A Wollongong churchman used his Easter message to warn of the danger of " character assassination " posed by Internet activities such as Twitter and Facebook. Twitter limits comments to just 140 characters, but that's all it takes to brand another person with character insinuations that are not required to be proven - and which may even be a form of bullying.
When the Internet burst onto the scene it did not take very long for innovative minds to discover the social possibilities. It became a huge social meeting place, and those with a computer or even a mobile phone began to band together to share views, comments - and even gossip. It became the custom to invite friends to become " followers " - and in a way that many people did not realise - to start what in another age would have been regarded as " a gang ".
If a number of people regularly engage with one another in cyberspace - what is the difference between that and a neighbourhood " gang " that meets to undertake anti-social habits ? If someone in that gang developers a " hate " for another acquaintance, it is just so easy to promote that displeasure to the rest of the company - and create a formidable enemy for that person.
We already have a problem with school kids using the Internet to bully others at their school. It is probably a natural progression that adults will vent their spleen at people who earn their displeasure, but there is also a tendency to disparage a person who suggests an idea with which we disagree. We transfer our rejection of that idea into an attack on the character of the person who had the temerity to voice an opinion.
The Internet is a potential legal mine field. Once you tap those cyber keyes the message you have entered is there for eternity. You may delete it from your computer memory, bit it remains locked away in the hard drive - and it is forever available to those who chose to record it for posterity.
Facebook and Twitter were supposed to be a " fun thing " and a way of bringing social mobility to those who had problems mixing with others. One of the great advantages was anonymity. Those with social inhibitions were neither a face nor a voice - simply a mind that communicated with others by tapping keyboard keyes.
Users need to think before they act. The legal profession is always looking for new markets and it is inevitable that sooner or later seeking redress for what has appeared on the Internet will find it's way into the court rooms.
The great thing about the Internet - is that it is free ! But beware - anything that involves the legal system is far from free !
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