Pelayo: Are we becoming papaya-skinned?

HAVE we become too sensitive? Are we becoming the generation that some call Age of Sensitivity like the papaya plant that is so fragile it's easy to get sap from it. Not long ago, persons with disabilities were called disabled persons. In our country, I still hear some elders call names like pile, ngo-ngo, maklak, et cetera. I sometimes wonder how human beings could have been so insensitive. In my elementary years, being disciplined meant sideburns being pulled upward or a ruler stick used as a baton. Nowadays, pupils would compete in a singing challenge and still would potentially get smileys or star marks all together even if only a few could really sing well. Not that I am for physical discipline but I am just showing a picture of what's being practiced then and now.

In the recent Olympic Games this year, the keyboard warriors attacked the international media for allegedly making sexist remarks during the coverage. Trolls on the web first attacked NBC Sportscaster Dan Hicks who created an outrage when he announced to credit Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu's husband, Shane Tusup, seconds after the swimmer got her world record-breaking win in the 400-meter medley by saying "and that's the man responsible," while the camera is panning towards the husband/coach. Some people immediately judged Hicks as a man who thinks women aren't responsible for their own gold medals.

People both blame and thank the social media and the internet for this transformation. While some think that social apps makes other netizens too sensitive, there is really a word in Psychology that exists and it's called Highly Sensitive Person or HSP. If an individual takes things too personally or overanalyse a particular situation, or is always defensive, then that person might be among the group classified as HSP. But not all netizens or reactors on the internet have this uncommon ability to pick up on subtleties that other people might miss.

Not so long ago, veteran broadcast journalist Ramon Tulfo told his colleagues in the media "let us not be onion-skinned" as he was trying to defend President Rodrigo Duterte. Tulfo added: "We (media practitioners) are not a special breed of Filipinos. If we can dish out criticism, we should be able to take it as well." Of recent, a statement which has been reported to have commenced from a local chapter of a union of press, has been used by a local paper for release, attacking one city councilor because of a possible misinterpretation of press release.

The clobbered legislator was simply trying to answer the allegations of one minority member from the council who kept on resorting to sending press releases. On the latter part of his statement, the bashed councilor mentioned: "They can write all the press releases they want but I am requesting our media friends to be discernful (discerning). Filing a questionable measure is one thing and getting it published in newspapers is another." A few days after this statement from the councilor has been published, the local chapter of the org came out blasting the lone guy. But as of this writing, the national office of this institution has yet to give any response from the initial statement which has been already prematurely published for some reason. Other media organizations namely the Pampanga Press Club, Metro Angeles Journalists Association Inc., and Central Luzon Media Association did not issue any statement against the message of the city councilor. Could this legislator be insensitive in some way to have written those words in his statement? That's one legit question. But did the local chapter of that union of journalists react too sensitive?

In the world of internet, no matter the topic, it seems as though comment sections are filled with netizens offering their two cents on the matter of whether or not we have become too soft. As social media becomes more accessible, the anonymity suggested decrease in personal consequences. There is this constant increase of exposure to hateful speech and more account users react negatively instead of making constructive criticism.

So, is society becoming hypersensitive? It all boils down to humanitarianism. There are people who are just immaturely growing insensitive and there are some who react negatively to almost any given conversation. In the end, it's always good to keep reminding oneself to be respectful, be honest, and be fair.