LETTERS: It is easy to be outraged online by people's bad jokes, ridiculous takes and stupid acts nowadays.
Such actions are rebuked in the strongest terms by netizens, often with distasteful remarks that will never be published by any publication.
Yes, some jokes might be worthy of punishment. Sometimes, the people who made such jokes have apologised and shown remorse after being called out over their action or inaction.
However, for some, this is still not enough. We insist on destroying people's life, even after sincere apologies were offered.
Every aspect of their lives is scrutinised and denounced. Their past actions and words are taken out of context to show that their characters have always been rotten to the core.
Their personal details are exposed, so we can channel our outrage directly to them. Not only that, their family members, including kids, are also dragged online.
Must we be so relentless in shaming them, in ensuring that they will lose their jobs, for instance, and be alienated by society?
Isn't it easier to offer forgiveness? Of course, there are positive effects to online shaming. But, there are traumatising impacts too.
Channelling our outrage is more satisfying. But, that feeling of satisfaction is temporary.
Then, we will look for the next online misstep to unleash and satisfy our unpleasantness. And this chain of bitterness continues.
Our moral ground is "higher" when we call out people to hold them accountable for their actions, but where does this morality go when we reprimand, excoriate and ultimately destroy the perpetrators' lives?
We might not verbally pass negative remarks due to our moral ground, but that does not seem to deter us from posting the words online.
We urge people to be responsible for the intangible harms their words or actions cause. But, we fail to take responsibility for the very tangible harms we inflict when we hurt people online.
Ask ourselves then whether the offence is grave enough to be worth the likely consequences. What does this tell us about our society?
That we are all in for punishment, and not much on kindness, compassion and second chances? That we are unforgiving, even after people express remorse?
Maybe it is more difficult to forgive nowadays because people have abused the idea, offering insincere apologies that only act as a ploy and cheap grace rather than promising accountability.
But, without apologising, we will continue to be miserable, and no issues will get anywhere closer to being resolved.
Therefore, be forgiving, especially on the Internet, because people can learn and grow from their mistakes. Forgive more because we focus on solutions, and not resentment.
Forgive more because we want to be forgiven, too, by others. It is only wise to accept that everybody makes mistakes. As the saying goes — to err is human, to forgive divine.
MOHAMAD SYAFIQ YA SHAK
UiTM, Perak Branch
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times