Disable!

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines recently suggested that Catholic Churches conducting on-line masses should conduct their services without Live Chat Rooms and Live Comments because these online features have resulted in disruptive interaction that distract people from focusing on the ongoing service. The same has been observed among other denominations conducting mid-week and Sunday services as well as non-religious events such as seminars or lectures where participants end up greeting each other, doing shout-outs or simply just making their presence seen or read.

Perhaps one of the most shocking and ugly things I’ve heard was when a church minister who was preaching online was targeted with personal and derogatory remarks. The minister had not committed any sin or crime that deserved such public accusations but his attackers, who were “believers” and members of the congregation, took full advantage of the Comment box in their misguided effort to humiliate one of their own, their pastor.

But all the ugliness or disruption does not confine itself to Church activities, it’s everywhere and anywhere we give people a means and a right to express their opinion, however pure or wicked their thoughts may be.

Traditional or digital media has not been spared either, because many TV and radio programs have been invaded, disrupted or hijacked by disruptors. But this did not happen only during the pandemic. Back in the 1990’s people were encouraged to share their views or opinions on TV or radio by simply “texting” or sending an SMS message. People jumped at the chance to say their piece as well as to have a few seconds of glory to hear their name being mentioned on air! Some liked the “publicity” so much that they regularly gave an opinion on practically any subject matter, person or issue. It was one to two minutes of glory in their mind. But when people discovered that it cost them a peso or two every time they did, people started to cut back.

But with digitalization and online broadcasting, where you can give your opinion for free as well as anonymously, certain political hacks and malevolent PR practitioners and political support groups have taken advantage of the situation.

Then and now, critics, haters or opponents have taken to SMS, Facebook, etc. to criticize, challenge or simply throw mud at an enemy or someone they don’t like. It could be political, sports related, religion or entertainment, but bashers will make their thoughts known.

When I was hosting the show “Straight Talk” on ANC, I already noticed that there would be days when people would be critical for the shallowest reasons, such as basketball rivalry, etc. The prevailing practice back then was to read anything and everything that viewers sent in, except if the message was libelous or downright distasteful or worse than the four-letter “F” word. I recall that there would even be some viewers or listeners that would complain and accuse the station or the host that their messages were not read or were being censored, etc. Yes, they got demanding and combative even.

Then one day I just got fed up and I told the staff of Straight Talk not to bother giving me messages that were negative, critical or simply inappropriate or “bastos” to the guest or to myself. After a few weeks or months, we noticed that the negative/ugly commentaries were reduced. Then one day, in response to a message that I was not reading the audience feedback, I declared that we would not be reading any message that insults or attacks our guests because it is our duty to honor our guests! And that was the end of that. People got the message, and everybody played nice.

The recent announcement of the CBCP actually came out at approximately the same time when I once again asked the “Agenda” team to disable the “Comment” button on our online shows whenever we were featuring or interviewing a “candidate,” regardless of party, because I noticed how a specific group of “trolls” would always pop up and gang up on their opponent-candidates. They would flood the comment section with hate, criticism and accusations but when a candidate from the opposite side of the fence was “on air” they would shower the person with praises. This did not happen only to our show Agenda on Cignal TV/Onenewsph, but became common for other talk shows. The “trolls” had effectively weaponized the Comment section and used it to humiliate, diminish or mislead viewers with fake news by using the station or the program as their launching pad.

Going back to the CBCP announcement, I hope that Filipinos of all faiths or denominations would come to realize that we need to focus on the service to God, the word of God and not on chats and messages. Church service is when we sing to God, give to God, pray to God and connect with God, not to chat groups and FB friends.

If the online disruptions rob you of these, then you would be better off going old school, go somewhere while it is still dark, the same way Jesus Christ always did. Go on your knees as Jesus did or sit on a bench. Sing your song of praise because that is the most important part: the worship! That is when you are acknowledging him above all and before any of your concerns. Then listen for his soft small voice whispering to you, talking to you. Then read the word from your Bible or listen to your audio Bible because that is when he feeds you the bread of life and gives you his living water. Then exhibit your gratitude for the past and into the present as well as for the future.

I’m not suggesting that you go and be like the Lone Ranger but it helps to acknowledge the disruptors in our lives and to refocus. You could also simply “disable” the comments and the unnecessary chatter in your worship and your life. God bless you!