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Just read from Marc Macuha’s blog that columnist Malu Fernandez of Manila Standard Today and People Asia has resigned and apologized for what she wrote on some of her recent articles.
This would have been a huge triumph for the blogosphere that have been very vocal against her — but death threats?
Demanding a public apology and outright dismissal from the said publication is a valid argument. Name calling and cursing is treading on thin line but is always expected in times of outpouring emotions. Making death threats is totally crossing the line.
GMANewsTV reports, quoting her:
Fernandez claimed that because of the article she became a subject of hate blogs, a target of death threats and personal insults.
“Our society is bound together by human chains of kindness and decency. I have failed to observe this and I am now reaping the consequences of my actions.” Fernandez said.
Fernandez said she now truly understands the “insidiousness of discrimination and prejudice disguised as humor.”
Yes, she might deserve the ridicule thrown at her but subjecting her to death threats is a huge cause for concern (isn’t that a criminal offense under Philippine Law?). Death threats are no joke. The internet (and blogging) is a great tool for freedom of expression. That liberty, coupled with the inherent benefit of anonymity online, shouldn’t be used to cause anyone bodily harm.
Bloggers should also be vigilant to prevent this. I know it’s an impossible task but measures should be made to minimize it. Moderating comments deemed to be libelous and threatening should be exercised especially in situations like these. The same is true with anonymous blogs that calls out for someone to be physically harmed — do no link to them or allow them to post links on your blog.
This reminds me of Tim O’Reilly’s call for a Bloggers Code of Conduct after fellow blogger and friend Kathy Sierra was subjected to hate comments and death threats.
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Jeffrey says:
I did not support the call for her resignation or boycott of her articles or the newspaper she worked for.
But i desired for her to change her heart, and I commend her for accepting the fault.
Bryanboy says:
I received a few blog comments with Malu’s personal information like her home address, phone numbers and such — it’s a good thing I moderate the comments on my blog and I don’t pubish anyone’s personal information. I had to write a disclaimer here and there because some of the comments were downright disturbing. In the end, I actually feel sorry about Malu and what she’s going through.
I understand the outrage and all but clearly a few individuals have crossed the line. It’s unfotunately that there’s not much one can do about it. It really shows how mean people can be.
Ade says:
I was totally disgusted with her article. I admit to have taken a couple of jabs at her, but I wasn’t one of those clamoring for her resignation. A public apology would’ve been okay. Also, death threats? Damn, that was too much.
ia says:
It must be noted that Kathy Sierra has had infinitely more contributions to humanity than Fernandez. ^_~
But I sure hope she’s learned her lesson, and her “last” words weren’t just for show. In the same vein, I hope the death threats weren’t just exaggerations of the hate-filled entries that filled the blogosphere.
Dave Starr --- ROI Guy says:
Good that you commented on this, Abe … not becuase of any of the pros and cons of Malu’s columns. It’s surprising how many bloggers seem to feel that”freedom of speech” or “freedom of expression” somehow translates into being above the law. We, as citizens of whatever country, do_not_ have total freedom of speech … nor should we. The famous example of noit being free to cry “Fire” in a crowded theater being a n illustration still very appropriate.
Death threats _are_ illegal, so far as I know, in the Philippines and they most certainly are in the US … in fact they are rourinely investigated by police and criminal punishment has been meted out. regardless of the law, it is just not right. Even though a person may toss out such a threat without actively meaning them seriously, the world is filled with unstable, unbalanced folks who might pick up on such a post and actual carry it out … history is full of murders traced to insane folk believing they were killing in response to an instruction from someone they believe to be their leader.
It’s really sad to see how lightly this incident is being taken by bloggers … many just seem to say, “Oh well, it wasn’t on my blog, so what do I care”? You care because this is the type of attitude that leads to rules being imposed by “outsiders” and we all know how inappropriate that is!
spidamang says:
I’m really not that attuned to the philippine blogging community as I only learned about all this brouhaha on the news last night.
She may have been trying to be satirical and ended up sounding malicious and petty. Granted her article may have been more at home in a spoiled teenager’s blog instead of a widely circulated publication, but death threats just show how close minded and violence oriented some people are. These are the kind of people that tend to shoot you for scratching their car accidentally.
Couldn’t these email threats be traced?
noemi says:
Is there a particular blog that posted a death threat?
Rickey says:
If these death threats were serious then she should have reported them to the police to investigate. We cannot control what people do, if they cross the line, that is beyond anyone’s control.
The problem is: are Philippine authorities capable of tracking down these individuals who threatened her? What is the nature of these death threats? Via e-mail, phone, etc.? If she got the threat, there is a paper trail.
I am not too convinced that the threats were anything serious — because if your life is threatened you don’t quit your job, you report it to the police.
Ederic says:
The OFWs may really be very angry at Malu, but I don’t think these so-called threats are serious. Must be just spontaneous emotional outbursts triggered by her article.
Andrew says:
@Dave: That’s very true. I do believe in freedom of speech but I also believe in being responsible for your actions. That’s the problem with some commenters. They act as if they’re beyond scrutiny. I mean, I don’t like what Malu Fernandez said. But sadly, many of those who reacted have gone way below her level of thinking. Aside from the Bloggers Code of Conduct, we need a Commenters Code of Conduct!