Chinese Whisper
Chinese whisper is a game where while sitting in a group you have to say something to the other person in his ear and this chain would continue till the last person who then had to loudly announce the statement spoken in his ear. More than often it would turn out to be completely different from the initial statement. Something completely unrelated. As the word spread from one person to another it changed.
Why I remember this game today because the media and social media and WhatsApp industry had convoluted stories and everything in a similar manner. Facts and truth are being twisted and turned and becoming something completely non-related to the initially true story. Fake news is ruling the world. For their own channel trp ratings and popularity and for increasing sales every news item is added upon tons of masala. The initial true story gets completely changed and lost along the way. It does not matter to anybody whether this nonsense can destroy people’s lives or even the nation. It does not matter how much chaos or panic such rumors create. It does not matter how such negative false news is dividing people in the name of religion etc.
As long as they are able to sensationalize anything even be it the death or suicide of a person they seem to be enjoying doing it. Journalism and WhatsApp industry thrives now not on facts but fiction. Making news viral and showing wrong cooked up stories to create mass panic and hysteria is all that they wish to achieve. It’s hideous. No one stops. We all like to forward and share the videos we receive without checking any authenticity.
The whole world blames China for the havoc created in the world. I blame Chinese whisper for the havoc created each day since the invention of social media and WhatsApp in our lives. Do we realize we are a part of this Chinese whisper? We too are responsible for spreading this mass panic. We are a party to making such rubbish popular. We are equally involved in this crime of twisting facts and spreading rumors amongst people. Indians have pledged to ban all Chinese products. I say also start a ban on this Chinese whisper which goes on each day amongst us all through social media and especially WhatsApp. Take a pledge to not allow this false journalism and useless WhatsApp industry to create hatred amongst communities, to divide us all and rule us, to spread panic, to promote rumors to create mass chaos in the nation, To spread nothing but negativity. We already are burdened by disease right now. There is enough negativity to deal with. Do not add fuel to fire by indulging in what these negative members of society want.
Let peace prevail and not panic.
Be a responsible citizen of the country who does not and will not indulge in spreading wrong messages. Share and forward messages which beneficial to society and not detrimental.
Stay home. Stay safe. Stay put.
#DontBeADumbPigeon
Dr. Riccha Sarin
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