Comments on: Hate 2.0

By: Paddy II

Paddy II — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:35:03 +0000

Great article, Muhammed. We could also help by using Web 2.0 to spread useful, healthy, affirmative influences.

For instance, http://www.essential-education.org/

By: Tech Leader » Ismail Dhorat » Technology for change

Tech Leader » Ismail Dhorat » Technology for change — Sat, 24 May 2008 13:33:31 +0000

[…] article on how to use social networking and media for social change, and Muhammed Karim has an interesting post on using web 2.0 to fight hate. With technology, the costs of coordination are drastically reduced. […]

(Report abuse)

By: Muhammad

Muhammad — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:08:47 +0000

It’s a sad time for South Africa… Everybody’s hopes and dreams for this country are sinking. I think we all can make a difference especially with our new growing media structure… Web 2.0 can affect Mass Media as well.

(Report abuse)

By: Bryn

Bryn — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:40:23 +0000

I was once looking for some information on population group statistics for an urban geography assignment and a fairly wide Google search led me to a white supremacy website. It was like a car accident - you know you shouldn’t stop and stare but you do anyway because you’re 1. nosey and 2. morbid.

I read a number of threads on their forum, not quite believing the rubbish that some people posted. It’s one thing to be proud of your people and your achievements. It’s a whole other, warped and twisted thing to blame all your misfortunes, disasters and woes on another race group or religion merely because they are a different skin colour or follow a different religious creed. You know, dislike the individual but don’t tar the whole population with the same brush.

I posted a comment on that board to correct a person’s fantasy of history and was told that I was part of a Zionist plot for world domination. That’s nuts. Dangerous nuts as Terry Pratchett would say.

I don’t think you can put all this xenophobia and hatred down to simple economic causes. A fair amount of it has to do with fear of the unknown - because someone from a different culture/race/religion is an unknown. I know many people who are anti-Muslim but have no idea what Islam is about. Perhaps the thing that bloggers and columnists and social networkers can do is write about themselves and their culture, their religious beliefs (if any), their country, their people. Focusing not on the negative things, but on the ordinary, the positive. And then they should encourage their readers and subscribers to do the same. Try to see each other as people and not as anonymous blobs living *over there*. I’ve had some of my perceptions about certain countries changed merely by meeting someone from there and talking to them, person to person. Maybe it won’t work on everyone but it’s a start. And the internet is the perfect platform for it.

(Report abuse)

By: saaleha

saaleha — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:58:27 +0000

It was only after I wrote that post that I realised I was just venting and not offering any pro-active solutions.
I think as bloggers and avid social networkers, something remarkable can be done. I’m open to any ideas about how we can kick off a revolution.

(Report abuse)

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:29:26 +0000

Hi Muhammad,

Well written! Being a software (web) developer and a South African in Europe makes this article as “close to home” as it could get!

I too have come across the “hate sites” in reading up info of what is happening in SA.

I, too, agree on the fact that Web 2.0 must be utilised for good and to spread the message of what can be done about such atrocities - rather than “I-told-you-so” messages - therevy spurring these brutalities even further!

Whether it’s “black-on-black”, “white-on-white”, “white-on-black”, “black-on-white” or any other such moronic “mantras” - spreading further hate will only make things worse in the end!

(Report abuse)