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154th: Student Who Scolded Teo Chee Hean = New Generation of Keyboard Thugs of Rotten Upbringing
<!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Keyboard thugs: The new generation 'warriors'
Abraham Rajadurai | Edvantage | Mon Jun 4 2012
http://www.edvantage.com.sg/edvantag...warriors_.html
SINGAPORE - To some he is a hero, to others he is no more than an angry young man.
A 17-year-old student is now one of the biggest topics of debate in the local blogosphere following his response to Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Teo Chee Hean's participation in the opening ceremony of the annual Pre-U Seminar on May 29.
The event was organised by Millennia Institute this year at Nanyang Technological University.
He extolled his words of wisdom, or lack thereof, about DPM Teo on the Internet in his blog, saying that the elder statesmen did little to answer the questions of students and did more to deflect questions back to the students.
DPM Teo, 57, had attempted to engage an audience who were roughly four decades his junior during the Pre-U Seminar on topics such as moral degeneration among Singaporeans, unemployment and potential economic recession.
More often than not he asked the students opinions for their opinions on their questions. Some answers and questions drew laughter and applause.
However, the student viewed the reactions to be similar to that of a ‘roasting’ session. Roasting is a spectacle of placing a guest centre-stage and insulting him to the applause and howls of an audience. It is a common feature on Saturday Night Live, but it is hard to juxtapose these two scenarios and conclude that they are similar.
The student’s piece was drenched with sarcasm and periodically interspaced with an all too familiar four-lettered word more commonly known to be used by sailors then those who are supposed to be the future leaders of Singapore.
Maybe the age gap caused a conflict of some sort. __l__ If he did, I am pretty sure that the students present could have highlighted it to him.
However, when a student does not have the grace to respect an elder person, perhaps it is time to acknowledge that there is a rot of somewhat in his upbringing instead of making him out to be a hero.
Another online community SG Hard Truths has also come out to criticise the youth’s uncouth behaviour, calling his behaviour cowardly for “hurling pot shots from a corner”.
It seems easy to criticise when you are shielded by a pseudonym and armed with a keyboard and computer. All you have to do is tap your thoughts out, hit send, and your masterpiece is available for all to see. No need to think, no repercussions, just spout what you want to say and you are safe.
That seems to be the attitude of a lot of today’s youth. Recently, there have been stories of teenagers dissing their parents online, hoping to be called a hero for hitting a parent , and now one about discolouring a minister with expletives online. And lest I forget, teachers too have been faulted for this.
Today it is easier to express an opinion or to share a grouse - all you have to do is shout it out on Facebook, Twitter or start a blog. But doing so without being held accountable for your actions may just give rise to a free-for-all; a royal rumble of sorts.
Are we ready for this generation of keyboard thugs? The local media often receives flak for not highlighting or spinning government issues in a positive light. The truth is, every news piece we put up has to have evidence behind it. We do not rant or rave, we simply present the issue.
The biggest problem that I foresee is a generation who are more comfortable with hiding behind a screen instead of coming outright and laying their cards on the table. If the author was really so uncomfortable with what he had witnessed why had he not questioned DPM Teo in person?
Perhaps the DPM could have done more to answer the questions of the students who might have felt disappointed. But to hide behind a screen and insult somebody, I’m sorry that does not make one hero, since there is no sign of bravery in that action.
<!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Keyboard thugs: The new generation 'warriors'
Abraham Rajadurai | Edvantage | Mon Jun 4 2012
http://www.edvantage.com.sg/edvantag...warriors_.html
SINGAPORE - To some he is a hero, to others he is no more than an angry young man.
A 17-year-old student is now one of the biggest topics of debate in the local blogosphere following his response to Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Teo Chee Hean's participation in the opening ceremony of the annual Pre-U Seminar on May 29.
The event was organised by Millennia Institute this year at Nanyang Technological University.
He extolled his words of wisdom, or lack thereof, about DPM Teo on the Internet in his blog, saying that the elder statesmen did little to answer the questions of students and did more to deflect questions back to the students.
DPM Teo, 57, had attempted to engage an audience who were roughly four decades his junior during the Pre-U Seminar on topics such as moral degeneration among Singaporeans, unemployment and potential economic recession.
More often than not he asked the students opinions for their opinions on their questions. Some answers and questions drew laughter and applause.
However, the student viewed the reactions to be similar to that of a ‘roasting’ session. Roasting is a spectacle of placing a guest centre-stage and insulting him to the applause and howls of an audience. It is a common feature on Saturday Night Live, but it is hard to juxtapose these two scenarios and conclude that they are similar.
The student’s piece was drenched with sarcasm and periodically interspaced with an all too familiar four-lettered word more commonly known to be used by sailors then those who are supposed to be the future leaders of Singapore.
Maybe the age gap caused a conflict of some sort. __l__ If he did, I am pretty sure that the students present could have highlighted it to him.
However, when a student does not have the grace to respect an elder person, perhaps it is time to acknowledge that there is a rot of somewhat in his upbringing instead of making him out to be a hero.
Another online community SG Hard Truths has also come out to criticise the youth’s uncouth behaviour, calling his behaviour cowardly for “hurling pot shots from a corner”.
It seems easy to criticise when you are shielded by a pseudonym and armed with a keyboard and computer. All you have to do is tap your thoughts out, hit send, and your masterpiece is available for all to see. No need to think, no repercussions, just spout what you want to say and you are safe.
That seems to be the attitude of a lot of today’s youth. Recently, there have been stories of teenagers dissing their parents online, hoping to be called a hero for hitting a parent , and now one about discolouring a minister with expletives online. And lest I forget, teachers too have been faulted for this.
Today it is easier to express an opinion or to share a grouse - all you have to do is shout it out on Facebook, Twitter or start a blog. But doing so without being held accountable for your actions may just give rise to a free-for-all; a royal rumble of sorts.
Are we ready for this generation of keyboard thugs? The local media often receives flak for not highlighting or spinning government issues in a positive light. The truth is, every news piece we put up has to have evidence behind it. We do not rant or rave, we simply present the issue.
The biggest problem that I foresee is a generation who are more comfortable with hiding behind a screen instead of coming outright and laying their cards on the table. If the author was really so uncomfortable with what he had witnessed why had he not questioned DPM Teo in person?
Perhaps the DPM could have done more to answer the questions of the students who might have felt disappointed. But to hide behind a screen and insult somebody, I’m sorry that does not make one hero, since there is no sign of bravery in that action.
All the best spin doctors can't help him if he remains cooped up in his ivory towers.
