Taking up the responsibility of the usage of modern communication tools

I was greatly saddened by a news which I came across online a few days ago. A violinist who was 18 years old was literally pushed to doom by the posting of a video of his sexual act with the other guy by another boy. He could not take the blow and jumped off from a building. He could have a bright future but he killed himself by such irresponsible act of the others. Nowadays, due to the modern communication tools like emails, blogs, Facebook, MSN, Twitter, Youtube, etc., news do spread like wild fire to most parts of the world even within minutes. Unfortunately, sometimes the news which would cause scandals, damage to the other people’s reputation, dignity and even life and intrusion of privacy also spread fast too. This form of destruction can be more lethal than nuclear bomb where the victim’s emotional, spiritual, mental damage can be more serious than expected. In the case of this violinist, it pushed him to physical death after being destroyed emotionally, mentally or even spiritually.

Sometimes, I think that some of us may have taken these communication tools for granted. They can be easily accessible to us. That can be detrimental as we may start hitting on the keyboards or mouse to post certain inappropriate materials or expressed words before seriously considering if these materials or words would hurt or kill the people concerned emotionally, physically, mentally or even spiritually. We may just abuse our free will and post materials or words which we may think are juicy gossips to be shared without considering the consequences. We may also use harsh words to kill or attack our enemies or people who have offended us and even email them to the others so as to gain others to our sides. For me, I admit I may be guilty of being harsh in my emails to some people who have offended me at times.

However, I have learnt from this article that some materials or words which I think may be juicy stories to share with others or attack some people may be the very lethal weapons which kill the people involved if I am not careful. I have also learnt from my own experience that some of my emails have caused hurt to the few very people whom I love dearly. These hurts may be caused by me through my emails unintentionally. But it does not mean that I can be excused from the damage done. One thing I have learnt is that I must never write any emails with anger or ill intention. If the emails or messages are not going to lift up or encourage others or share God’s Love, I should keep my hands away from the keyboards. I used to write letters that hurt my deceased beloved one. I did not know how much damage I had done to her until her spouse mentioned to me the damage I had done to her. What’s done cannot be undone. In some ways, I am guilty of violating one of the commandments. I had murdered my loved ones with some of my harsh emails or letters mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Never underestimate the power of destruction of nasty emails or letters or messages online to the others. They may tear someone down or break relationships or start wars or fights.

On a corporate level, some of us may use these communication tools to cause divisions, wars or politics. We may slander or accuse someone whom we would like to get rid of from certain groups or organizations or gain personal power through emails, Facebook, blogs or some other channels. Sometimes, we may be guilty of using some materials or emails which may be distorted by some people and used against the owners. I find that very scary as I don’t know how many people have been killed or hurt or fallen into victim for such acts. I used to be victim of such acts. The damage was very great which no words could describe. It killed me inside and took me more than one year to be resurrected by God’s Love. One dangerous thing I learnt is that if a person happens to be vulnerable and just need one matter as a trigger for him/her to die, one nasty email or posting of inappropriate material or message can push him/her to kill himself/herself. I really urge everyone of us to be very careful with our words or posting of materials or messages online as we will never know when we may be the murderers to kill someone. Sometimes, certain news may be distorted along the communication path. For example, an email may mention a person is sick. Somehow, as the email is forwarded or passed from one party to another, the news is distorted and becomes the person is dead. Another example may be a person is working hard for the benefits of the organization. But, emails may circulate from one person to another and the message may become the person works hard with the hidden agenda of taking over his boss’ position. All these news become distorted and hurt the people involved. They may cause divisions or distress or anger in the people involved. They may cause chaos or fights in the community.

The modern communication tools can be very efficient and effective tools to draw people from different parts of the world together through the sharing of God’s messages of Love. Some priests have blogs to share their homilies or reflections online. Some religious sisters and priests and laypeople have set up certain groups on Facebook for people of the same faith to learn more about God and announcement of activities which draw communities closer. I think it is good idea for the priests to bless our communication gadgets as this will serve to remind us that these gadgets should deliver materials or messages of God’s Love. They are meant to lift others up or build lives or connect people no matter where they are. Discernment is very important when we are reading or viewing any materials or messages. Therefore, critical reading is more important nowadays. Then, we need to be guided by the Holy Spirit what actions we should take next after reading or viewing the materials so that we will know how to help or encourage the people involved. For instance, the online news notifies us that a famine is affecting a country. We may need to reach out to help the victims. We need to check if the news or messages are true with the organizations or people involved in the messages or news. They may be fraud cases too.

Before I have decided to post messages or materials online, I must consider whether I am in the right spiritual state so that whatever materials or messages I post or deliver online are done at the right time at the right place to the right people with the right intensity with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I must never come too strong on the others. Only when I am in the right spiritual state, the Holy Spirit will direct me to post or deliver them in God’s time and will. Also, as a recipient of any emails or messages or a viewer of the materials, I must view or read them with critical thinking asking God to bless me with discernment to sieve the truth from the lies and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me in my response or behaviour towards the people involved so that they are handled with Love. If not, I may even distort the messages or materials which are God’s messages and pass the wrong messages or behave nastily towards others or misunderstand others if I am not reading or receiving or interpreting them in the right spiritual state with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. How I respond to or interpret or receive the messages are important in my communication with the others which will in turn affect my relationships with them. I must always keep in mind that all these communication tools are God’s tools for me to use them to connect people, deliver and share God’s message of Love, and lift other people up. These are for the communication of Love. The foundation of all is Love.

With prudence,
Elena