SEPT 30 — I love reading the comments in my entries because they highlight one thing for me. Malaysians are irresponsible in making comments when they’re anonymous.
I honestly think for people to actually take some time off to vent in the comments section is healthy. However, while it is healthy, it should also be constructive and encourage dialogue, not merely criticise.
That’s one thing that I personally think is lacking in our Malaysian society today. The ability to encourage dialogue, instead of merely criticising and cowing people to submission and making them shut up.
There are a few methods of speaking up for one’s opinion. One such way that is obviously catching up amidst the Malaysian populous is blogging. The others such as Facebook notes (my favourite), online newspaper comment sections or even Youtube videos are also gradually increasing.
However, do Malaysians encourage intellectual discourse amongst themselves, or do they simply cow and flame others hoping that they shut will up?
Judging by my column here, it’s the latter. Not that I blame them. Comments are always welcomed, regardless of how insensitive, rude, abrasive and downright dumb they might seem.
Allow me to highlight a specific experience.
At a screening of “Gadoh” a few months back in HELP Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, I spoke up on a few issues highlighted by the movie. One woman was brazen enough to suggest that we show the movie on Malaysian television. I was against the idea for a simple reason, although Nam Ron was quick to highlight the three initialled laws (read: ISA).
My reasoning was that most of the movie would be censored. I voiced out the simple fact that the censors would never allow the showing of students smoking cigarettes while wearing uniforms. And although, I agreed that the movie was sensitive in nature, with racial elements taking the highlight, it was an absolute real-life look at how our students view race relations in our schools.
Anyway, when I raised the objection, the woman was quick to state that maybe I should be taken to Kamunting for being against the idea of screening the movie on Malaysian television.
I personally thought she needed a chill pill.
I would have invoked another reason for her to be so pissed off with me that night. But seeing how much trouble it got Mokhtar Bung Radin, I’ll leave the menstruation cycle out of this.
But you know what? I appreciate it because she said it out in the open, rather than behind some anonymous nickname in the comments section.
I honestly love good arguments. However, the issue is always the hypocrisy shown in people’s opinions thus far.
They think alcohol should be banned, but cigarettes are fine, even if they are members of PAS (and MP members at that) who aren’t supposed to be smoking to begin with, as per their party’s policy.
They are for uncontrolled freedom of speech, yet when someone writes a piece of fiction about a female MP being murdered for her beliefs, they cry bloody murder and want them arrested for sedition.
They say we should have open discussions with open minds and level-headedness, and then they call the current Prime Minister a “murderer” in Parliament.
They are MPs in the party which advocates freedom of speech, but then barge into a forum discussing the laws involving religious conversion.
They say they’re multiracial, yet their party acronym still portrays the very racial preferences they represent.
They say they’re against money politics, but then have MPs who have bought their ranks within that party with no punishment whatsoever other than a warning.
You see how this works?
It doesn’t.
I’m all for an interesting argument, but to argue with such hypocrites is, honestly, a waste of time because you know they are basically spreading cow manure to fertilise the field of mob grassroots.
Arguments and opinions should be based on whatever you believe.
It could be influenced by religion, politics, or even something you read out of “Dune” or “To Kill A Mockingbird”. While this proves that you are well read and perhaps extremely intelligent, it’s the fact that you state your opinion in the most condescending, rude, abrasive and perhaps even downright “dumbasseronic” manner simply to stir up a mob that makes me consider you as having lesser morals than a cow.
And this is rather obviously coming from the fact that you’d remain anonymous, therefore not able to be personally held responsible for what you type and say.
Now forgive me for saying this, but while yellow is a royal colour, it’s also a derogatory term for what you are.
A coward and a hypocrite behind a nickname.
Selamat Hari Raya, everyone. Maaf Zahir dan Batin.
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Ok, ok, i admit to venting a little, but I do try to keep a level head. Its hard to be objective when you have friends and relatives (and maybe you yourself) who have personally been passed over or insulted because of the colour of our skin or because of our religion. And yes, I know, that's still no excuse.
One tries to be balanced, though, and as time goes on and as people get the venting part done, hopefully more and more of us will will cool down and the cooler heads will have more exposure on the net.
At least, that's what I hope.....