This was Alyzza Agustin’s biggest crime.
The 23-year-old men’s magazine model proudly posted on her Facebook page that because of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Supt. Alexander Ignacio’s calling card, she was able to get away from being issued a traffic ticket for violating the number coding scheme in Metro Manila.
Agustin added, “Thank you so much for this useful business card with matching dedication.” Her post was accompanied with photos of what seemed to be Ignacio’s official business card showing his name, designation and the PNP logo. Written on the back of the card was a message which read: “Please assist my EA, Alyzza Agustin” followed by a signature.
The post went viral.
Chief Superintendent Ignacio has since denied knowing Agustin and has alleged the business card was fake as it contained wrong information about him. Agustin likewise later denied knowing the police chief personally and apologized to him, his family and the Philippine National Police.
Whether or not there is truth to both parties knowing each other personally and the police chief handing the model his business card to get her out of tight situations, Agustin is definitely guilty of the crime of TMI –Too much information.
Oversharing—probably the most frequently committed crime online these days.
And we are all guilty of it. Sometimes, we get so carried away by the moment that we simply want to broadcast to the entire world how we feel. It’s not such a terrible crime but such lack of prudence can become hazardous and explosive as in the case of Alyzza Agustin.
Oversharing can also land you a lawsuit.
Remember the posts and blogs of 23-year old jetsetter, Jeane Napoles? Online evidence of her lavish lifestyle probably nailed the coffin shut for her mother, Janet Napoles, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind, who now languishes in jail. Last month, Jeane Napoles herself was indicted by the Department of Justice for tax evasion.
Share your joy. But don’t share too much of your joy. Or your joy might land you in jail.
And now comes the controversial posts of Chai Yan Leung, 22-year old daughter of CY Leung, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive. As her father faces intense pressure from pro-democracy protestors to step down from his post, Chai Yan Leung continues to parade her diamonds, monogrammed purses and designer shoes online, posting sarcastic remarks—thanking Hong Kong taxpayers for funding her designer bling.
Will Chai Yan Leung’s oversharing be the Hong Kong chief executive’s downfall?
Can netizens get more inappropriate than this? And please don’t blame all this on the lack of maturity of the twenty-something generation because lack of propriety cuts across all ages and generations.
I’m largely tolerant of what’s put out online but I must admit that almost everybody, myself included, (except the stalkers—you know, people who never post anything but read everything about their friends on Facebook) is guilty of oversharing.
The fact remains, though, that some people are more guilty than others.
(email: sunstarcebucolumnist@yahoo.com, twitter: http://twitter.com/melanietlim)