Belo twits Facebook user: Go to court, not to media
UP Law alumnus Argee Guevarra is at it again. No, not as flag bearer of the New Sense Party (read fast), but just the same attempting to rouse thought on social phenomenon - in this case, the Internet.
As counsel to Josefina Norcio (whose condition is no butt of jokes), Atty. Guevarra elicits legal action from the Belo Medical Group through FB, without responding through legal fora. Interesting how this will turn out.
Just this weekend, I told my 11 year-old cousin that he was wrong to refer to some girl as a "flirt", whether or not he has real proof. Apart from being absolutely negative, what does "flirt" exactly mean anyway, in terms we can measure? No matter, the irresponsible labeling speaks ill of the labeler, as it does the labeled.
And last night, I cautioned a student online about calling his accomplished paper "crappy" since his professor (of that subject or another) might see the FB status and misconstrue it as either he doesn't like the subject or he evaluates his own output to be less than optimal, which may affect his grade.
It's funny how we want to be heard (or read) but we forget to be mindful of the repercussions of freedom of speech. It's bad enough someone will try to harm us with lies on the Internet. It's worse when, down the road, we realize we actually did the harm to our own self.
While Argee's moves are calculated, I'm sure; many yet fail to see beyond immediate self-gratification. That's the kind of behavior that will give Argee a sustained living as he goes after, or defends, Internet libel.
Summer turns into the fall
Try to understand it all
I'll become a bum
Someone's gonna hold you to your words
Winter snows into the spring
Understanding's not the thing
I'm a dinosaur
Someone's gonna hold you to your words
- Careful What Ya Say from the album Bone by Tim Booth.
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3 comments:
I totally agree Coach. :) I'm actually planning to run a qualitative inquiry on this matter for one of my subjects this semester. If my proposal will be approved, I would like to hear more from you about this. :)
I agree Coach. People have to be careful with words. I'm actually planning to run some qualitative inquiry on this matter this semester. If my proposal will be approved, may I hear more from you about this matter? Thanks.
Finally I have a chance to catch up a bit on your blog, Kuya. I've been busy trying to get my book finished before the new year and wouldn't 'ya know, I got it done New Year's Eve. Whoopie!
Really interesting article you've got here. I'm not familiar with the aforementioned FB fiasco, but your points on the rudiments and intricacies of inter-personal communication are noteworthy. There can be more than just shades of difference between the answers to: "How do I perceive myself?" "How do I want to be perceived?" "How do I want to be understood" "How am I understood?" "How am I perceived?"-- I think in that order. I thinking concentric circles here, with the center being the self. You could also add, "How do I perceive/understand others?" And it goes on and on ... what's the word? Infinitum?
Of course in few cultures is this more crucial than the Filipino frame of mind. We often--if not always--think as part of a collective. Saving face is paramount.
Off topic, I think the Filipino frame of mind is also the reason why life is sweeter, conversations are richer, relationships are more hard fast when among Filipinos. And (who said you can't start a sentence with a conjunction?! Hehehe.) that dynamic is why I miss being home in the Philippines.
I love you, Kuya (is it ok to show public displays of affection on your blog?). Happy New Year!
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