Trying to Censor the Internet - The NTU Bus Stop Joke
The video first appeared on Facebook, and I had re-posted it on YouTube. 2 days later, I received this message:
raine27 (9 hours ago)hi daphnei'm the one who posted tis video to my facebook and it's for meant for my frens only. i hope tat u can remove fr youtube coz it's causing a big fuss here and stomp has reported it which openly criticised us. i've alrdy removed the video fr my fb and i hope u can remove urs fr youtube too. thx.
Dear raine27,
I don't quite see the logic of removing this video from my YouTube stream, but I will remove my copy from my channel if you insist it. But do enlighten me - What is the logic of removing it?
(1) If so many people have already seen it, will removing it stop people from talking about it? Will removing it stop it from spreading?
(2) If it's meant for 'friends only' then do not put it on a public domain - when videos are put on a public domain, people WILL copy it and reproduce it or re-post it on other platforms. What makes you think it has not been re-posted on YouTube, Vimeo, and other video-sharing sites? If you insist that posting on Facebook is not the same as posting on a public domain, please think again.
(3) If you are scared of being criticized by people, do not play this kinda joke in the first place. You've known of the existence of STOMP prior to this, I'm sure, and you're aware that any kind of mischief will probably appear on STOMP, because some people in this country are just stupidly meddlesome.
I thought this was a good and harmless joke, but it does show everyone that Singapore doesn't have a sense of humour, doesn't it? I think this was a good joke, compared to the one of the NTU girl student having to eat a banana from the crotch of another male freshman during the recent orientation camp. If you dare to do it, please dare to own up to it.
About this joke: It was really harmless, it did not occur on a busy road, or during peak hour (the bus was not packed), and did not cause harm or much inconvenience to anyone at all (the bus stopped for less than 10 seconds), and nobody's dignity was compromised.
Again, I will remove it out of goodwill if you insist it, but good luck in trying to censor the internet, now.
Daphne Maia
Comments 4 Comments
I hope they see now that once it's up there, you lose control of how it spreads...