Web of Hate Entanglement
In the digital age, I'm just another netizen, like you. I engage in blogging, read e-books, chat with far-off friends, scroll through Facebook, watch YouTube videos, and dive into countless articles and comics - activities I imagine many of you share. One habit I've picked up is to review the comments section of these digital pieces. Initially, it was eye-opening - I discovered various viewpoints and gained insight into people's opinions. But over time, I've found that the comments sections have transformed into hotbeds for intolerance and hate.
Back in the day, I'd see the occasional negative comment, but it was generally overshadowed by level-minded individuals sharing their thoughts. However, things have drastically changed in the past few years. The root cause: intolerance, racism, and a misguided belief that superiority gives others the right to silence and belittle others. Sexism trails closely, rearing its head from both genders.
Case in point, I recently opened a Buzzfeed article about the benefits of using a bidet instead of toilet paper. While I have to admit that the article was slightly sarcastic (and even that's not enough to trigger some people), it surely started an online battle between people who prefer toilet paper and bidet enthusiasts. The war of words intensified along geographical lines, with Indians and westerners trading bitter insults, each side feeling righteous in their own ignorance.
The comic review of the movie Chennai Express also led to a vicious fight. What started as innocent comments about the movie turned into name-calling and racism, Indian and North Indian communities taking sides, each group looking down on the other. I couldn't help but wonder how a simple comic strip could create so much fury.
Surely, I thought, the animosity would end at the border between North and South India. But no, the battles continued, with Malayalis and Tamilians throwing accusations at each other, Punjabis trading insults with Biharis, and every other regional group within "North India" and "South India" resorting to name-calling. It wasn't enough to criticize a movie or a comic strip; we had to fight over religion as well. I've seen people within the same state vilifying each other based on religion, the hatred escalating into absurd accusations and threats.
If personal attacks and religious insults weren't bad enough, we didn't hesitate to bring politics into the mix. No matter the topic, it rarely remained detached from political ideology and religious affiliation. As if that weren't enough, recent trends have seen people dishing out abuse over supporting or opposing the meat ban. If we couldn't find a reason to fight, we came up with the age-old "who's the superior star" debate - Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan, Mammootty or Mohanlal, Pawan Kalyan or Mahesh Babu.
The contempt you can feel reading these comments is palpable. There's no healthy discussion or respectful disagreement - one harsh word spirals into hurls of abuse and threats of violence. In some cases, the hatred and bigotry have already manifested in actual violence, both offline and online.
One moment I feel like shutting off my computer, retreating from the negativity that permeates the digital world. But I know that's not the solution. It's not the internet's fault; it's ours. We are the source of the intolerance and hatred that has taken root in our online communities. This mirror of society reflects the same hatred and discrimination that exists in the real world: war, communal riots, acid attacks, and even innocent infants washing ashore on beaches.
References:
[1] Kishore, A. (2017). The rise of online hate speech in India: The role of technology, political polarization, and social media. Economic & Political Weekly, 52(42), 44–52.
[2] Nehru, J. (1946). Speeches & writings, Vol 29. Oxford University Press.
[3] Puri, A. (2015). Where's the love at? Juhu beach cleans up after cricket match leaves 1,500 plastic bottles and 8 kilos of garbage behind. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/02/26/juhu-beach-cleans-cricket-match_n_6773906.html
[4] Sinha, P. (2016). How India is using AI and machine learning for social good. The Economic Times. Retrieved from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/info-tech/it-services/artificial-intelligence-is-making-its-indian-debut-heres-how-India-is-using-ai-and-machine-learning-for-social-good/articleshow/54693151.cms
[5] Zaheer, S. B. (2019). Cyber terror in India: Surging trends, diagnostics, and prevention. Journal of Economic and Social Research, 8(1), 1-22. doi: 10.3126/jesr.v8i1.23544
[Image] Buzzfeed, Sahil Rizwan Comics, Chennai Express Poster, Indian Religions, Kashmir Protests, Mumbai Riots.
In the digital age, conversations on social media platforms extend beyond general news, entertainment, pop-culture, and even crime and justice. These discussions can often devolve into heated debates and instances of intolerance, party politics, and religious prejudice, as observed in comment sections of various digital pieces. Regrettably, this online intolerance mirrors real-world issues, such as communal riots, acid attacks, and regional conflicts, highlighting society's deep-seated hatred and discrimination. It is essential to remember that we, as users, are the creators of these online communities, and it falls upon us to promote healthy discussions and respectful disagreements to create a better digital environment.
