Fake news galore, Bash pa more
Anything fake is selfexpression. For why one would not make what is genuine instead? It is absurd. While some fakes do tell truthfully that they are such, others would pretend to be genuine. That is preposterous, if not totally evil. Such is the case of fake news.
Beware of fake news. They look like real news, but they do deceive. They manipulate. They are “captious” (Pope Francis); they appeal easily to prying eyes. They instantly attract couch potatoes and goodfor-nothing dormant. As in a spider web, those who are just being nosey are no-sweat cheap targets.
Beware because you could also be a victimizer more than a victim yourself. A predator, no less. One is a predator when one does not verify news and would just swallow what one reads. One is a bloodsucker even when he likes the same and share it with others. One is a vampire when one peddles fake news. Moreover, spreading malicious news could turn one into a vulture.
We mince no words in portraying those who cater to fake news. After all s/he is no different from the snake in the Garden of Eden. In fact and in truth, that serpent is the forebear of the purveyors. No less than the Holy Father has condemned them strikingly. Pope Francis said, “Those reading or watching such stories risked behaving like coprophagic, people who eat feces.” (Go check your dictionary and cover your nose ‘cos it truly is the smell of fake news purveyors)
The murky story does not end there yet. The spontaneous sequel of fake news is equally repelling. Bashing, that is. It goes without saying that the motive of spreading fake news is to solicit much public attention. No-good snoopers swarm like leeches to suck off the sap of untruthfulness. The- more- the- merrier locution is the name of this silly game. They keep the piece afloat through time with multiple likes and comments until they go trending (hello there, trolls!). And voila, reputation is damaged, the name is besmirched and the person is bullied and has been downed. Oftentimes, what has been happening is even unbeknownst to the victim. Much like that supposed-to-be-friend
of yours who was also stabbing you behind your back.
The good humble prelate Cardinal Chito Tagle was not spared. In fact, he is a favorite target.
Several weeks ago, in an online news, Cardinal Tagle was quoted as having condemned the killing of a priest in the north. Comments flooded in a flash. Truth be told that not a few, I included, have decried at comments that instead of commending, Tagle was condemned profusely in actuality. Brandishing the goodnatured prelate as corrupt and as incompetent. Threatening further that Tagle should be the next taker of the assassin’s bullets. Those who know and love Chito could certainly be shaking their heads in disbelief to what they have done to the simple man of the cloth. On the contrary and on Chito’s part, I am pretty sure that for him(Chito’s), things like these are very much part of the cross meant to be embraced with God’s love.
On the other hand, some comments defending the Cardinal appeared just terrified. “Wag nyo po akong ibabash ha. Wala po akong pinapanigan, I just want to air my side and just to be fair po.” But lo and behold, this concerned terrified soul has by the skin of his/her teeth has put his/ herself on the line of fire. “Sasali-sali pa kasi e,” somebody prying could be quipping.
Are we actually thinking that fake news and bashers are only online and just digital? Not at all. In truth, it could start with when two or three are gathered in the office or in the neighborhood then they feast on somebody who is not present. Need we say more about chismis?
Perhaps, we could still rant and rave about this unfortunate phenomenon happening before us and to us. But a line from FPJ’s Probinsyano which has caught my attention in good graces could serve well as our ending: “Ganyan ang mga taong magaling magsinungaling. Una nilang pinaniniwala ang kanilang mga sarili.”