We have been doing this forever, but with the ongoing Covid-19 quarantine, people are posting more shitty content than usual. Now that we are all stuck in our homes and spending more time on the internet, I have seen a surge of posts rudely name-calling people who are outside (on the roads) during India’s 21 day lock-down period.
Is it really necessary for you to sit in the comfort of your home and call people stupid for going outside? In India, lots of daily wage workers are stranded in cities (that are not their home) with no food and shelter. If they are outside, it is only because they have no other options. They are outside because they are trying to get home. Lot of people are venturing outside because they are trying to earn some money so that they can buy food.
Here’s a link to an article that will help you better understand their situation: ‘Better to die with families’ — no food or money, Delhi migrants prefer the long walk home
There are thousands of people living in hostels who are being turned out or being forced to stay without food. Are you saying that these people should continue to stay inside and starve to death? They are also scared and alone. They don’t want to be out but they have no other option.
Here’s another link to an article talks about how this lock-down has affected many innocent people : Lockdown Mayhem : Closed Hostels, Homeless Students, Crowded State Borders – Who is to blame?
You may tell me that your post calling people irresponsible or stupid is aimed at people who are genuinely not respecting the lock-down. You may tell me that your post was never aimed at these helpless citizens.
But I ask you this – why do you have to call people stupid or irresponsible at all? Who are you to be a judge of what other people do or don’t do? Why don’t you stay home and do as you are told to do? And if you are already doing it, why isn’t that good enough for you?
Why are you using social media to make other people feel inferior to you? You have done good by staying home. I applaud you! I salute you! Good job!
Requesting others to stay home is different from deriding them into doing so. You might end up angering someone into coming and coughing in your face. So try and be polite and compassionate if possible. And try your hand at a bit at empathy – even if it is just on the internet. You always have the option of keeping your opinion to yourself too.
Everyone already knows you are smart. Everyone already knows you are responsible. You don’t have to constantly remind people about it by calling people stupid.
If you don’t know what other people are going through, don’t talk about it and certainly don’t call them stupid. No one truly wants to fall ill or die. These people are risking their lives trying to get home to their families rather than staying hungry and without basic amenities in an unfamiliar place. Everyone is living through a different kind of hell which you know nothing about.
And take a look at yourself – You are stuck at home with food, water, air conditioning, and most importantly Wi-Fi. If you have so much time on your free hands, why not try doing something positive instead. Learn a new skill or make a painting or spend time with your family. Use this quarantine time to try and be a better person. Staying inside your house may make you a good citizen but your apathy makes you a horrible human being.
If you still want to defend your shitpost as a personal opinion or freedom of speech, remember – so is this post 🙂
Credits: Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
