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Can we be less quick to judge others, please?

After observing how people reacted to the recent incident between the Gojek driver and his passenger, I am disappointed at the way the public used social media platforms to exercise their self-righteousness.

Many decided to bully the perceived wrongdoer by cyber-shaming them, posting demeaning messages and nasty photo captions, with some claiming that they are merely standing up for what’s right, says the reader.

Many decided to bully the perceived wrongdoer by cyber-shaming them, posting demeaning messages and nasty photo captions, with some claiming that they are merely standing up for what’s right, says the reader.

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Delane Lim Zi Xuan

After observing how people reacted to the recent incident between the Gojek driver and his passenger, I am disappointed at the way the public used social media platforms to exercise their self-righteousness.

Many decided to bully the perceived wrongdoer by cyber-shaming them, posting demeaning messages and nasty photo captions, with some claiming that they are merely standing up for what’s right.

Are we living in a country where we practise an eye for an eye?

Do we have the right to bully the bullies (or those who are wrong)?

Are we too quick to react and judge those who are wrong?

Are we exercising enough empathy and wisdom in our responses to such matters?

Every negative behaviour has a story behind it. We were not there to feel and understand what went on in the mind of the passenger.

A publicly declared “wrongdoer” doesn’t deserve any form of bullying or humiliation just to “teach her a lesson”.

And if we do, we are bullies ourselves and have no right to judge others.

What we have created may be another victim who will likely suffer from depression and other psychological ailments.

I think as Singaporeans, we can do better than just shaming. Let’s be gracious and empathetic and allow others to grow.

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