The released video (whether a market strategy or whatnot) of Jackie Rice castigating and demeaning an old lady has gone viral, getting mix reactions from netizens. According to the disclaimer (of the original uploader), the video was part of Wish Ko Lang's social experiment to look for a good samaritan.
In a released statement, Wish Ko Lang states:
Pero bago mag-react, ang tagpong ito ay isa lamang social experiment na nilatag ng Wish Ko Lang! Ano kaya ang gagawin ng mga makakasaksi nito, kuhanan sa cellphone ang galit na artista at i-upload sa social media? O pumagitna at ayusin ang problema?
With the reactions of several netizens, I want to discuss few things.
A. Social Experiment
A social experiment seeks to know the thoughts, emotions and behavior of human subjects regarding a specific stimulus (scenario, action, or condition).
Some netizens cried why this kind of experiment that would just generate negative comments and reactions. The social experiment is always a two-edged one. Positive and negative. For a simple reason: human subjects.
If social experiments will only generate positive comments or reactions, then it defeats the purpose. It must be able to show the behavior of people in “regular” interactions or day-to-day situations. To cry that Wish Ko Lang goes beyond the norm is wrong, out of context, and even superficial. The social experiment was a success because it fires up something – negative and positive.
B. Double Standard – Degrading and Demeaning People is Always WRONG
There are those who say that to castigate an old lady like that is wrong, or even immoral. While I definitely agree that such action is wrong, immoral, and not worthy of being human, I don't definitely agree on the message these reactions carry: It is okay to castigate anybody provided that they are not old ladies.
Let us be clear with this. Regardless of age, gender, race, status in life, education, and other dividing categories, TO DEMEAN, DEGRADE, or in any way SHAME a person is WRONG.
This means that while netizens are aghast and are crying foul over what Jackie Rice did in the social experiment, to bash Jackie Rice (which is foremost uncalled for) is DOUBLE STANDARD. Is it okay to bash and demean Jackie Rice because she is not an old lady? NO.
Simply, let us be clear with our reactions or actions. We may defend an angle but we fail to have real CONVICTIONS and PRINCIPLES.
C. Ask, Inquire, Know, Conclude
(Assume. All are acquainted with the scientific method.) The scientific method shows that conclusion is the last part of the process. Why? Conclusions are made only when proper observation, complete knowledge, and all angles are already taken into account. There is no short cuts. (Though we love copying chemistry experiments; why not? They are really hard to fathom.)
This is also true with life. When we see something, we cannot just judge. We need to ask. Why was she slapped? Why was he gunned?And more whys. If you see two people fighting and the other guy shoot the one on the ground, what do you know? You only know that a person has been shot and all details pertaining to it. Nothing else. You cannot say that the one who shoot the guy on the ground is a criminal. That would be hasty. What if the guy on the ground owned the gun and it was but self defense? There are several angles to know and understand.
If only we read and ask more, we will all know that it was but for a show, a social experiment. It could have made the difference.
Never judge without knowing all facts.
Final Words
Emotions may sometime put us in a tin can. It is hard to move, hard to think, hard to be sensible. When we allow our emotions to rule us, our wit leaves us.
Rage. People kill because of emotions. And after: I don't know what I did, I was very angry. I did not mean to. This is just the extreme side. (I am an extremist when it comes to scenario building.)
To be kind to people is foremost of all. It is to be humane because we are humans. This is not a requirement. This is nature. Let us remember that being human means being humane to ALL, not to just a few, not just when we are not the ones doing it.
There are times we just ignore the old man lying in the street. Right?
There are times we bash a former friend because of some “talks”. Right?
There are times we just raise our brows when someone, something we don't like. Right?
We all live with these prejudices and mistakes. Guilty as charged. It is just time to learn. Live.
There.
