the meantime until karma devastates her.
You know her Ed. And you know me too. But I’m no longer blogging.
Honestly, I have no inkling who you are and who the other party is but it seems we had been on the same footing. I was made a scapegoat by a guy who used his blog to spread lies against my person. He immediately pulled-down his more than 3-year old blog to remove the evidence and although I have the screenshot of his libelous post, you are correct in saying that I would be spending my precious time to prosecute him.
Just my thought, why don’t you resume blogging and speak up against the wrongdoings of people like her. Now, more than ever is the time to do our share in cleaning the cybersphere of such kind of acts.