I was pretty repulsed reading this piece on Talkingpointsmemo.com about the online harassment and hate speech directed against Jill Filipovic.
And I thought... how could people be this way? How ignorant or wounded or what could these people be to stalk someone like this?
And then I thought of the situation of the inability of people to deal with some of the issues affecting the Buddhist community in their on-line presence; some of these incapable people are said to be teachers of Zen, too!
I would hope that all beings experience relief and transcendence from any wrongful actions towards them, including wrongful speech.
6 comments:
"He who fights monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster." -Friedrich Nietzsche
This...
Mumon -
Wondering if you saw the recent follow up in the NYTimes: The War on Women By Ross Douthat (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/12/opinion/sunday/douthat-the-war-on-women.html?emc=eta1)
Over the last year I've observed that racist and misogynistic 'mob mentality' is easily inflamed by many issues (e.g., sexism, economic inequalities) in the open environment of the internet by people looking for something/someone to unload their frustrations on (almost like road rage) and/or in manipulative politics. On the internet it's unfortunately too easy to create a swarm of negative reactivity -- interdependence at its worst compromising individual freedom of expression and personal lives. The 'us' vs 'them' tribal mentality must be in the human genetic program since it likely also underlies competitive and capitalistic approaches to life, but it's a cause of separation, not compassionate, and, in my opinion, not in accord with what the Buddha taught.
It's sad that it's near impossible to have an on-line discussion of issues pertaining to the teaching of what Buddha taught (or even health issues like cancer) without the indirect effect of evoking vitriolic reactions and gossip which compromise open discussion, democratic process, individual freedom of expression, and personal lives.
Anyway, thanks. I've appreciated your recent posts.
Following what Happi says (which I support) i think if we peel away the layers, and go deeper, ever deeper into this question and not consider it something to be answered, but something to continue questioning, we should look at that which creates conflict: the subtle opposition of dualism which permeates all modes of monkey-thought, from the superficial to the ultradeep. Why should the establishment of doctrine (Buddhism) be immune to the same problem?
Thanks for all the comments, folks.
Mumon
Just a final note: I have now seen first hand how certain internet folk deal with criticism or perceived objections. Your insights are really refreshing. Please take care. Good evening.
Feel free to delete this comment. _/|\_
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