FB and our CM

Are you serious about the ban on networking sites Mr CM?

By Colin Savio Coelho

I read with great amusement the comment made by our CM regarding networking sites like Facebook, Orkut, etc. Well, we must all remind him that we are in the 21^st century, a century where networking is going to rule the roost!

While there is a total breakdown of networking in government departments and works, why does the CM have to bother how people wish to communicate in a democracy? Just because networking sites have created problems for a few ministers, does it mean that they are a problem for anyone and everyone? Relevant questions have to be posed to, what could be considered as, the unnecessary outburst of the CM.

I would like to begin with giving my first-hand experiences with network sites, especially FB. I have around 547 friends, all genuine ones mind you, at the time I am writing this. They are bound to increase at the rate of one a day at least. But never have I been a victim of pornography or any unwanted material from FB. My friends are all active and none of them have ever complained either. This seems to be a defensive statement on the part of the CM. if you and your government had been good to people and acted with merit, I don’t think anyone would even dare create false FB profiles in your name. I always believe: “You have to garner respect with your deeds. You cannot demand respect.” Conversely you can create situations for people to disrespect you when you do not respect others.

If you really want to ban something, please ban corruption. Please ban everything that causes corruption. We are given to understand that corruption in the government is blatant and has reached unimaginable proportions. I suppose the corrupt ways would would include and involve all those that matter in government as well. We hear that every government job is now up for a price. If this does not go to the personal pocket of the person that matters, it finds its way into the ‘party fund’. Can this be banned totally? Or can every minister make an effort to stop this forthwith?

FB, Orkut and others have been a great boon. I spoke to my friend Sergio Dias after many years as I suddenly hit upon him. I met my classmate Ameet Sardessai after almost 25 years on chat on FB. I have almost got in touch with Claude Distefano from Malta, a friend I made in France in 1993. Probably I have got in touch with at least two more such friends from South Africa whom I met in France. We have received great responses to events that we promoted through FB. The good that these sites have done far surpass the ‘bad’ they could probably do! I am sure many Goans and even others would share this viewpoint with me because of their experiences with networking sites.

We need you to check your conscious Mr CM. We don’t need a ban on FB. We need a ban on corruption, on the evils that plague your government and on all the evils that mar our democracy. I don’t see the reason why FB and others should be banned in a democracy like ours. Our maturity should speak Mr CM. Are we not a mature populace who can decipher between right and wrong?

But I would be questioned about the false profiles being created. Well that is a negative that we may have to contend with till decisive action can be taken by the authorities. I know Goa now has a well-trained unit of the police to detect cyber crime. Please make use of this and ensure that action is taken forthwith. It is not difficult to trace the culprits using technology. Make an example out of these rascals.

Another way I would suggest is that every minister should create profiles on their names. Once their genuine profiles are already online, no one can duplicate them. It will also give them an opportunity to chat with a few people and get the views of what they think of them and their works. Maybe explain to them also how the work of the minister is done for good. Use this to promote some good work.

I would tell every minster: This will keep you busy and maybe psych you into doing only something good. It is said that when you keep talking – now we can extend that to chatting - about something, you already believe you are doing it. This will also encourage you and ensure that you do some good work.

Eventually, Mr CM and all the Ministers, I sure hope you end up actually doing this ‘good’. Well, you could follow a simple principle: if you keep talking about ‘good’ to many of your friends on the networking sites, you will begin to feel you are actually doing ‘good’ and finally end up actually doing ‘good’!

Oh, would we all love that!!!