Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Angry folks

Have we become a nation of angry folks?

The newspapers seem to frequently carry reports of somebody apologising publicly, or people demanding apologies. It is like any inadvertent comment by a political leader, any unthinking joke by public figures, or even photos of mischievous fun can trigger off a storm of fury and baying for blood. Within a few hours after the alleged offence, we will have news that somebody has apologised, or clarified a statement, or promised to be more sensitive in the future.

Dear friends, in this age of constant media attention and amplification, we all have to grow thicker skins. I don't think we have become more offensive or insensitive as individuals, but digital ways of recording and instant publication mean that it is effortless to pick up and broadcast anything vaguely unpleasant, which, in the past, would have faded immediately and become non-existent. STOMP leads the way in becoming an online book of wrongs. It has become so easy to scream to the world that you are offended and fan fires of resentment with kindred spirits.

Frankly, I am offended by all this offendedness and offendability. Please don't let political correctness become a form of oppressive extremism. Can we just live and let live? We live in such a diverse society, teeming with different attitudes and opinions, many faiths and lifestyle preferences, personal concerns and priorities. Somebody is bound to say or do something you don't like. Isn't it tiring to constantly make sure that no one infringes on the least of your rights?

4 comments:

xmac2006 said...

I was just thinking the same thing. Too thin-skinned, and too full of self-importance, we've become. And we can't laugh at ourselves any more http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/singaporeans-forgotten-laugh-112537744.html

MoB said...

Exactly!

Aarti said...

I think a lot of this is due to the media and the way they are on 24/7 and thus need to make mountains of molehills in order to keep people watching. I recently watched the movie Miss Representation, which is about how the media has portrayed women in the US in a really negative way, which has hurt us a lot. It's put a lot into perspective for me.

auntielucia said...

People who r apologising like a drop of the hat run risk of appearing insincere!