Just a word to explain why some 16 comments since about two weeks ago have been disapproved and then deleted.
From the start, I wanted the comment thread for our particular corner of the blogosphere to be unmoderated, with offensive comments deleted only after (soon after) publication (that is, once they were caught). That is the rule I follow in my own blog, at Newsstand, and I think colleague Manolo follows that simple guideline too. But Current belongs to Inquirer.net’s pool of blogs, and must follow Inquirer.net rules. Primarily because even comments have their own RSS feed, and offensive comments once distributed by RSS can no longer be retrieved and then deleted, Inquirer.net requires comment moderation.
Fine, you might ask, but define offensive? Well, as we all know, there are very few hard and fast rules; chief of these, I would think, is what we can call the doubter’s rule: If there is some doubt as to whether a comment is offensive, give the commenter the benefit of the doubt. Publish the comment.
Another basic rule: writing in ALL CAPS is the Internet equivalent of screaming. Lower the volume.
A third: Do not insult other commenters. The 16 comments I caught in the offensive-comments net all fall, without exception, under this rule of thumb. Insult politicians and big business and the Elders of Zion, if you want; criticize the Inquirer or its editors and columnists and blog gatekeepers, if you wish; raise conspiracy theories about what gets published here or not or who gets convicted or thrown to jail, if you will. But respect other commenters, at least for the trouble they take to write down their thoughts, with a minimum of courtesy.
Many of the 16 comments use the word of the year: hunghang. And direct it at specific commenters.
“MGA HUNGHANG KAYO!!!!” says one. “Mga honghang ang dami nyo ng pinagsasabi,di nyo ba alam na ang magnanakaw galit sa kapwa magnanakaw?” says another.
Others use variations on the same theme. “Asan ang mga katulad mong bobo? 100,000 daw magrally? Nasan?” Or: “The other group of morons here are asking why Chavit is not included in the suit.” Or: “tanga! gumising ka nga!” Or even: “hoy egan.. isa ka pang ungas.”
Another even brought schools into the sorry picture. “Bobo ka pala e, the justices make decisions based on submitted evidences, not on hearsays or public opinions, hay naku, mga bobong tao. Ako kahit di ako lawyer, naintindihan ko. Siyempre, UPI-an ako, kaw siguro Benilde?” (No comment!)
Does anyone seriously think that the arguments we forward are enhanced by the insults we use? Or that expressing our thoughts in the language of insult makes them worth considering?
What, aside from venting their frustrations and their inability to argue in public, were the following commenters thinking when they wrote: “Ang kapal ng mukha mong magsabi ng mga bagay na nasa taas tapos di mo alam ang mga facts!” Or: “I don’t know if you’re just playing a dim-wit but your analogy really is out of this world?” Or: “baka tulad ka din ng idol mo…walang laman ang utak hahahahahahahaha.”
Really, is there a need to say: “I read that kind of arguments in the tabloid…given by those who argue but doesnt think…. You are a waste!!!!”
I did not delete the 16 comments because I did not agree with their substance; as anyone can tell just by scrolling through the hundreds of comments already published, anything goes here, as far as point of view is concerned. But let’s draw the line at insulting each other, shall we?
This playground is for the big boys and girls. If you want to play by shouting “DOUBLE STANDARD KA DIYAN…! UNGAS KA TALAGA…”, may I suggest another sandbox?
Of course, I can imagine some of you thinking, of me: “MAY PERSONALITY DISORDER KA PALA.”
October 20th, 2007 at 9:11 am
The comment is worth considering as it has some ethical references. But on the other hand, the Media who suppose to be theone setting example to people about fair, just and ethical reporting are not doing their.The so called press freedom are being exploited by media for thier personal advatage. Listen to those AM radio commentators. They using words the incite angers and mostly below the belt then ,What would you expect from the listeners. They wil lbe carried out by the same worthless and empty statement that incite anger, frustration.
Before talk about sanitation in the media or for that matter in the BLOG, perhaps we the MEdia organization themselves should sanitise themselves. Marumi pa and Media sa mag politico. They create chaos by publishing unverified information, participate in the disinformation campaign and broadcast all the NEGATIVE THINGS HAPPENING in OUR COUNTRY even in overseas.
Guys , if you talk about cleanliness, PDI should start, and journalist should act reasonably and not besause of the PERA.
The value and reputation of PRESS People and so called JOURNALIST are worst than Dirty Politician because you have no way clean your ranks. YOu pint fingers to politicians which at least accoutable to Sandigan bayan and other agencies,But PRESS People, and journalist are NOT. They take cover from the concept PRESS FREEDOM eventhough it violates ethical ,moral and social standards. Why/ because of Money, Circulations and Ratings.
September 28th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Thanks for the inspring stories OFW. The question I posed regarding “honest politicians’ was just rhetorical. I have not lost faith in the fact there are still politicians out there who are still honest. Like you said, it’s the system that’s corrupting them, and I could not agree more. So I guess it boils down to the collective will of Filipino people to change the system.
September 27th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
There should be, Wadab! We just should not lose our faith in the inherent goodness of some people. I tell you, it is difficult because it is the system that really corrupts the person. I worked in a project in Bicol and there is this Mayor who started out really good. He shared with me his struggles, when he was elected Mayor, the municipality did not have money. For some reasons, the previous Mayor left it without money and lots of debts. He wants the Municipal council to pass a law to increase the tax people pay because the law that they follow have been more than a decade old. The municipal council would not want to do it because it is an unpopular decision to make and they might lose in the next election. For this new mayor, he is willing to take the risk. He did not have the backing of the more established political parties because he is not one of those traditional politicians. Bayan helped him with a few projects to start off. His other problem is the SOP (10% commission on infrastructure projects). He did not like it but all the people around him was telling him that that is the practice. He asked me where do you go? No one seemed ready to help him. Worse, he said, he incurred a million peso debt. He is on his second year and he is still paying for that debt. He is still trying his best to do the right things. I have not gotten in touch with him for 2 years now so I do not really know whether he has succumbed to the temptation. I can tell you another story: Jessie Robredo is one good example. He established a system of transparency for governance in Naga. You should visit him and see what he has done. It will inspire you, Wadab. The other is the former mayor of Irosin, I forgot his name.He is a doctor by profession, he stopped jueteng in Irosin during his term. He opened up the offer to Civil society and let civil society decide and he got the support that he needed during that time. I am sure there are more stories…inspiring ones.
September 25th, 2007 at 2:57 am
OFW, my apologies for misquoting you.
Is there still such an animal as an honest politician in the Philippines? For me,I agree with MC_90 there are still politicians out there that have honest and good ideas, but the sad part is, unless you have a good source of income like a business or gainfully employed as a professional, the salaries of politicians are just not enough to support the function of the office considering our culture of “dole-outs”. There too much money to be made from corruption. I heard somebody said that the number one employment in the Philippines is being a politician……akala ko pa naman being employed in the call centers ang number one.
September 24th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
I agree, Bert. I also have the same passion in condemning the liars and the cheats, murderers, etc.
I also have the same passion to support people who do the right things.