WITH the technology that is available around the globe, anybody can be a publisher and an attacker. While we have power to direct over our own social media account, we lack control about what others say in comment posts. On the other side of the wall, bashers are patiently waiting for a target. And it seems like no one can be spared from the denigration and crushing blows of these online tormenters, not even the president despite his above ninety percent popularity rate.
The famous AlDub love-team that set a Twitter record on Guinness continues to get some beating on the net as well.
Remember the 16-year-old basher who wished Leni Robredo had died with his husband in a plane crash? This is an example of an adverse consequence of letting kids use social media accounts such as Facebook. But unfortunately, adult netizens are also often involved on this online ill-treatment. And of late, the Pinay OFW who took care of the new Olympic gold medalist Schooling since he was a boy got traumatized by the cyber bullies; and sadly most of the assault came from her kababayans.
Even a simple public service announcement from a local government like the suspension or resume of classes during a particular weather condition is not immune to the persecution of these people. The LGU has guidelines to follow according to their jurisdiction while bashers don’t follow any rules - not even grammar.
During my time as a student, we only focus on 3 things during typhoon season. Those are signals number 1, 2 and 3. My family only rely on the local radio for any announcement; no internet, no social media. If there was suspension, I put back my handkerchief on the drawer. If there was a class, I would blow my very appealing goodbye kiss to my father hoping he’d give me an extra 20-peso allowance. It was that simple — no complications. At the aftermath of Pinatubo eruption, the students went to school facing uncertainty while crossing the Abacan river via a makeshift foot bridge because the main bridge had collapsed. We never complained. Nowadays, we have rainfall warning signals. And most of the time, these create bigger problems compared to typhoons especially to the low-lying areas. But then again, LGUs have protocol to follow within the area of responsibility.
Disappointing are those who you would think are educated but proved to be otherwise. A post-grad student taking up Medicine made a post condemning the announcement of the local government over not suspending class. Ironically, this student is known to be an active member of the church ñ a future Christian doctor who has a silver-tongued gift of profanity.
There is also this law student whose family is well-known locally, who used her amanung sisuan dialect in a tasteless manner. She shared: “Hoy! Basan me ini *****! Sasabyan mu mangatamad la ding buri da alang klasi. Bakit? Aldo aldo gagalgal ka king karug pota maawus ka? Panamdaman mu wari ing manimawas ka gamat makalukluk, mangading eka maawus? At potang me awus ka emu no panamdaman ding tud mu uling 20 minutes nakang makatalakad, manimawas, halus mangapali ka king salol mu king karug uling istung migkamali ka mangagulisakan ka?”
She then added: “Kakadwa, buri mi alang klasi uling mag exam na kami.. TO BUY US MORE TIME TO STUDY.” Yes, I know what you might be thinking. We have a future incontinent lawyer who might be good in stretching out cases by resorting to delaying tactics, mastering the less noble litigation ploy.
School administrators and its faculty should create a monitoring department to monitor the behavior of their enrolees on social media. It’s through this bizarre demeanor that these bullies should attend more schooling.
While many netizens put rational and equitable reasoning in their criticism, others adopt uninspired obscenity, distasteful contention -- no class.