Watch what you say next time

I’ve heard many times before about the dangers of saying the wrong thing and it comes back to you in a form of sticky situation. Things that you say on the Internet will eventually, come back to bite you in the ass. A sad trend I’ve seen lately is the number of people who tweet or facebook while they are not in the right mind. Of course, they may realize it’s a mistake the next day (when they are in sound mind) and hastily seek to delete the post. But, unfortunately, it is too late for the damage has been done. We should forever remind ourselves and those around us of what we say. Others will re-post to you or somehow print screen what you’ve said. Worse still, it haunts us back one some point in time.
 
A couple of months ago, a USM student who posted a bomb threat on his Facebook account would have regretted for the consequent mess he faced. He allegedly threatened to bomb PM's helicopter that would fly the prime minister for a visit to the campus on his Facebook posting. Apparently, he made a grave mistake which cost him his fate to be in despair. Had he been a sensible boy, he would have thought twice to post something stupid like that (as if he has guts to do so). This is the downside of social network and people’s rash decision to publish things on the net. 

 
Whoa whoa… I won’t begin to speculate as to what prompted him to post something like this over Facebook for his friends and the other netizen to see. I will, however, repeat myself once again… Watch. What you say. It’s not that difficult, people. Do not sign into your social network when you are drunk, infuriated, miserable or whatever other emotional state you are in. It’s fine to share things with your network. I’m not saying you shouldn’t. But if you cannot be coherent and sensible with what you’re about to say, do you dare to spell it out loud?

Social network like Facebook, Google+ and Twitter is for networking, not for you to invite more trouble for yourself. People should always be careful about what they say online. Watch out. Think about what the hell you are madly typing. It can be a message, a comment or even the shout out that you put up. Look out what have you written and try to make sense what you’re saying before you hit that post button. After that one click of the button, you are accountable for what you say and it will haunt you for the rest of your life. So the rule of the thumb is avoid from posting things on social network that you will regret sooner or later. Simply because one day, odds are good that someone stumble across whatever you say, and it will come back to haunt you. 

How many of us are conscious that social sites these days are paradise for ample personal information about oneself. And thus, most of the netizen are vulnerable since they are easy prey for criminals and who not. One would realize that there are so much of personal details can be found from someone’s social profile page. Usually, the photos and wall posts can give people a pretty good idea of who you are, where you are, and what you’re doing. Social sites have become a fad for younger generations and even more worrying is, it has influenced even the elderly generation. Funny right? More and more users are turning to Facebook, Twitter or Google+ to chronicle their lives and socialize with friends. However of lately, I’ve been learning from the words passing around that the actual intention of these networking sites is reaching way beyond. Photos and personal details shared have gone beyond the friend’s circle which is a grave concern today.


Another very controversial issue popped up recently when one insensible young lady posted racial slur remarks in FB creating a colossal uproar across various social echelons. I must say it infuriated all the Tamilians in Malaysia by the unjustifiably and tactless statement that she made. The provocation statement has taken the cyber world by storm. Now the bigoted lady is facing the music much to her horror. Police reports have been made against her for inciting hate amongst various ethnicity echelons. Worse still, her modeling career has been in turmoil as well. Anyway, we wouldn’t want such a person to represent the Indian women of Malaysia to global arena (only if she does). It would be an utter disgrace. 

The infamous lady is not someone that we all should emulate. Take this as a lesson to be learned on how to watch what you say and coordinate your thoughts or opinions in a more respectable way. Perhaps she was just too depressed with bad experiences with guys (of the ethnicity that she criticized) that led her to be over dramatic in her emotions that ignited her to post such remarks on her social site. Poor girl if only she was cautious of what she has written on her site, and aware the rights of being a victim of circumstances, she would have not been sucked into this turmoil. Instead if she was a smart women and knows her rights to practice, she would have lodged a report against whomever harassing her in her neighborhood. I am not going to probe into her character nor justify what she did was right or wrong as it is none of my interest. But all I can say this incident is good eye-opener for the rest of us.
 

I am an avid netizen myself. I have my fair share of saying ‘insightful’ things in my life in written form; blog, word press and FB note to some extent. But I am witty enough to say what I am suppose to say and not simply raise innuendo to incite hurt in others. I am sure some of my posts have infuriated people that took it personal when I didn’t even need to mention the name. Their conscience was pinched and guilt engulfed them so much so that they even made copies of it to disseminate it making me a sensationalized writer (Ironically). Ha-ha-ha. It was unpremeditated endorsement for my write-ups and eventually earning me the name of provocative writer. This didn’t hamper my passion of writing. I was provoked to further write more of challenging topics as I always do. It gives me something to write about and it gets down really dirty. After all I would call it as serendipity if it offends anyone undeliberately (I don’t mention names here or point out explicitly).

As a matter of fact, I love to ignite the substance of broad-spectrum of social dilemmas which mostly is confrontational. It interests me to go in depth about it. It annoys many people out there whom are disturbed by it due to the resemblance to their personality (some even feel that I am writing about them). If that’s what they feel, I feel sorry for them that I had to let the whole world see through my writing what is happening around the globe. And they just happen to be exactly like how I pen down my thoughts. Too bad they had to gulp down their guilt.

Nayati returns home

There was overwhelming relief and joy in Malaysia and several other countries when news of kidnapped boy Nayati Shamelin Moodliar’s reunion with his parents broke early yesterday. It was a thankful Thursday morning when the news of Nayati was found safely reached my ears. I was so happy and relieved to hear the news from social media. Nayati is back home after his 6 days ordeal with the kidnappers. For the past one week, the boy became a sensational news to local and international media where posters of Nayati Shamelin Moodliar was distributed across the country, at restaurants and even on private and public vehicles.

The boy was found at the R & R Sg Buloh early last Thursday morning, May 3rd along the North-South Expressway at 7.55am. The parents, police and relatives rushed to the scene to be reunited with him. It was learnt that Nayati was left at the highway rest area by his kidnappers after an undetermined amount of ransom was paid (rumor says it was close to RM300k!). The ransom was given a night earlier at an undisclosed location in Cheras.

A source close to the investigations revealed yesterday that the kidnappers had contacted the family within 24 hours of the boy being forced into a car near the Mont Kiara International School last Friday. The kidnappers made contact through a social networking website, instead of the conventional method of using the handphone. "This is the first kidnapping case here where the suspects had contacted the victim's family through the Internet instead of using mobile phones," the source revealed. It is learnt that the kidnappers had initially demanded a ransom of RM1 million, but after negotiations, the amount was reduced (Source: NST.com.my).

However although there was widespread of publicity blitz for a kidnapping case, it shows that we as a human being felt for the plights of the parent when their child was kidnapped. Just put ourselves in their shoes and we will understand. Personally, I was overjoyed and relieved to see Nayati reunited with his family and back to his normal life. Today I am writing this after 2 weeks of the kidnapping, I was even happy to know that the police nabbed the suspected kidnappers involved in Nayati’s case as quoted in the malaysiandigest.com. I have attached the link below for your information.

I hate gossips

Anytime I am asked to list down what I hate the most, only gossip comes to my mind. So much so that it simply spoils the aura around me. It has become a culture by its own but something intolerable. Juicy gossips or tittle-tattling happens to make its round more happily than ever regardless of where you are. Believe it or not, there is almost no place without at least little bit of gossips and backbiting. It resembles a wave that can create nonsense in any academic institutions, in corporate organization, in a social occasion and even among family circle. I can tell you it is very contagious and spreads like a pandemic.

It just never ends. Over the years, as I grew up, the more I run into people that loves gossiping and backbiting. Both are just about the same. I always wished this would not be the scenario. Somehow I can relate both these social stigma with immaturity and fallaciously assumed that older people don’t talk behind people back. But on second thought, my assumptions deceived me. Occasionally, I experienced seeing older and wiser (or so?) people happily talking about others without a clear conscience. I was completely wrong. Can you believe that men out beat the women when it comes to gossiping? Yes it is. I will cover this topic on my next post. He-he. 

Gossips are usually never about the real news that goes around but it is a spin off from the original news with extra ‘spice’. The moment the distorted news is set on fire, it goes all around and around. Trust me it just never ends. Is it impossible not to talk about others in your conversations? How does it do good to you? Maybe some people finds talking about academic, politics, business etc can be plain boring but juicy gossips can be entertaining to them. What I just said could be contradicting but sad to say this is how the society works.

It is inevitable to bitch about people you don’t like or even the people that you like too. My close encounter would be in a wedding I attended sometime ago. A wedding would be a joyous occasion where we get to meet old friends and family members that we don’t get to see often. It is a time for catching up from where we left. But it baffled me when I overheard one conversation (I wasn’t eavesdropping btw, it was loud and clear enough for me to be make out what they were talking about). The bunch of ladies and men were talking about the newlyweds! Does it matter how they met and what they have been doing? It is none of their business any way.

This is just one of the worst waves of gossips that I have heard. I am totally against of gossip and it is simply because I was (and perhaps still) a victim subjected to gossips. It all came from the root of jealousy. I just don’t get it why people just love to bitch about me when they know a little about me. I know I am smart, bold, independent, beautiful and blunt lass that can spark the jealousy of anyone. Ha-ha I am not being smug here but this could be why they are lashing behind my back. I am sorry for those folks. You think you can stop me from me being successful and being everyone’s sweetheart. No you can try but it just never happens. Why? Because I don’t harm others, I don’t ruin their lives or I don’t have bad intentions on them. It doesn’t bother me if they are doing well or they are going down the drains.

Perhaps gossips and talking about others are merely the way a person is conditioned. It reflects in their nurturing from young or it could be a genetic factor. I came across an article last year that there is underlying genetic factor identified to be associated with aggressiveness trait. So who knows gossips, backbiting and jealousy also has underlying genetic factor?

But I don’t think it is fair enough to talk ill about someone and ruin their lives in any way. If you can’t do something good for everyone around you, then might as well you don’t have to do bad to those around you. It makes a difference at least. I just wish people would learn to mind their business although other people’s business seems to be more entertaining for them. 

I am a pretty private person. A private person with a blog about random parts of her life you might say? Well let me tell you, there’s a lot I don’t reveal about myself and what I do tell you is up to my discretion! It puts me out of my comfort zone when people ask me about me, and my life. It is not for them to know anyway (unless you’re my close-knit family and friends).  It’s my life and it doesn’t concern you. I guess it is worth to choose handful of acquaintances to fit into your closest social network. I am sure only a few will shine out above the rest.