10/03/2012

How dangerous can internet be?



A Caroline wrote in her Facebook ‘…I will always make sure that they know our govt is to b blamed for what is happening to us n to Sg: )’

A MJ Rina Huang replied, ‘Dear Ms Caroline, if you are married and have kids, please pray that they don’t hear you, or that no one tells them that their mummy is to be blamed for what’s going to happen to them: )’

The Caroline posted the above and received a threat from another blogger in their Facebook posts. Though both signed off with a : ) sign, the latter can still be interpreted as a threat. One cannot be blamed to think that some harm or something bad could happen to the children.

Caroline went to make a police report and it was reported in TRE that Rina Huang had since removed the offending post from her Facebook. The ball is now in the police’s court. Is there a criminal intimidation threat made by Rina Huang against the children of Caroline? If there is, what are the police going to do about it?

The internet is no place for intimidation or causing mischief. Everyone should have freedom of expression, differences in views and opinions. But no one should be allowed to go around abusing one another, threatening another or irritating others. There must be some form of discipline, decency and not to do to others what one does not want others do unto them.

I would suggest the police set up a unit to make tracing of the mischief makers easier when an official report is made. There is no room for gangsterism or thuggish behavior in the net. Some may think that these are reasonable and part and parcel of freedom of expression, I must say I disagree. The right to speak freely does not give one the right to abuse another person or to threaten another person. With the police providing such a facility, you don’t need any more code of conduct to keep some peace and decency in the net. The wrong doers and mischief makers will know that even hiding under anonymity will not let them get away scot free. This facility is always there, don’t think it is something new. It is only how accessible it is to the public or to people who are being offended.

It is okay to post using a nick or even anonymous, and to exercise freedom of expression. It is another thing to use it to attack people personally or to cause mischief, and worst, threatens others. Why should anyone think that it is alright to verbally attack another person in the net or to abuse another person?

7 comments:

Gintai_昇泰 said...

RB,
I had my fair share kena attacked personally by some retards hiding behind anonymity! I really don't mind if you disagree with my views but to launch a personal attack I think it's despicable! Langgar!

Gintai_昇泰 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Exactly. That's my position. The ugly would want to hide under anonymity to attack people. Once the police remove this barrier, they would look clean and innocent once again.

I don't mind people using anonymity as it is necessary at times, but don't abuse it for unethical reasons.

Anonymous said...

This is a double edged sword. It cuts both ways, including those internet brigades or organisations doing the dirty works.

This is suggestion is unlikely to be accepted for obvious reasons unless it only cuts one way.

Anonymous said...

//...that no one tells them that their mummy is to be blamed for what’s going to happen to them: )’//

Seriously? How is this a threat at all? Or do people need to take basic reading and comprehension skills?

I just got a feeling that this person is trying to cheekily remind the others that what she said abt blaming the govt is like her children (if she has) blaming her for anything that is wrong..! A bad analogy but that's just want is only about...

Are people reading too much into an stupid innocent badly phrased statement?

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

A matter of interpretation. If not offensive, no police report needed. If not offensive, offender need not remove post from facebook.

The court will decide if it is intimidation or not. Everyone has a different opinion.

I can see your interpretation and I agree that it can be seen in that light.

Anonymous said...

I say the Internet is definitely dangerous. It is full of porn, religious and ideological radicalization, fakery and trickery, bully and propagandas etc.


But, it is also a place where one finds knowledge, truth and fact. It is where propaganda, wayang and sophistry are exposed and villians identified.

Anyway, everywhere is dangerous. There is always the need to be vigilant, reasonable and be as enlighten as possible.