Although the title sounds like a
new virus, I assure you it’s not as dangerous.
I find the whole thing a bit
amusing, and the way our people handle this issue is no different than the way
they handle other viral issues. I was in the thick of one viral issue last year
in fact, on the front page of Malaysian Insider for “I want to touch a dog”.
Thank god the public didn’t know who I was personally. If they did, I would be
getting hate mails and death threats.
My mom and dad did get a scolding
from conservative family members. Some of my acquaintances were cynical at
most. Some were like, “are you okay? They’re saying really mean things about
you as a mom.”
I don’t want to get into specifics.
Just that the experience was very surreal, like being in the middle of a
hurricane. Uncontrollable. Anyway, again, thank god the public didn’t know me
personally. The issue of touching a dog is a different matter completely, and
people reacted as if the event personally insulted their parents.
Now back to the brelfie issue.
I don’t think people have issues
with breastfeeding to say the least. It’s as natural as eating or sleeping. It’s
always the norm ever since Prophet Adam had children I would imagine.
So it’s not about breastfeeding.
It’s about breastfeeding--then
taking a selfie while feeding a baby, then posting it to the internet. Here’s
the catch. They posted the photos to a private breastfeeding advocates group on
FB (undoubtedly women’s). Some jerk came and shared the photos to a popular FB
page Amran Fans (undoubtedly men’s).
Guess what happens when men are
shown photos of women breastfeeding their babies? Here’s what: Imagination.
Exaggeration. As they say, hilarity ensues.
What men see and what women see
are totally different things, I get that. The faster everyone accepts that, the
more peaceful we become.
So the ladies did post
breastfeeding pictures on the private group… You’d say, it’s inappropriate! It’s
the internet, so nothing is private! Let me ask you something, have you been to
a ladies soiree before? We share tips, we share stories, we compare notes bla blabla.
Yes, we breastfeed in front of each other and it’s fun, it makes us feel warm
and fuzzy inside. When this gathering goes online, don’t you think it would be
the same?
Do you blame women for simply
being themselves? Yes, there’s a thin, blurred line as to how appropriate
posting a breastfeeding picture online is. The group was supposed to be
private. I personally would not post a breastfeeding picture anywhere online,
as I am aware that these photos can leak easily.
But I do think some people
genuinely trust the privacy of these groups. About reports that some ladies
posted these photos to their FB walls, I’m not sure but if true, then that’s a
whole different animal there.
What’s more important though, is
how you react to stories like these. Have you heard of the saying, “when you
point a finger at someone, there are three fingers pointing back at you”? What
does it say about people who respond downright crudely, even vile, beating
these ladies to a pulp with their language?
Really how people react speaks
volumes about themselves. I’m scared to think how they will raise their
children. How they are merciless to mistakes. Sometimes I ask, do people like
these really exist or are they trolls? Maybe keyboard warriors. But there’s so
many of them with highly specific comments.
The problem of brelfie isn’t as
bad as the problem of our self-appointed moral police. Brelfie could be a
slight error in judgement. I’m sure they would never repeat it again once they
know the consequences. People will start to learn where to draw the line. I’m
not trying to downplay this selfie while breastfeeding issue. But here’s a
fact: Brelfie will die soon.
The moral policing though? The
crude language though? Will they die with the brelfie? I doubt it. Old habits
die hard, they say.
I personally hate viral stories
because they are seldom good things especially in Malaysia. The dog story, the
pig dna in Cadbury chocolate, the diaper as plates, etc. None of them are
really beneficial or inspiring, but more like a fun bashing party. Good people are
slandered, dissected to be as worthy as garbage.
I know. I was at the receiving
end, although by proxy.
I guess in all of this, I’m just
hoping for at least one thing to happen. That next time another bad, viral
story comes around, just ignore it. It’s not worthy of your time. It’s a sensationalized
internet soap opera that will be forgotten in a few weeks’ time. Lost in the
abyss of internet absurdity. Gone.
