Online ranting leading to trouble....
After Sun Xu (comapres Singaporeans to dogs), Amy Cheong (Malay Weddings at void deck), Reuben Wang (profanities at DPM Teo), Jansen Lim (Tampines accident; see earlier blog entry), now here's another one to add on to the list......
Other than the issues mentioned already under the Jansen Lim's posting, this article raised another useful point to take way with -- 'Most current and former servicemen who spoke to the Straits Times said it did not reflect the attitudes of the majority of commanders'. This comment is important as the media (esp social media) has a tendency to misrepresent reality by passing off the views of the minorty as those of the majority. A post that goes viral online will give viewers the impression that the scenario depicted in the post is the reality. This is cemented by the 'echo-chamber' effect where some viewers post false comments on the original post, thus giving validity to it. Other viewers who are none the wiser will then embrace this false version as the truth. The end result is that in the virtual world, the views of a minority takes on the guise of the majority. A racist post by a Singaporean online will give others the impression that the whole of Singapore is racist. A report in the media about a local housewife absuing her maid will give the impression that all (or most) housewives in Singapore ill-treat their maids. A report on an immigrant grabbing seats on the MRT will give us the impression that all immigrants are ungracious. In the example in the article, the post will give people the impression that the entire SAF is sadistic, hence the need for SAF spokesman to come out and do damage control. In a nutshell, the voice of the minority can be amplified and suddenly become the voice of the majority online -- thanks to the anonymity/faceless nature/opacity of the internet. A lone soldier behind the screen can be perceived as an army of soldiers at the other end. Note that this illuson of strength in numbers need not be negative, but can be exploited by minority or disenfranchised groups to fight for their rights in the face of a hostile majority.
Sample Qn: To what extent does the media influence our perception of reality?
Other than the issues mentioned already under the Jansen Lim's posting, this article raised another useful point to take way with -- 'Most current and former servicemen who spoke to the Straits Times said it did not reflect the attitudes of the majority of commanders'. This comment is important as the media (esp social media) has a tendency to misrepresent reality by passing off the views of the minorty as those of the majority. A post that goes viral online will give viewers the impression that the scenario depicted in the post is the reality. This is cemented by the 'echo-chamber' effect where some viewers post false comments on the original post, thus giving validity to it. Other viewers who are none the wiser will then embrace this false version as the truth. The end result is that in the virtual world, the views of a minority takes on the guise of the majority. A racist post by a Singaporean online will give others the impression that the whole of Singapore is racist. A report in the media about a local housewife absuing her maid will give the impression that all (or most) housewives in Singapore ill-treat their maids. A report on an immigrant grabbing seats on the MRT will give us the impression that all immigrants are ungracious. In the example in the article, the post will give people the impression that the entire SAF is sadistic, hence the need for SAF spokesman to come out and do damage control. In a nutshell, the voice of the minority can be amplified and suddenly become the voice of the majority online -- thanks to the anonymity/faceless nature/opacity of the internet. A lone soldier behind the screen can be perceived as an army of soldiers at the other end. Note that this illuson of strength in numbers need not be negative, but can be exploited by minority or disenfranchised groups to fight for their rights in the face of a hostile majority.
Sample Qn: To what extent does the media influence our perception of reality?
posted by Dark Shadow | 12:47 PM
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