Recently we read some tragic story of a very young life lost in the most unceremonious way. The loss of young lives under any circumstances is heartbreaking. Even in times when tragic stories seem to be the norm across the social media and elsewhere, such stories, especially when they have to do with the sudden and chilling loss of life leave you sad and dejected. What we’re witnessing across the social media in relation to this particular case of a twentyish young lady could, almost literally, blow your mind away. Much has been said about the age we are in where what we consider as the morale high ground seems to be slipping at an alarming speed. Still you can’t help it but end up breathless at witnessing the very basic behaviors which ensure a coherent social interaction just fading to the point of being almost invisible.
Why are people acting so irresponsibly! Why are we being so rude while nothing more than a little empathy is expected of us as human beings in control of our thinking mind? As if the incident mentioned above us is not bloodcurdling by itself the social media narratives are mostly so crude, irresponsible and even intentionally vile no wonder it’s much of the time difficult to sift the genuine from the fake. One fact is that there are those of us who wait for the perfect opportunity to send the social media into free fall with innocent misinformation, disinformation and deliberate fake and highly damaging posts. With the above-mentioned case under investigation any properly thinking person should be aware of anything and everything written about the issue could have an affect the process of attempts to break the riddle and provide the public with the facts. It is disheartening that much of the media doesn’t seem to be giving due attention to the damage being done with highly negative and out fake social media posts and narratives.
Speaking of the negativity across the social media there is a recent case which has all the threats of causing the utmost damage across the board. The news is that recently a certain person posts some religion-based highly toxic ‘comments’ on the social media; the ‘comments’ while they supposedly may have come from just another guy in the street were so provocative and ill-thought that they infuriated many who took to the social media to post their responses. Anyone who heard the so-called ‘comments’ of the person, whatever denomination they are ascribed too, would also be irritated. Yes, it’s worrying. It’s very worrying, if you really think about it! Of course being worried could sound out of tune knowing that such things like posting toxic material seem to have become the norm and we seem to be sleeping on the whole thing as if all was well on that front.
It’s not the first time we witnessed such disturbing trends on the social media and for sure it wouldn’t be the last. Now, many who took things personally that they are directly targeted and others who could be described as concerned citizens expressed their frustration in words which, while being hard as hard as the hardest rocks didn’t descend into vulgarity, much of which we see these days. They treated the issue in the most cordial way emphasizing that such social media posts would eventually hurt the public unless we’re to do something about them while the sun is still up.
On the other hand there are ‘responses’ which for all practical purposes are meant to create disagreements, confusions and eventually chaos. It is not nice to write these words. I mean knowing that there are the malicious ones within the society which dream and work 24/7 to make sure there are fewer smiles than frowns. The details as to how people deliberately think of ripping apart the very strings that hold society together. Here is where the real and also dangerous problem come. Of course, especially in matters of beliefs it might be hard for people to manage their anger when confronted with toxic and hostile narratives. As there are the most reasonable, well-presented and civilized responses rightly calling for the law to intervene, there are the hate-filled rants which do little, if anything, to make things any better. In fact some of those rants go over the edge repeatedly and one couldn’t help but ask how it’s possible to call for such things as violence and go away with them unscathed. This is not about debates and exchange of ideas and thinking things on that line could be misleading. And it is sad to note that there are those of us who seem to applaud such unsocial comments rather than trying to talk sense into the person or persons who find themselves on the wrong side of everything society holds dearly.
If you ask me about the whole thing I smell fish. I really do! Reading some ‘comments’ you couldn’t help thinking that there probably are behind-the-curtain remote controls managed by others, locally or elsewhere. Of course, it is not at all comforting to think as such. I mean thinking about invisible hands which might be at work to bring the whole house down is one thought you’d have preferred never to be confronted with. But life has stopped being as nice, if it has ever been that is!
Have we completely stopped being concerned about the plight of others! Have we been so much torn apart from what we call brotherhood, morality and all the nicer parts of life which help us stand and endure as a society? What about the coming generations which might be forced to deal with the thousand and one hurdles which this generation failed to deal with? Aren’t we in the right time to clean house for the benefit of the present and future generations?
Believe me there’s no alternative than mending our ways in our use of the social media platform before the last train leaves the station. Yes, there is nothing as more worrying and even scary than missing the very last train out of the station! What would be scarier than being left alone in an empty station with all the lights out!
BY EPHREM ENDALE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 23 MARCH 2025
