Facing Facebook's harsh truths

Facing Facebook's harsh truths

After my Facebook was flooded with pictures of friends and acquaintances enjoying Songkran celebrations, I woke up last Monday to witness cyberspace full of stories about the bomb in Boston. After three people were killed and 178 injured in the blast, many people turned to their Facebook page and dedicated it to pray for Boston.

In my case, it was quite a shock because the day the incident took place (which was night-time in Thailand), my dear friend in Boston had been telling me about the big marathon event in his home town. I had even asked him why he wasn't participating in the event. I fell asleep after that conversation and woke up with his message telling me about the heartbreaking nightmare in his lovely city.

Learning about the cruelty of the real world is one thing, but the Boston tragedy has opened my eyes as a netizen.

Online, a "Pray for Boston" banner was shared widely in order to support those affected by the tragedy. However, shortly later I spotted some sarcasm from a number of Thai Facebook users. The comments went something like this: "How come you never pray for Thailand when Thai people die almost every day during the unrest in the deep South?" Another was a list of "news from outside of the USA where people were killed".

For a split second, I was furious. How could people be so judgemental when it comes to others' goodwill? How could people compare who has the bigger wounds?

But, after I let my anger settle, I realised that this is how we learn from social media; we must open our senses to both the "likes" and "dislikes" and be mindful about all the information received.

Sarcasm aside, people do care for others, even by using their keyboards. Although I disagree with how they bite on those who express their concern towards Boston, even though they are here in Thailand, they remind us all to be aware that nightmares are always happening somewhere in this world, online or offline.

Last Songkran, Thai police were the target of Facebook fury when a list purporting to be official was circulated with rules such as "no playing water on a truck", "no inappropriate outfits", and "no powder", just to name a few. The list made it to national television and newspapers, and people criticised the police for making such strict rules at a time when the city attracts tourists to enjoy a one-of-a-kind water fight. Some went on to say the police should instead take up more serious issues, and take it easy on this one.

While a number of people bombarded the police with their disappointment, other voices gave us good food for thought.

"As much as I doubt the Thai policemen, the list is reasonable enough when it comes to safety," said one such Facebook user. "We've seen every year a number of deaths and injured people. We should give them credit for doing their jobs."

In the end, it turned out the list was not something the Royal Thai Police had made.

What also circulated afterward was an open letter from a woman who called herself a daughter of a policeman.

It read in part: "A person who you called the rudest words you can think of is the one you always call for when you are in trouble, when you need protection, when you get robbed, when you have been hurt. But you never think of him when you are well and happy. Songkran is when we are supposed to be with family, but I can hardly see my father _ a person you called such a hateful word, because he is out there taking care of other people."

There are always two sides to every story.


Yanapon Musiket writes about art and entertainment for Life and has a monthly column, Queer Eye, dedicated to gay rights and gender diversity.

Yanapon Musiket

Life Writer

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