Some ground rules in my humble opinion. After writing for about a month in this platform, I feel like I should write something more about what I think on the topic above, none the less, these are my thoughts and mine alone, you might have yours and you may think its better than mine and that's fine, I can accept things as "To Agree to Disagree" and move on. My only ask is, if you started to read this, do continue until the end.
Rule No.1: No one is above the Law and Constitution of the said country
As long as we live according to the rules of conduct of that country, it should be fine, if you dislike any of the laws or the Constitution have a say to your elective representative to change the law or the constitution of the land. In the mean time we all have to abide by it, as no one should be above the Law. So if the Law requires us to respect the others then we do our best to give them that respect. Keep all conversations as clean as we could, no doubt from time to time our emotions will kick in, but sane thinking should prevail. It doesn't mean that one should not criticize someone, but do so with respect that he or she deserves. If you go to a foreign country, understand the difference in culture and its sensitivities. For example, if you go to China and then obey their laws. Do not try to impose your thoughts without understanding them first. Which is what u will see a Mat/Minah Saleh usually do because they think they are better than others.
Rule No.2: Use your real name
If we want others to respect our opinion, than do so with your real face in front of it, not hiding behind a pseudonym or a moniker. Doing so gives you credibility, and keeps your thoughts to be inline with the first rule above. I write with my real name up front, I have nothing to hide and I am not here to offend you. I am here to trigger you to think, and then for you to make your own judgement. Hiding behind a moniker is childish, it is akin to throwing a stone, then hiding your hand. It might be ok for us to do that when we were a child, but as adults? Come on, if you are a parent and some kid were to throw some rock to your kid, you would be furious right? but we are adults now, we cannot expect ourselves to do better?
Rule No.3: We are All Human beings after all, and we do make mistakes
Do tell me if I am wrong, if I was wrong, I will admit that I am wrong. If I don't or at least I think I don't, trust me, I will argue until we can either agree to disagree, or either one of us admits our mistakes. But I will only entertain you, if you follow rule no. 2. However, try not to provoke me because I will ignore you, make your intentions clear, what you want to say and why? I can respect others to give their own opinion but you must be able to accept my opinion. Accepting and agreeing are two different things all together, which bring us to rule no.4.
Rule No.4: Freedom of speech
‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,’ some said this saying was credited to Voltaire (also known as François-Marie Arouet), some say its not his actual spoken words but a synthesis of her thoughts by S. G. Tallentyre (a historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall) and here lies the conundrum or conflict with some of the rules above. For example. If I were to insult someone or some race like .. race followed by some filthy animal, (Oh, use your own Imagination) than do I still have the right to say what I say? Do I deserve to fall over my own sword? In my honest opinion, no one should go to jail over such remarks, while I believe in it, rule no.1 still remains true, and until that rule changes, we should not be above the law. Now if say "Oh, in this case we can, than what is going to stop others to say the same on other things about other laws?" We should be consistent shouldn't we? Yes, we should work towards improving and changing these old rules, but there must be a way to do just that, without breaking any other laws or the same law we are trying to change in the first place. There must be some civility towards it. Now, knowing all that, public humiliation or public reaction to such comments should also follow the same rule.
Rule No.5: If you cannot take it, you should not dish it
IMHO pausing to think before saying something gives you better control in how we say things, but rule no.3 should also apply here. We all do make mistakes, we all want people to respect ourselves, but we have to respect ourselves first by doing the right thing. Learn to ask and give forgiveness, not continuing the barrage with unproductive information.
Yes, I know, I am an ass****, I say things that I think about sometimes too loud. My respectfully old "Laupan" Mr Khong use to say "Mukmin, You are too honest!" and I take that two edge sword and wear it like a badge of honor, because I am who I am.
Finally, do read the link I included from Cornell University, and ask ourselves "How ready are we to learn to accept dissenting views?"
Tell me your thoughts in the comments post reading the article mentioned. Cheerio and Have a nice day!
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