Few weeks ago, after a robust debate with one of my friends; it was pointed out to me that News24 Commenters are irrational. I bequeathed it so much thought and I have also tried so much to concentrate on the comment section on last few days in order to prove the legitimacy of such accusations. I have to say that this is true even though not all of you but most.
I had to go back to the previous articles I posted of which none are about race whatsoever but their about social glitches. On 2 November 2011, I published an article titled “why we fail” (http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/Why-we-fail-20111102). You could tell from the title of the article that this piece has nothing to do with Political issues or even race but I still get comments such as:
“This is some whacked up psychological nonsense, how is this going to help me to remove Zuma as president. How will it end corruption. In theory it is all shiny, but once you touch base you realise that it will remain in the book that you've read.
Give us practical and relevant articles please, not some indirect dribble.” By peter.ndamase
Very unreasonable comment driven by anger for the ANC and Zuma and I had to suffer as If I am the ANC. Surprisingly, my article had nothing to do with the ANC or President Zuma for that matter consequently, you could see from the choice of words used that are driven by hate. I did n`t even know that this forum has to be used to remove Zuma. I can point out so many comments here on this forum. To some extent, everything is turned to be about race, religion; politics etc. I am not saying it is bad thing but try to link your comment with the concept or debate at hand. When are we going to start respecting one another firstly as human beings then as people of race? Should we even talk about race?
Maybe we should because race is reality and it is imperative in our society, it is therefore necessary to talk about. We must however establish what and which context do we speak about race. It will be unwise to talk about race in circles, but we must address stereotype that exists in people and try to demystify the myths.
On the 25 August 2012, The Fox 5366 published an article titled “Would you let your mom read your comments?” I guess we all know the answer to such questions here on this form. Moreover, he also raised the same concerned that people are consistently being aggressive and deliberately insulting on their comments. I can point out a lot of comments; in fact they I could fill out a book. People are so good in calling others noobs, idiots, clowns, stupid, fool, moron, ass holes, thing without brain etc.
Similarly, in one of my article titled “New technology making us to look like lunatics” (http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/New-technology-making-us-to-look-like-lunatics-20120910)...published on 10 September:
don.quioxte.3 (FAKE FACEBOOK ACCOUNT OF COURSE) said “Complete drivel and gibberish. This drives me completely nuts. I do not care if English is your first or twenty-first language. If you cannot use it intelligently then don't. FFS !!”
Maybe I cannot write English so well, At least I am trying to meet people half and I am learning in the process and I had to compromise something. What about you? What about you who cannot write on Zulu or you don`t even hear a word written or said in Zulu? Please note that I am using Zulu as an example. In addition, If you feel that this is “gibberish and drives you nuts” why not leave it? How your comment is by any chance related to the topic at hand?
As I said, I can point so many comments but my main argument is that “We need to learn to be rational and polite in our comments” and that`s not hard at all. If you disagree with someone, just say I disagree with you on this grounds…name them in a polite and respectful manner. I don`t think that`s hard, is it even too much to ask? Be rational and be judicious. I am not even expecting you to like my article but reflect on your own personal space, try to put yourself in someone else shoes. If you wrote an article and I say the same profane and irrational things; how would you feel? Let`s address one another as human beings who have feelings.
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