A wonder, no wonder: I'm socially responsible!

A wonder, no wonder

Thursday, May 07, 2009

I'm socially responsible!

This new phrase has been coming up very commonly recently about being "socially responsible". I've heard it from 4 different people across 2 days already. Amazing stuff. New fashion, I hear.

Well, yeah we're all talk regarding the swine/bird/cow/dog/cat/moose flu and the never ending whining about recessions but yes, it dawned on me the other day what the phrase "socially responsible" means.

Socially responsible means cooping yourself in a room for 7 days after you've been to some country with the swine/elephant/flamengo flu. Yeah, we've heard enough of that over the media. But what, really? Being socially responsible means being responsible for your actions in social situations. A self proclaiming "maligned" and "misunderstood" individual who claims that he/she is just minding his/her own business and people are attacking him/her for no reason, The Als says to him/her:

Shut it.

Obviously, there is a problem when you mind your own business and someone comes attack you for no reason. BUT. When the things you do by yourself involve being ignorant and offending people first, it's a whole damn different story. Like it or not, in overly sunny Singapore, we're living literally 10m from one another. You can open your own damn mouth and say whatever you want. But when it turns out the words you spew and the actions you choose end up offending someone, don't come whine and grovel, asking for pity and looking all misunderstood and defiant when really, you're just getting what you deserve in the first place.

It's like the kid who stands in the corner of the playground, hurling vulgarities at the rest of the children who are playing. Insulting them one by one. And when finally, some kid marches over and gets into your face, all you do is whimper. And when the back is turned, you start sneering and talking big all over again. Well now, why not just grow a set and settle this face to face instead of hiding behind a computer screen? Yeah, sure, that's easy for me to say when I'm behind a computer screen myself. But I can promise one thing: When push comes to shove, I can and I will relish settling matters face to face.

So. Question: Are you being socially responsible?

Question: Do you have the guts to settle this face to face with whoever offended you?

Stop hiding behind a computer screen and acting tough. Sure, it's easy to act tough behind bulletproof glass.

It's just sad that there are people out there who know nothing about being socially responsible. Or for that matter, socially adept. So I guess the thing for me to thank God this week is that I, for one, and most of the people I know ARE socially adept and responsible. Save one.

Als, out.

posted by The Als @ 7:55 pm

1 Comments:

At 10:59 pm, Ariane said…

AMEN TO THAT!