You gotta say something once in a while...
TL;DR This post is about the two core reasons, IMO, how a controversy is born: media and people.
Important note: I am not against media. I mean, it is also the medium we use to investigate things thoroughly. I am only against those irresponsible ones and people who blindly believe them.
First of all, excuse me if you will spot some wrong grammars in this post. I'm not that good in English but I'll try my best.
I am not the kind of person who pokes her nose into issues. I may not look like I care but the truth is, I'm just bathing in my silence.
When controversies spark and big commotion starts to surround them, I start my own research. I read articles that explain (or nearly explain) both sides of an issue. I watch the videos related to that issue. I also read opinions of netizens to spice up my own thoughts about the issue. Sadly, I learn that there are many people out there who talks and talks but doesn't know the whole story.
Even after I dig into details, I seldom (or never) post about it. This is because I find the comments and posts of some reasonable people (who think things through; who think before they post; who explains their views smoothly and perfectly) enough to voice out for me.
Most of the time, I am able to calm myself down. However, I actually find it hard and painful when I am part of the group involved, especially when the group is at the receiving end of the bashing (on second thought, I would feel the same even if it was the opposite).
I will not name a specific controversy here. I guess, this will be appropriate for all the issues which has surfaced recently.
Those issues... What do you think they have in common?
If you observe carefully, there are two things where they are common: (1) manipulative media and (2) overreacting audiences.
Manipulative media. I purposely avoided using the word "unreliable" or "irresponsible" because that would be a cruel generalization, and I wouldn't want to line myself up with those people who generalize things hastily. I guess this is just my opinion but the word "manipulative" is neither negative nor positive description for me.
Media is supposedly the one responsible for reporting facts to the nation. They are responsible for spreading correct information to the country... to the world. However, let's admit it. Nowadays, media isn't fulfilling its primary purpose. Everyone is aware of some manipulations done by the media for various reasons for all we know (protecting a person or organization, higher ratings, being unique). No offense to people working in this field, but you people know that ground more than us... more than anyone else. This is just my opinion based on all observations made.
Have you watched a Korean series entitled Pinocchio? After watching Pinocchio, I learned how cruel media can be. Well, it's not that I do not know, but that's when it became so clear.
From what I've seen, there are two types of lies that media show: (1) a half-assed truth and (2) a twisted story.
I won't cite any non-fictional reports here because I know that everyone might have already heard or encountered something like this. There are times that the media initially do not lie about their report. However, they do not show the whole truth. This usually happens on interviews or clips of coverage of an event. They show the parts which are interesting (and may spark some issue) and cut off those that will negate the said interesting parts. As for a twisted story... this one is pure lie. They will make good guys, bad and make the bad guys good. As simple as that. This happens when they report only the good sides of a respective person or group, and block off all the negative ones. And as for those real good guys, they make them bad by concentrating on the negative things they have done or by blaming something into them (which may not be their fault at the first place).
You may say that "Hey, that's just a fictional work. That's just a Korean drama. You've never worked for a TV station nor never been there."
Yeah, you're right. Then I could say that this article implies to the MAJORITY of the media out there. There could be some who are honest, but they surely are rare. Yeah, you're right, Pinocchio is a fiction. However, it is not a supernatural-themed... nor fantasy... nor science fiction. Series like this which depict everyday lives are based on reality. This was written and made because this is what is happening in the real world.
We are all aware that media is indeed influential. It is indeed powerful. Just one word from them heard by some people who blindly believe things, and BAAM! The world just got itself a cancer! Don't get me wrong, it's not the media I'm pointing out as the cancer, it's the certain kind of people.
Overreacting audiences. The word used to describe these people plainly tells you one of the main problems in a controversy. Like what previously established, people who don't think before they say something, people who don't study the details well before they blurt out their opinions, are the cancer of this society. There are lots of people who fall under this category. I can't argue with them if they initially feel irritated or angry or frustrated on a news subject. I do have those moments as well. However, can we at least think before we post something? Why don't we do a little research before voicing out our opinions (to avoid being bashed by those who did theirs)? I can't also argue if there are people who are too sensitive with some matters which cause uproar in the social media, but can we calm ourselves a bit and let our sanity hit the rock bottom of our brains? If only people would stop being judgmental, basher, or any kind of these things without getting their facts right, then we would save so much room for another problems and discussions.
The length of life of a controversy depends on how trending it is. Meaning, the people talking about it are the one making it grow like their own kid. Let’s save those saliva and energy from our fingers and use them for discussions on how to improve our country (or world; or at least how to not make it worse).
I may be just a nobody who will tell you this but, we may not be able to control or stop the manipulations done by the media, but the non-media people (who are way greater in number than the media ones) may be able to control the flow of an issue. Everyone, let's grow up. Let us not blindly follow or believe what we always see (especially those shown by the media). Let's do some deep thinking here before we put ourselves into action. Remember, those who do not dig deeper into details are shallow people. We do not want to be those kind of people.
Let's make a change here, shall we?
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