The case of Jasleen Kaur which I presume you must be sick of by now brings home a disturbing trend. So while after the revelation of the truth, most people are bad-mouthing her and feeling bad for the man, a more pertinent point I feel we are all missing is OUR OWN involvement in this whole episode.
Social media is a great medium for "mobo-cracy". But the concept itself is nothing new is it? If we just think a bit, as long back as in 399 BC, the great Greek philosopher Socrates became a victim of mobo-cracy. The history of Christianity over the last 2000 years in Europe throws up numerous instances of rationalists and scientists who were hounded into hiding or killed. In Japan, the 13th century Buddhist monk who revived Buddhism - Nichiren Daishonin - was repeatedly attacked by mobs who felt threatened by his philosophy of "humanism" in a feudal, decayed Japanese society.
In all these cases, what is the common thread? Is it that of the powerful silencing an inconvenient voice? Probably yes. But more distressing was how the common people just stood and watched and allowed these "unjust" acts to be committed.
Well you might say that was a different era! So far removed from today's day and age. But come to think of it, how much have you and I really changed from the beings who lived then and were silent witnesses to these acts?
If you really still don't believe in what I am saying,let's just re-think on the Jasleen case. How many of you shared her post on FB? How many when you heard about it thought - "Not again! These uncouth men of Delhi will never learn!" While I did not share the post, I did curse the man in my mind. And yet little did I realize while doing it that I was just reacting without thinking! I was simply giving in to my biases which have gotten ingrained in my psyche since child-hood. And in my busy life where I have so many frustrations, what better way than to curse the man, share the post and feel I glad that at least I have some power to teach these obnoxious men a lesson!
As it is for most educated Indians who aspire to live in a 'just' global society, there is such a sense of helplessness. Our politicians are mostly incompetent and corrupt. Our police rarely protects the common man and our judicial process is too slow and cumbersome.
So every time a case of a man molesting or violating the dignity of a woman comes to light, we feel anger. Tremendous anger! But there is nothing we can do about it.
But the moment a brave woman takes a picture of the offender and shares on FB, I WANT to share. Because it offers me a chance to get justice for SOMEBODY. But do I stop to think whether the case is true or can be false also? NO!! I have probably come across the post since some friend of mine has liked or share it and it is enough for me that a friend has shared it. Little do I pause to think that FB is ultimately an uncensored, unfiltered medium. Anybody can post anything. As long as some of us believe in it, it can get viral and become a "TRUISM" before we know it.
So how much are we a party to the injustice committed in the Jasleen case? Do we realize that every time we share a post on FB, we might unknowingly be committing a crime? And even if we don't share, whenever we listen to gossip whether in office, our friend circle, our church or satsang or any other spiritual organisation we may be a part of and believe in what a friend or colleague shares and jump to conclusions WITHOUT knowing the actual truth - we are committing the same crime!
And this will continue till we become self-aware of the limitations of our human brain - the biases and shallowness we are all capable of and stop LABELING people without adequate due-diligence.
As some-one who has been at the receiving end of false accusations, I feel very strongly about this issue and urge you to be careful. Very careful.
It's the least we can do to make this world a more humane place!
Social media is a great medium for "mobo-cracy". But the concept itself is nothing new is it? If we just think a bit, as long back as in 399 BC, the great Greek philosopher Socrates became a victim of mobo-cracy. The history of Christianity over the last 2000 years in Europe throws up numerous instances of rationalists and scientists who were hounded into hiding or killed. In Japan, the 13th century Buddhist monk who revived Buddhism - Nichiren Daishonin - was repeatedly attacked by mobs who felt threatened by his philosophy of "humanism" in a feudal, decayed Japanese society.
In all these cases, what is the common thread? Is it that of the powerful silencing an inconvenient voice? Probably yes. But more distressing was how the common people just stood and watched and allowed these "unjust" acts to be committed.
Well you might say that was a different era! So far removed from today's day and age. But come to think of it, how much have you and I really changed from the beings who lived then and were silent witnesses to these acts?
If you really still don't believe in what I am saying,let's just re-think on the Jasleen case. How many of you shared her post on FB? How many when you heard about it thought - "Not again! These uncouth men of Delhi will never learn!" While I did not share the post, I did curse the man in my mind. And yet little did I realize while doing it that I was just reacting without thinking! I was simply giving in to my biases which have gotten ingrained in my psyche since child-hood. And in my busy life where I have so many frustrations, what better way than to curse the man, share the post and feel I glad that at least I have some power to teach these obnoxious men a lesson!
As it is for most educated Indians who aspire to live in a 'just' global society, there is such a sense of helplessness. Our politicians are mostly incompetent and corrupt. Our police rarely protects the common man and our judicial process is too slow and cumbersome.
So every time a case of a man molesting or violating the dignity of a woman comes to light, we feel anger. Tremendous anger! But there is nothing we can do about it.
But the moment a brave woman takes a picture of the offender and shares on FB, I WANT to share. Because it offers me a chance to get justice for SOMEBODY. But do I stop to think whether the case is true or can be false also? NO!! I have probably come across the post since some friend of mine has liked or share it and it is enough for me that a friend has shared it. Little do I pause to think that FB is ultimately an uncensored, unfiltered medium. Anybody can post anything. As long as some of us believe in it, it can get viral and become a "TRUISM" before we know it.
So how much are we a party to the injustice committed in the Jasleen case? Do we realize that every time we share a post on FB, we might unknowingly be committing a crime? And even if we don't share, whenever we listen to gossip whether in office, our friend circle, our church or satsang or any other spiritual organisation we may be a part of and believe in what a friend or colleague shares and jump to conclusions WITHOUT knowing the actual truth - we are committing the same crime!
And this will continue till we become self-aware of the limitations of our human brain - the biases and shallowness we are all capable of and stop LABELING people without adequate due-diligence.
As some-one who has been at the receiving end of false accusations, I feel very strongly about this issue and urge you to be careful. Very careful.
It's the least we can do to make this world a more humane place!
Hi Amit I completely agree with you. We all need to Judiciously make choices and opinions.
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