The upcoming General Elections has created a lot of buzz on the Internet. Even more so that now politicians are turning to social media to expound their proposed policies. The one politician (if we can really call her that) that has probably generated the most buzz of all has got to be Tin Pei Ling from PAP, who is contesting for Marine Parade GRC. This is mainly because of the image she has portrayed online, through her Facebook pictures, the way she has answered questions at Interviews, and her unexpected behaviour that did not seem befitting for a politician.
Some examples include her cutesy pictures posted on her page, the one which she poses with her Kate Spade bag being the most infamous, how she answered that her greatest regret in life is "not having brought her parents to RWS", and last but not least, saying "I don't know what to say" to a reporter and stamping her foot like a child. Such actions have prompted thousands of Singaporean netizens to criticize and diss her strongly on the Internet.
This brings me to my point, that the Internet allows people to criticize others with no respite and no restrictions. Although the Internet has allowed more freedom of speech and a greater whirlwind of fresh ideas and opinions, it has also encouraged irresponsible speech in many different ways.
Friends and I were debating about Tin Pei Ling on my Facebook wall, and some brought up a point which I would like to highlight on this entry.
"She's been trolled on the internet enough dont you think? The chances of her winning the votes are extremely low after the whole media fiasco, theres no point spitting on someone thats already down and out. Do we really want to push her over the edge? shes young and inexperienced her entire life has changed in the past two months and she practically has no privacy any more. Even britney spears shaved her head and went on a crazy rampage when people did that to her and she was a super star. All im saying is i think the interwebz should back off abit before this girl cracks." - Syed Hyder.
"i dont think the internet has been fair to her. she's been the butt of all the jokes, every one has been just flaming her non stop, for her pictures, to her personal life which honestly, is unfair. Thing is, this lady hasn't said anything smart for any sorta reprieve. im not making fun of her, but her going into parliament like that would be unfair dont you think? i mean, i dont make fun of her, im just judging her based on her virtues and ideas, which honestly, are lacking. But yes, honestly, the internet community is absolutely trolling on PAP candidates." - Ian Toh
Their points prove that the Internet and its users can really be very foolish and merciless as they carelessly air their thoughts online without thinking twice.
I shall end this post with my response to them.
"i think that if you want to step on a pedestal like this and put yourself out for the public to scrutinize, you have to make sure that you are fit for the public to scrutinize. well the image that miss tin decided to put on is that of a bimbotic person trying her best to look less bimbotic, and if that is her decision, she has to be prepared for all kinds of insults that will go her way.
even our dear emperor who has done so many wonderful things for our nation gets backlash all the time. even the most ridiculous insults that have no correlation to the bad or the good he has done. but i'm sure that he understands that because of his social status and his fame, this is what he must endure from time to time.
if miss tin cannot withstand the pressure of mere internet backlash, she really shouldn't be contesting. she should go home."
