Be careful of what you post online
Dear friends,
Good news for so many victims! The Internet and social media is now very, very prevalent and significant in our lives. I don’t particularly like social media much myself but I spend time online because it is a very useful tool to share inspirational news and events and also Buddhist teachings, and clearing misinformation. Sometimes we just need to do things that benefits others whether or not it is a personal interest. Nowadays everyone is on social media because it gives them an outlet to express themselves, so sometimes what you find is good and other times what you find can be quite misleading. One of my friends sent me this article which I found interesting because it talks about how the law is now dealing with the sometimes abusive side of social media.
It seems that nowadays making accusations, defamatory remarks, fabricating information and manipulating past events to malign someone’s character on public social media platforms can land us in hot water. Even setting up anonymous defamatory blogs can be dealt with by law now. Being anonymous does not protect the perpetrator either anymore. Especially if you write all these things which damages people and hurts their reputation, has psychological impact, financial consequences, then in the eyes of the law it is considered tangible damage that you can be held responsible for.
So we have to be careful about what we say because we need proof of our words. Whatever we write on the Internet lasts forever, even some innocent things we wish we could forget LOL but if we write things on social media and on the Internet, this article says we need to be able to back it up in the courts of law. The case that this article refers to sets a powerful precedence for those who have to put up with a lot of defamatory remarks, accusations and unfounded comments loosely based on our accuser’s version of the ‘truth’.
And now based on this case, which took place in a major legal centre like London, the judge has set precedence that people are responsible for their writings in MORE than their country of residence. Now people who make defamatory remarks can be held responsible in multiple countries, based on the location of the servers where their comments and writings move through. Even if those comments are just retweets or reposts, if it’s done with an intent to defame or hurt someone, a person can still be held legally responsible for their retweets, as though they authored the libel themselves.
What’s amazing is this case didn’t involve a small Internet company but Google themselves who are huge and publicly listed. Yet they still conformed to the demands of a court subpoena because lets face it, what does Google really lose from releasing the details of an anonymous poster who doesn’t bring them any financial or reputational gain and in fact puts them at risk of greater unnecessary legal troubles?
Legal cases like these which are related to social media publishing are on the rise by 300%. There is bad and good about this. On the one hand, I’m glad to see that legally there is more protection for people against vulgarities, automated hate messages, fabricated remarks, defamatory statements and also violent threats. We should screenshot everything negative about us and save them. On the other hand, it means that online negativities like these are also on the rise and people need protection from it.
Read these articles below and let me know what you think. I hope cases like these become good deterrents for those who are engaging in such damaging acts. Whatever activities we do, whether it is social media or offline, we should never do it to damage others or to bring hurt and pain to others. There is already a lot of disharmony in this world so wouldn’t it be better to use the same methods to bring people together and help them to learn and grow? These are just my thoughts.
So people have to be aware of the damages they write on social media with the intent to harm or stalk or damage. Because one day someone will say it’s enough and take legal recourse. Be kind to others. Create kindness always. We get farther in life being kind always.
Tsem Rinpoche
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Please read the three short and interesting cases of prosecuted abusive internet users:
Shropshire internet troll left counting cost over £100,000 legal bill
PUBLISHED: March 7, 2015 07:59
Source: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/03/07/shropshire-internet-troll-left-counting-cost-over-100000-legal-bill/
An internet “troll” from Shropshire was today left counting the cost after being hit with a record £100,000 legal bill for using his home computer to target an American lawyer for groundless abuse.
Jason ‘Jay’ Page, from Telford, reaped a legal whirlwind when he posted a wounding review on Colorado-based Timothy Bussey’s Google Maps profile. The anonymous post described the US lawyer as “a scumbag” and accused him of paying for his firm’s positive reviews on the web.
Mr Bussey was left fuming by the anonymous post, which seemed to be from a dissatisfied client and stated to the world that “he loses 80 per cent of his cases”.
The post remained live on the web for about a year and Mr Bussey and his firm, The Bussey Law Firm, suffered severe damage to their reputation.
Mr Bussey was not willing to let the matter rest and, at huge expense, employed a Californian law firm to subpoena Google’s records to find out who was responsible.
That led him to the door of Mr Page, aged in his 20s, who was living with his parents in Sutton Hill, Telford, and yesterday ended up on the receiving end of a full-scale High Court libel case – around £100,000.
He insisted that he bore no responsibility for the post and that his Google account must have been hacked by someone else. He said that a hacker might have been seeking revenge for something he had done as a ‘moderator’ of the www.reddit.com website.
However, Sir David Eady said hacking into Mr Page’s account would have been challenging, with the perpetrator needing to bypass passwords and sophisticated security.
There was no indication that anyone held a grudge against him and the judge described the hacking explanation as “extremely improbable”.
The “overwhelming probability” was that Mr Page had either authored the post himself or authorised it.
The judge added: “Why Mr Page should himself choose to attack Mr Bussey and his firm is unclear, but the most likely explanation would appear to be a purely financial one.”
Taking into account the “grapevine effect” on the internet, the judge had no doubt that the post had caused serious damage to Mr Bussey and his firm’s good name. He ordered Mr Page to pay £50,000 damages, along with Mr Bussey’s legal costs. He must pay £50,000 of those on account, pending final assessment of the costs bill.
There was no response from the family home in Sutton Hill yesterday.
However, Page’s mother Nathalie said on the phone that she did not have a number for her son and denied knowledge of the case.
Mr Bussey’s solicitor, Will Richmond-Coggan, said later: “This is a great result for our clients.
Shropshire legal expert Charlotte Clode said: “The boundaries of what is going too far in online posting in the eyes of the courts may become slightly more clear with time and this judgement will contribute towards that, giving some precedent for other others judges and juries to work with.
“Now there is a verdict and huge costs and damages awarded to the plaintiff. Jason Page is either going to have to pay or find the means to appeal. That’s a tremendous cost for what were probably unnecessary and ill-considered words that did their damage with a simple press of the ‘enter’ key.
“Their reputations have at last been vindicated following this calculated attack through the medium of an online review site.”
Be careful what you write online
Beware what you write online – because it is published worldwide, says Shropshire lawyer Charlotte Clode.
It was going to happen sooner or later. And in the end, it took one comment on one social media platform, seen only by a select number of people on the other side of the pond.
But it was enough and today Jason Page of Telford has been landed with a £100,000 legal bill after being taken to court by an American lawyer.
Timothy Bussey was unhappy after Mr Page called him a “scumbag” on an internet site. He sued and won a £50,000 payout, which will be added to with legal costs.
You no longer need millions of pounds worth of printing press or broadcast transmitters to make yourself heard, or seen, by potentially millions of people.
The game has changed completely.
Having the capability for anyone to publish does not, however, change what you are allowed to publish. The law has had to begin to adapt to this new landscape, but the fundamental principles that you have to be able to substantiate what you say about someone if they contest it have not changed.
Nor is ignorance of those laws any kind of defence against being taken to court for defamation having made libellous or slanderous comments – the damage has still been done, whether you knew you could be held accountable for it or not.
Social media and self-publishing also allow the process of saying something you shouldn’t to be instant, removing the time that people might previously have taken to self-censor or just take a step back from what they might have said in the heat of the moment.
Because communication is also now global, there is little or no safety in saying untrue or unpleasant things about someone on another continent, not least because communications servers are spread around the world. Your message could pass through London, Amsterdam and New York on its way to Sydney or Manilla. That can have implications for jurisdiction when it comes to legal action.
In this case, even though the comments were made in Telford and were only apparently seen in Colorado, a judge at the High Court in London has ruled on the matter in favour of the American man who was judged to have been damaged by it.
It seems likely that the only answer to this issue is greater awareness and education of the risks. People must have the right to protect their reputation, so perhaps we need to begin taking responsibility for what you say online – a topic that our young people learn from an early age. They need to know that even re-posting or ‘re-tweeting’ something defamatory is considered to be a repeat of the original offence.
Last year alone legal cases linked to social media publishing rose by 300 per cent on the previous year. There is every expectation that this is only going to escalate unless, and until, people start to learn what is and is not acceptable and dangerous to their own wallet – or even their liberty.
* Charlotte Clode is an Associate Solicitor with Shropshire law firm FBC Manby Bowdler.
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2ND ARTICLE:
Fabrice Muamba: Racist Twitter user jailed for 56 days
A student who admitted posting racially offensive comments on Twitter about footballer Fabrice Muamba has been jailed for 56 days.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-17515992
Swansea University student Liam Stacey, 21, from Pontypridd, admitted inciting racial hatred over remarks about the Bolton Wanderers player, who collapsed during a FA Cup tie at Tottenham.
A district judge in Swansea called the comments “vile and abhorrent”.
Muamba, 23, who suffered a cardiac arrest, is still in intensive care.
Sentencing Stacey at Swansea Magistrates’ Court, District Judge John Charles told him: “In my view, there is no alternative to an immediate prison sentence.
“It was not the football world who was praying for [Muamba]…. everybody was praying for his life.”
Stacey broke down in tears as he was led away to begin his jail term.
As he passed the public gallery, he was briefly embraced by friends and his parents.
A second year biology student at Swansea, Stacey was arrested after his comments on the social networking site were reported by other users.
A number of people challenged Stacey on Twitter following his first comment, and he responded with a number of offensive posts aimed at other Twitter users.
Last week the court heard how Stacey posted the offensive comments shortly after the former England Under-21 star collapsed during the FA Cup quarter-final at White Hart Lane on 17 March.
Magistrates were told police forces across Britain received complaints following the comments.
Stacey tried to “distance himself” from the tweets by claiming his account had been hacked, the court was told.
He later tried to delete his page but was arrested the following day at his student house in Swansea.
When interviewed by police, Stacey said he had been drinking since lunchtime on Saturday and was drunk when he made the comments.
Stacey was initially released on bail pending sentence and was ordered not to use Twitter and other social networking sites.
Jim Brisbane, chief crown prosecutor for CPS Cymru-Wales, said: “Racist language is inappropriate in any setting and through any media.
“We hope this case will serve as a warning to anyone who may think that comments made online are somehow beyond the law.”
A Swansea University spokesperson said: “The student remains suspended from the university pending the conclusion of our disciplinary proceedings.”
Stacey has also been de-registered as a player with Treorchy rugby club, where he has turned out for the second team on occasions.
Club chairman Andrew Jones said: “We haven’t met as a committee yet but we recognise the need to respond at the earliest possible opportunity and we’ve taken the decision to de-register him as a player at Treorchy Rugby Football Club as of today.”
He added: “Like other members of the public, we as a club in no way support the comments made and the last thing we would want would be to associate ourselves with them.
“I sincerely hope he takes time to reflect on his actions.”
The sentencing has sparked rigorous debate on internet forums and social network sites debating the sentence comments that are made online.
Writing on Twitter, Lord Sugar – former Spurs chairman – saying “Be warned idiots!,” while Gary Lineker posted “Let it be a warning to all you immature souls. #thinkbeforeyoutweet”.
Also on Twitter, Mervyn Barrett of crime reduction charity Nacro said he could not help but think the sentence was “manifestly excessive”.
Meanwhile, Muamba remains in intensive care in a London hospital where his condition is described as serious but stable.
Bolton and Tottenham played their re-arranged FA Cup fixture on Tuesday evening, with a minute’s applause before kick-off.
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3RD ARTICLE
Twitter Trolls Jailed For Sending Abusive Tweets
A man and a woman are jailed for abusing high-profile feminist Caroline Criado-Perez and MP Stella Creasy on Twitter.
By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter
Source: http://news.sky.com/story/1200521/twitter-trolls-jailed-for-sending-abusive-tweets
Two people who sent abusive and menacing tweets to banknote campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez and Labour MP Stella Creasy have been jailed.
Isabella Sorley, 23, and John Nimmo, 25, posted dozens of abusive tweets against both women before they were arrested.
Senior district judge Howard Riddle jailed Sorley for 12 weeks and Nimmo for eight weeks as well as ordering them to pay £400 compensation to each victim.
Earlier this month the pair pleaded guilty to sending the menacing tweets, admitting they were among the users of 86 separate Twitter accounts from which Ms Criado-Perez had received abusive messages.
Passing sentence at Westminster Magistrates Court, Judge Riddle said that both victims had suffered substantially as a result of the abuse.
He said Ms Criado-Perez had faced “panic, fear and horror” adding that she feared the “abusers would find her and carry out the threats. She felt hunted.”
She responded to the sentencing on Twitter, saying: “I feel immensely relieved that the judge clearly has understood the severity of the impact this abuse has had on me.” She said the compensation would be given to charity.
Of Ms Creasy the judge said: “She became concerned for her safety to the extent that she had to alter her behaviour. She had a panic button installed in her home.”
As he passed sentence Sorley shook her head and looked to the floor while Nimmo stared straight ahead, showing no emotion.
Sean Caulfield, defending Sorley, told the court his client was “articulate and intelligent” and there was “disconnect” between her and the person that sent the messages.
He said they were sent in a half-hour window between 2.25am and 2.55am last July 30 when she was under the influence of alcohol and she was “horrified and appalled” at what she had done.
The court also heard how she had 25 previous convictions, mostly for being drunk and disorderly but she had also been convicted twice of assaulting police.
At the time of the Twitter abuse last summer Ms Criado-Perez was leading an ultimately successful campaign to have women featured on British banknotes.
Police launched an investigation after both she and Walthamstow MP Ms Creasy complained about the vile tweets.
Sorley used Twitter to tell Ms Criado-Perez to “f*** off and die you worthless piece of crap”, “go kill yourself” and “rape is the last of your worries”.
She also deluged Ms Criado-Perez with menacing messages claiming that she had just been released from prison, writing: “I will find you and you don’t want to know what I will do when I do, you’re pathetic, kill yourself before I do.”
Sorley, from Newcastle upon Tyne, has a 2:1 degree in creative advertising from Leeds College of Art and was working in an Asda supermarket in Newcastle at the time. She has since lost her job.
Unemployed Nimmo told Ms Criado-Perez to “shut up bitch” and “Ya not that gd looking to rape u be fine” followed by “I will find you (smiley face)”.
In an attack on Ms Creasy, Nimmo, from South Shields, said:”The things I cud do to u (smiley face)”, calling her “Dumb blond bitch.”
Ms Creasy responded to Nimmo’s message of “Dumb blonde bitch” with the message “That’s dumb Dr blonde bitch to you”.
“Love it at least u can have a laugh,” Nimmo responded, to which Ms Creasy said: “I’m not having a laugh, I’m cataloguing your vile conduct #takebacktwitter”.
In court his solicitor Paul Kennedy described him as a “recluse and sad individual” adding that he had no previous convictions and was sorry for what he did.
Sorley’s brother, who was in court with two holdalls carrying her belongings in the hope his sister would not be jailed, left without making any comment.
Before the early hearing, Sorley posted a picture of herself on her Twitter page posing outside Buckingham Palace with the message “just chilling at the queens”.
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Freedom of speech does not equal freedom to abuse others, that is misusing the right to free speech. Like any actions we do, we are responsible for it so use our rights in a intelligent and responsible manner.
Even though not all humans think the same way but they don’t have hurt the certain person they hate. No.1 Does it bring you happiness from hurting others? No.2 What is the point of hurting others anyway? No. What you get from hurting other? Even if it does bring you happiness, how long is the happiness going to last before you target another person? Isn’t it better to help others instead of hurting others? Helping others will not only bring you happiness but it will also bring happiness to others. Which is better? Bring happiness to others or bring hatred to others? Remember this, if you bring happiness to others, when you are in trouble or etc the “Others” will tend to help you willingly with joy and care. But if you bring hatred to others, when you are in trouble or etc “Others” might not tend to help you is because they will not respect someone who only will bring hatred into their lives. What is your decisions? Thank you for reading. Please understand that I’m not here to judge someone but just to bring peace. Thank you once again.
Ever since young, my mother has always told me to be careful online. Whether is was posting on social media, giving away private information or buy something with the use of a credit card. My mother always warned be about the dangerous people that could be lurking at the other side of the screen. People that would not care about you and would show no restraint in abusing you online.
I think out of the 3 articles, the last one made the most impact on me. Social media is amazing. Its a cool and fun way for people to stay connected with one another and share their thoughts. However, there are people on social media who take all the fun and purposeful points of social media and turn them negative. These people may come in many types. Including bullies and hackers.
People who are involved in these kind of activities on social media are really selfish and unaware. Selfish because they do not care about how others feel, only themselves. And unaware because they do not know the effect their actions could have on a persons life. The worst possible effect of bullying could be suicide and the worst possible effect for hacking could be homelessness of even at times, suicide.
Dear Rinpoche,
This is really good to know that now the law will be able to help us with online trolls and bullying as well as helping us with online verbal abuse. It is really great to know!! 😀 Makes us rest easier, no? 😛 This is really good news, thank you for sharing!
Your humble student,
Keng Hwa.
Its great news as multimedia should be used to promote positive sharing and not a place to hurt others. Nowadays anyone can be tracked and should be held responsible for their actions. Infringing on others spaces is not what we would usually do in real life and considered rude, so the same should be applied to online. Thanks Rinpoche for sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing out the 3 cases of law crime in social media. By getting into a jail term or legal bill is definitely not a worthy consequence because of satisfying one’s deluded mind with anger and self frustration after releasing the abusive words, ill-mannered statement and baseless claims on the social media.
With the growth of networking on the internet and social media, people tend to take their words and speech lightly without much consideration of the after-fact effects when they want to voice out their opinions and statements on others’ welfare without getting the acknowledgment or approval from the authorized party. The social media is just like a newspaper and once the statement is being published on the social media, it will be exposed to the entire world in just seconds of time.
In order to minimize and prevent from more people getting into the problems due to their abusive words and baseless claims published on the social media platform, I truly agree and support the social media law to be upheld by the authority as an effective solutions to protect the victims around the world in secular manner.
Anyway, this is a good start to put a scare into these abusers who think they are invisible on line, anytime they feel like getting high on something or just plain mean and going after someone. Do not know how far all this will go, but unless they are just plain off, most will think twice what they post now on.
在现今的社会，距离已经不再成为人与人之间沟通的障碍了。因为，社交媒体的发达，无形中把人类的关系拉的更近。
在社交网络里，我们只能用文字来表达自己。无论如何，文字所呈现在社交网络上，其实也是出自我们的内心话。因此，我们必需要谨慎用词，避免伤害他人。
当社交媒体越来越进步的时候，如果没有及时与适当的戒条或措施来管制这一切，将会有更多人受到“文字”的伤害。
感谢仁波切利用此博文来提醒我们要更谨慎与好好利用每一个文字来利益众生而不是伤害他人。
Social media is a very powerful tool in this century. We have to use this tool wisely to bring the people together and be harmony.
After reading this post, I am happy that legally there is more protection for people against defamatory statements. From this post, we are clearly aware that there is a huge price to paid if we misuse the social media for hatred, defamatory statements, vulgarities which damaging other people reputation and impacting the financial consequences. This is cause and effect.
We are not only responsible on our body, speech and mind in the real life, but we also have to be caution what we are write and express in the cyber world.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post. _/\_ I will keep this in mind to be kind to everyone.
Thank you Rinpoche for the post. Keep attacking others in social media showing one’s anger and cruel, and this happen because of ignorance and no compassion to others, it will brings one to no way but more bad karma.
With the up tick of social media in our lives, we will need to be prepared for the risks social media can pose. If we are using social media actively, then we will need to understand how our own behavior can and will have far-reaching consequences in real life. Inappropriate posts on social media can have severe repercussions on another person’s career. Compromising and inappropriate pictures, statements or other information can hurt another person’s reputation, chances to gain (or be considered for) employment/business, etc, let alone the psychological damage and pain they may suffer.
Therefore, as a responsible Buddhist, we must take the images that we are portraying on social media sites very seriously; as a reflection of personal character. It is a reflection of our body, speech and mind. Look beyond legal repercussions as we believe in Karma.
Thank You very much, Rinpoche for sharing this article. I will be mindful of my online behavior.
Thanks Rinpoche on this important sharing. Most of the peoples simply follow their emotion to react and caused the results in return. The me me me feeling stop us from seeing the true of karmic. As a Buddhist, as we did not careful about the body, speech and mind. Definitely move us from nowhere. We not only hurt others, we definitely hurt ourselves by return. We do not gain any respect from peoples around us. We withdraw from our good karmic and start to leave/seeking from a good possibilities. Being caring, responsible and supportive to do/provide our service. Will definitely bring us to achieve a better place.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this good news. With this Law, innocent people is protected from such cyber attack of haters. I believe a lot more people out there are suffering the same as this 2 cases and especially this few months Rinpoche is been attacked from all short of angle regarding Dorje Shugden practice. Hope by this, people who attack Rinpoche will stop from their action and karma they have created for themselves.
Sincerely,
Victor Choi
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. It is true about social media. It can bring benefit and inspire people to be positive and move on without fear.But it is also a scary tool that people may abuse it and attack / demotivate others by putting nasty comments and spread around the internet with tags. The world is so big but yet is so small. We never know what is going to happens later or who will we meet later. It pays high price for nasty/ negative actions. So beware of what we post online.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for highlighting a few cases on internet abuse and defamation.
We can always blame our accounts been hacked or under the influence of alcohol, but it does not mean the abuses and derogatory remarks will not be seen and felt. Of course, if it is truly a case of an account being hacked, a clean up should be done thereafter with a message to apologise?
I read several cases that what you said and did online cannot be erased. Nowadays, when we hire people, we will also assess their social media to determine what sort of character or attitude a certain individual possess before we hire them. Vile languages and racist remarks are not tolerated.
The world wide web and the social media platform is so vast, and fast that we should really monitor what we write to the world. For those who think they can hide behind an anonymous account.. think again.
Thank you.
We must be responsible for what we write either online or offline. Social media is indeed a good platform to know more people around the world, however personally I do not think that it’s a place for us to spread our anger and hatred. We must be very careful of what we write online because sometimes our words will hurt people and even bother them mentally, this is very bad because we are hurting someone else’s feelings and with people who aren’t strong enough to take criticism, sometimes they will go to the extreme and even hurt themselves. As the percentage of cyber bullying is rising drastically, I am glad that something is being done to protect those who are being bullied online.
Thank you Rinpoche for highlighting this issue. Cyber bullying is occuring with us realising it. Social media is a channel to connect socially with others, a communicative platform that brings about friendshipand networking. It is an useful tool to promote positive ideas and thoughts such as spreading dharma across the globe, reaching out to the people from all over the world. But the abuse of the social media may also cause adverse effects to our lives. The stories mentioned by Rinpoche showed us that everyone is responsible for what we write whether it’s on social network or otherwise and the seriousness of reposting articles on the social media also has it’s implications.
As the saying goes, “The Pen is Mightier than the Sword” still comes true not only on print media but also social media. So, beware; what we write or repost may bring bad consequences if its content is doubful, malicious or slanderous.
Regards
Leonard Ooi
谢谢仁波切的分享。
在当今的社会，社群媒体是我们生活中不可缺少的一环。会不会适当使用媒体也是一门学问。
有时候也会在媒体上看过一些类似欺骗案件，但是本身并不了解来龙去脉都不会加上分享。所以每当我们看到类似的情形，都应该以客观角度来观察内容。
因为如果案中当事人并不是所讲的，我们就会无形让受害人遭到没必要伤害。例如：无端被谩骂，隐私被公开，严重的可能会导致被调查等等。
我个人觉得社群媒体可以很广泛的被使用，因此我们应该善用媒体。多放送一些开心，正能量和鼓励的讯息。
谢谢师父的分享。
在您分享的这片论文中我发现到言语的伤害是很可怕的，有些人可能会因为我们的一句话而受伤，而那些伤害不止会伤害到他人还会让自己也可能犯下无法晚回的错。
再一次感谢您。
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful post! It is indeed very useful information for all f us who are relying on social media to promote the Buddha’s teachings. The social media is a very useful platform for information to be spread far and wide within a very short period of time.
When it is being used for a good cause, the good information will help those in need almost immediately. On the other hand, if it is being used for defamatory, it will also cause harm within seconds. Either way, the speed for the information to be travelled across different regions are very quick.
As a Buddhist, we are taught to be mindful of our actions through the three doors regardless where we are as we are responsible for them and the sole owner of the results. Being mindful of this, we work on giving positive impacts to not only people around us but elsewhere. We all deserves to be happy equally and wish for positive results which cannot be obtained from creating harm onto others.
I am very happy to learn that the law has now extended onto the worldwide web, specifically onto the social media, so that we are protected even more from harm and to cause harm.
Thank you Rinpoche sharing this informative post.
Sosial media is very powerful either can lead people for wrong information or benefit them. Therefore, we have to be careful what we say on the sosial media before we post.
Always watch out our speech and mind and never hurt other people to satify ourself. Because our negative thought and bad action will cause them to bad situation like depression or even lead them to death. We have to understand and alert the rules if anyone who damage other people will get legal punishment.
Let us use the social media to benifit others. Be kind and compassion and create harmony to everyone whenever we go.
Thank you Rinpoche for awakening us up with this significant news, which make people to be more aware of what they write which do not hurt people’s reputations psychologically, or otherwise incurred defamatory remarks to anyone’s respectability. Yes, in fact this is more of a piece of good news for many, whose main aim, pure intention and motivation is to concentrate solely on Buddhist teachings to benefit more people through the internet and social media which is made so available and prevalent in Today’s lifetime! Nevertheless, like Rinpoche said, what-so-ever, we will remain kind to others always, and live together with peace and harmony, and continue to cherish and respect all forms of spiritual practices of others, for the benefits of all living beings in this Universe! Om Mani Padme Hung.
感谢仁波切的分享，这是个好消息，虽然网络发言自由，但也不能无声胜有，毁谤他人，造成他人损失及心灵创伤。
不能因私人问题，而在社交媒体，大发文章，滥用媒体的方便去伤害别人。也太无聊了吧！
既然有时间的话，倒不如，写一些有意义的来激励需要帮助别人。
感谢仁波切的分享，社群媒体是分享好的信息，而不是用来做人生攻击，或是发泄不满，伤害他人。
造成他人严重损失，心灵上受到威胁，人生不安。希望大家可以善用社群媒体。不要造成社会干扰。
社群媒体不是给我们发泄个人的情绪，而是把好的信息带给大家，把快乐带到全世界。
在这个帖子里，也许有人会认为，尊贵的上师，想要透过法律的途径来构成“威胁”或“警告”莫些人，不要在攻击我们的网站
然而，我却深深的能够感觉到师父的慈悲，给予我们佛法的教诲，也许我们现在没有宗教，那么给予我们一定得道德“规则”就叫做法律，倘若我们运用到佛法上，那么那就叫做“戒律”
然而“法律”条文与“戒律”那是为了保护我们自己本身的，而不是为了牵制我们的自由，仿佛当我们严守戒律的时候，那么我们在修行的道路上就会有所成就，而护法更会帮助我们因为我们很好的守住我们的戒律与真正的把佛法运用在我们的生活上，好比如当我们不“恶语”那么我们就不会种下恶业，并不会受到因果的牵制
感恩师父的教诲，从一路以来，师父都教导我们，要时常保持慈悲心的对待别人，师父也教导我们要尊重所有的僧侣及一切有情众生，并且要常常严守我们的戒律，因此我们学习了把佛法运用在我们的生活上，把佛法的真正有意义的教诲正确的运用在“社群媒体”“网络”上，真正的做到弘扬佛法与利益一切有情众生
感恩尊贵的师父
祈愿师父常住在世，长转法轮
弟子:Jerry Sito
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
Nowadays with the technology and social media, many people tend to express their feeling own their own social media pages. Some will share about their happiness, some will share about their dissatisfaction.But some people will post hurtful speech that may hurt others.
It is good to see these few cases that punished the people who hurt others on social media page. So that people would not post vulgar words. This is to protect all of us.
Thank you
谢谢仁波切的分享。
其实每一样东西都有两面， 好与坏的动机都是操作与自己的一双手。 社群媒体这个平台，可以是正能量与负能量的。
常常会看到很多人在 社群媒体发泄一切都不满、骂人与讲一些不三不四的东西， 其实是很笨的行为， 若要人不知，除非己莫为。天网恢恢，疏而不漏。
我知道仁波切是一位非常低调的，为了来自世界各地的徒子徒孙不停分享，我要谢谢仁波切。
很多来自比较偏僻的小地方也因为看到仁波切的部落格与社群媒体， 认识了佛法，改变了人生。
We have enough of bullies. In school, kids are bullied. On the road, drivers are bullied. And now, online, there are cyber bullies. I wonder what satisfaction people get from bullying and defaming others online, sometimes anonymously? If you have issues with someone or the company, why wouldn’t you settle it in person? and If it is not possible to meet up with the person, write in a letter, speak with their PAs, other people in the company… instead of venting online, won’t you want a solution to your woes?
I am glad that legislation against online “bullying” are taken seriously. Ultimately, we have to be responsible for our own actions, also known as karma. I hope more cases do happen, so that people cease from constantly creating suffering for one another.
In this day and age we have to be careful with what we post online. This is our responsibility because we are spreading news, information and also rumour far and wide. We never know who we will offend or break the law. So, take precaution and post responsibly. If you have the intention to cause hurt or malice, then one day it will come back to bite you at the back.
Yes, I have seen real cases of people going on internet to set up fb pages to defame reputable service companies just to get attention and free services after making untrue allegations. They can even post bogus pictures of a bad service and make unreasonable demands for money back and further compensation etc.Apparently, the same perpetrator goes around targeting different beauty service companies with the same tactics.
Some of these people who spent so much time on the internet hurling abuses at others or targeted people, could either be really “sick” people or probably “paid” to do it. I am really glad the law can go after them now. That will cut down a lot of negative energy plus lessen their chance of accumulating negative karma !
Dear Rinpoche,
thank you so much, this is so informative and a very good reminder for us to really understand and realize the real function of social media. A healthy socialising is what is needed and necessary for the benefit of all. This would benefit a lot of people Rinpoche.
Thank you
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this information on the consequences of of cyber bullying. Social Media really is a powerful media that can change peoples life be it good or bad, depending on the person motivation when posting it.
Those who post with intent to hurt and defame others should really be dealt with through legal way, if not more and more cyber bullying will grow and more people will suffer because of this unscrupulous action.
In this internet age, social media should be use to motivate and inspired others in this degenerating times where society are heading towards more selfish and self-centered path.
We should use Social media platform as a tool to connect the world and share knowledge and wisdom, even sharing love and care to inspire and motivate others who are loss, and who are down. Rinpoche blog is a very powerful example of using social Media to spread Dharma and compassion that affects billions all over the world.
Sincerely,
Frederick Law
Thank u Rinpoche for sharing.
Indeed for the past 2 weeks my company was also defamed by someone and the article was spread around many making us feeling very upset. We did so much for the Melaka property scene, but the person don’t see it that way, and defamed us.
Tried many ways of getting the person but was difficult. We were left in a situation whereby we cant do much for awhile and have to see the number of views increase.
But in the end… we manage to use legal actions to get the hosting site to take the article down and those that shared the posted were issued a legal letter, asking for a public apology and taking their reposting and sharing of the article down.
It is indeed true that even if its reposting and not written by urself, it does have legal implications.
So to All… pls watch what u write and repost especially when the articles have any defamatory evident in it.
Lets all spread love and care rather than being bad to others.
cheers.
Thank u Tsem Rinpoche for highlighting such issue n to bring awareness to all of us. I hav to agree that talking nonsense online , using abusive language, scolding , anything related which is not good should b stop! Ppl must not misuse te Internet.. I hope tis article can bring awareness to all 😉
There are two sides to the internet revolution. It brings so much convenience to our daily lives as compared to say, 30 years ago. But with it comes the danger. Countless have been misled, brainwashed, conned, hurt, defamed, even driven to suicide….as long as one has online access, one is vulnerable. From simple people like you and me to VIPs to corporations to entire government administrations, all can be targets. It can be a dangerous place to be. Hence forensics & cyber security is a specialty area in high demand these days.
There are those who believe everything they read on the internet. Worse, they may perpetuate and pass it on. It’s an easy mouse click. Ignorance breeds ignorance.
Even emails can get you in trouble. You might think you’re ok since you deleted it but what you wrote and deleted can come back and bite you back. We have a real case in the co. I work with. It involves emails and anti-trust laws. Someone was alleged to have colluded with competitors and suspected of price fixing. Everything was dug up, hard disk drives, cell-phone accounts, letters, emails, notes, files. Things they thought were deleted were retrieved and were used as evidence. They were summoned to court and faced jail sentences, even though they were not even living in the jurisdiction which filed the case in court.
So what we think is “harmless” or “safe” may be anything but. Those who attack others via social media may or may not be caught and brought to justice in this life time, but they created the cause and will have to bear the effects of the action not necessarily in this life time.
If one has nothing good to say, it’s better to shut up and say nothing. Better, use the internet & social media to convey positive influences that might benefit others.
This is excellent! About time that something is being done about social media misuse and abuse. Am glad that these cyberbullies can no longer hide behind the virtual cloak of anonymity inciting hatred, slandering and the like.
Let’s use social media meaningfully to spread messages of love, peace and kindness to all.
I use social media every single day of my life but I don’t post all these bad and nasty comments about other people. I know that it will definitely hurt someone’s feelings. Think of this, what if someone has already been abused really badly in life (not social media) and the only place they could find peace is social media, they share about their problems but in the end they still get nasty comments. I think even I would have commit suicide if I’ve never known Dharma. So please no matter if the person deserves it or not, it is not for us to judge. Let their own Karma decide. The more we judge about people, the more people that will judge us. Karma is a two-edged sword and it will never stop unless we stop first. So why not just keep our mouth closed and let Karma do it’s thing. What is the point of hurting someone and get hurt by that person or someone else? Is it worth it, I don’t think so. Unless you are doing it for the good of the person (not intentionally to hurt them) then it’s not that bad.
I am so glad to know that legal action can be taken to those who used social media to abuse and put down others. All these negative and vulgar comments on personal, religion, public basis, definitely cause huge damage to others’ reputation, mentally and emotionally. These damage can be really bad and hurtful because these damaging comments stays on the site for very long time and it will be read by thousands even millions of people all over the world. I hope the three cases above became a good example to others who have been misused social media to damage others.
Whenever you want to make a bad comment on social media, think twice, because you may hurt others and it may last for very long time. Not only that, that’s a very high chance you will be sued by damaging other’s reputation.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. I hope many will read and be aware that making bad comments will cause huge damage to themselves too.
I think this is the wild west era of social media and there’s a new sheriff in town.
I am crazy about freedom of speech though, and where does it stop? Will I be jailed and fined for saying McDonalds is gross and their corporation is involved in despicable animal rights abuse? What if millions of people heard me and stopped eating there? They would sue me and win? Its a slippery slope…
I guess we just need very honorable and discerning judges to make the call.
If I ever get in trouble for saying “9\11 was an inside job” for example, I would consider my freedom gone. (research tower 7, it was clearly controlled demolition.) I will never forget how big a coverup can go… Sorry off topic.
To all those who love to spew vulgarities, hateful speeches and abuse the social media world by harming, accusing, threatening… well you should really read this and stop before it is too late! What you write does have consequences even if you “hide” you identity, and that’s always been so, all it takes is someone to say enough is enough like the cases above, especially when it causes damage on others.
Glad to know such laws are being implemented to keep everyone safe. And it also shows how crimes have not only ventured into the cyber world but is on the rise till we needs such laws.
Let’s keep the world spinning with kind words not hateful speeches.
It is good to know that legal action can be taken against irresponsible social media users who use these platforms to threaten, harass, humiliate and embarrass another person. Otherwise it would be like giving people a license to hurt others and go rogue on social platforms.
There are those who hide behind cyber anonymity and write defamatory posts on another person by taking an issue out of context and intentionally omitting facts and information. It can be very damaging because a situation will seem like something completely different than it actually is. This will easily manipulate people into thinking a certain way about a certain matter.
Main thing is knowing how to use social media responsibly. The fact that laws are being drafted to apprehend those who make defamatory and racist remarks shows how powerful this tool (social media platforms)is. If used wisely and correctly, it brings positive results for all.
Yes, misusing social media only harms us. We were given classes on responsible social media use at uni. A little anecdote – a student on our course went for work placement. The person disliked one employee/supervisor and later talked bad about them on facebook. Now, the two people in the scenario weren’t friends but the status surfaced on the wall of this company’s other employee who then reported to authorities. The student was brought in front of the university’s heads of department. The student unfortunately used a curse word in front of the panel and was expelled. Whatever stays on social media stays on social media. Even when they it’s been deleted it remains on the internet’s ‘memory’, just treat people like you would in real life. I am sure a lot of these haters would not behave disgracefully in real life. It’s shocking the abuse inflicted via social media especially to celebrities!
Thank You, Rinpoche, for sharing the articles. This is indeed great news and long overdue.
Social media is a double-edged sword. It has enabled the world to connect, to come closer, to share information, encourage exchange of ideas and enhance understanding of each other’s worlds instantaneously. But it has also provided a convenient cover for people with deep inner fears but inadequate skills, maturity or wisdom to voice them, face them and address them, reducing only to cowardly acts like attacking others with differing viewpoints and hoping to escape responsibilities by claiming ignorance or hiding behind cyber anonymity.
As Charlotte Clode wrote above, “Nor is ignorance of those laws any kind of defence against being taken to court for defamation having made libellous or slanderous comments – the damage has still been done, whether you knew you could be held accountable for it or not.”, so it is with our Karma.
I remember Rinpoche teaching this once: If you know what you’re about to do is wrong and you do it, you cause bad Karma. If you didn’t know what you’re about to do is wrong and you do it, does it make the thing you did right or less wrong? No, it’s still wrong and you did it. You caused bad Karma. As Tenzin Palmo said, the only thing we can try our best to do – at all times – “is not cause harm, and be very careful with our speech so that we bring benefit to others and we don’t hurt them.”. Live with good intentions, act with care, acceptance and respect for others.
Social media is potentially one of the most powerful tool to spread goodwill and beneficial knowledge to bring about World Peace. Let’s not corrupt it like we have done with so many of our own creations, besides those of Mother Nature.
Sean in Shanghai
Social media has becoming a great/wide platform for many people to express and share their voice and thought. By saying so it also becoming more extreme and uncontrollable come to a point people uses vulgarities, bullying and etc to cause worried, scared, depression to others.
Freedom to express is good but should be constructive and bring positive effect with encouraging with substance.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing as it’s good to know that there is a control now for people miss use social media to harm and defame others. We should be responsible with our action be it if we talk to a person face to face or in cyber. Internet can be a very powerful tools but it has to be in good use and it can’t be damaging if we use it the other way round.
I totally agree with Pastor Henry, that Social Media is for socialising and sharing of news that may be of general interest. However, ignorant minds have used it as a platform for smear campaigns to vent their dislikes and likes of particular events, people and so forth.
It is also true that the Law enforcers in USA are drafting some form of laws to be enforced for the protection of indiscriminate slandering.
What is very nice to note is that the cases mentioned here happened in UK and glad that in Malaysia we do practice the same legal system called “Common Law” and reference can be made in our High Courts of precedence in UK courts.
It is important that we should never slander any one publicly and as taught by Rinpoche discuss and find the middle way which is the WIN/WIN” situations most amicable to all at large,
Yes, everyone should watch what they are posting. Will this post or comment influence others in a good way or a negative way. We should aim to make this world and the internet world a better place.
The risk of getting a jail sentence or a high legal bill will hopefully make people think twice before they post hate mails. But it should be natural to make others feel better instead of sending treats and accusations.
Thank You
Reading through this three study case about how people abuse social media to hurting others and will be have serious repercussion by committing such crime. It is important to think through what we say or write in social media. We are responsible for our actions of speech that create suffering and pain for others.
Thank you Rinpoche sharing this post,it remind us watching our body,speech and mind daily to benefit others and not hurting people by social media even in simple comment.
Thank you Rinpoche. It is very good that people are finally taking action against those who abuse the Internet. We have noticed that nowadays a lot of people will just forwarding and re-posting mostly anything without verifying the accuracy of these news. These people will be most likely to be used as a tool by some parties to spread rumors for their political purposes. I have seen cases where some news still floating in the Internet for years even after it had been proven to be fake! Also that some new generation have developed these bad habit of writing irresponsible statements on social media thinking that this is their “freedom of speech” to write all these baseless and unproven statements without having to bare any responsibility to the consequences and no one can do anything to them. I fear that this kind of mentality will eventually spread to other part of their life that they will start acting and speaking in irresponsible manners.
The Internet has become a very important part of our life and it can be used to make someone’s life better or ruin someone’s life. We do need law to maintain the Internet. It is sad that every freedom given to human will eventually need law to constraint it.
Social media should NOT be about cyber bullying and attacking people online. What world are we living in now? People are so hateful and revengeful. We have enough sadness in the world, why can’t we say something nice and be kind instead? It doesn’t hurt to be kind to one another. Not like we need to pay or it shortens our life.
The effect of cyber bullying is very damaging. There are people who suffer depression from it or even commit suicide. Why do we want that when we don’t want to experience it ourselves?
If you don’t like someone or something they posted, just skip or move along. Why want to use your energy and turn it into something negative and harmful for the world to see?
To all you who spread schism and hatred, please be careful. You may think you are safe but you might not be. Peoples are watching what you do.
Let’s all spread love, peace, compassion and kindness always.
Social media is for socialising, not for sending hate messages, or for posting vulgarities to someone of what was written just because someone else doesn’t agree to the article; or making racist statements, and making negative religious comments of other people’s belief. Some even argued about choice of food and fashion sense. It has become anti social media. It is good that people who write such negativities may be hauled to court for damages incurred by them onto others. Our world is turning into a hateful place to live in with such hostilities. May light overcome the darkness of ignorant minds. May peace and loving compassion prevail.
Thank you Rinpoche for highlighting these cases of internet bullies being caught by the authorities. The social media is a very powerful tool when utilised in a proper way to spread vital information and good news. It is very wrong for people to vent abusive and damaging messages to create hatred and confusion to other users.
Just as fire can bring light and warmth to those in the cold darkness, it can also destroy homes and lifes when misused.
I hope that this cases serve as a reminder to all that one should use the social media with care so as not to damage others.