Pay to get more Facebook 'likes', more 'followers' on Twitter: Unfair practices on social media?

Social media giants Facebook & Twitter have lately come up with similar plans for users who want 'greater clout' or 'more audience'.

If you pay money, you have the option to get more Facebook 'likes' and more Twitter 'followers'.

But is it fair? Content is not the king anymore.

Someone who has extra dollars or rupees, to spend, can use it for branding and get thousands of 'real or unreal' followers on Twitter.

Similar is the case with Facebook. Here, a person can 'buy' the 'likes' for his/her page. Where's the level-playing field on social media?

That's the fundamental question.

I don't feel it is fair. These companies initially had no such schemes but once they reached a level where they are opinion makers and dominate our lives, they have come up with these schemes.

Personally, I don't like it. It's like, you can't earn numbers or grades, so just pay for it. Is it fair? 

Take for example, movie personalities, TV persons, sport stars or anybody who came late on these platforms, and have less followers.

Or those who don't have anything interesting to share but feel upset that others have more likes or followers, can avail these schemes.

They can just pay money and get past the people who genuinely earned the following.

If you pay, Twitter shows your profile to many more people as 'suggested' in 'Who to Follow' advisory on the top right.

If you pay, your page is displayed to more people who are suggested by Facebook, to like the page.

On Facebook, you get option to target people in particular region or people of a particular age group.

We like it or not, Facebook and Twitter dominate our lives so much, that we have to live with it--their policies. They are here for business, aren't they. And that's what business is!!!

Bajrang Dal engineers riot in Karnataka after Muslim barber refused to shut shop on 'Tuesday'

In a shocking incident, right-wing extremist group Bajrang Dal engineered a communal riot in a town in Mangalore district, after a Muslim man refused to shut his shop on 'Tuesday'.

This riot over' barber's insistence on haircut' took place in Nelliyadi in Mangalore. The barber, Salman, opened his salon but was asked by local Bajrang Dal leader to shut it, 'as Hindus don't get haircut on Tuesday'.

When Salman refused, Bajrang Dal and allied Hindutva groups' members attacked Muslims and ransacked property. Dozens were injured and property worth lakhs was gutted.

Incidentally, Karnataka is ruled by Congress but right-wing extremists' activities have increased in the State, especially, in Mangalore district in recent years.

This report published in Hindustan Times, tells that Bajrang Dal leader Ravi Bally asked Salman to down the shutters in view of 'local sentiments' but he refused. Popular Front of India (PFI) members' names has also come up in this rioting. PFI is a Muslim group active in this region.

This year alone, over 150 communal incidents have occurred in Mangalore. The district was once known for communal harmony, education and openness among members of different religious communities.


INCIDENTS:

*Couple visiting beach handed over to police, boy's mother dies of shock. READ
*WhatsApp picture raises heckles of moral police in Mangalore. READ
*Church in Mangalore vandalized even after PM's appeal for religious tolerance. READ

OLD POST ON THIS BLOG

Communal bug bites Mangalore: Clashes, rioting reaches the 'auspicious town' 

Caste Terror: Two innocent children burnt alive in India's Haryana

These two children have closed their eyes for ever.

They were sacrificed at the altar of casteist hostility. Despite police protection, a Dalit family was set afire.

The children were burnt alive. These innocent kids died. Their parents are critical and battling for life in hospital.

This happened in Faridabad in Haryana, which is notorious for casteist terror. Go to hell with your caste, religion.

Three year old Vaibhav and nine-month-old Divya, are seen in this photograph. Their mother Rekha suffered critical burns while father Jitendra's condition is improving. The assailants, belonging to Rajput community, came at night, put petrol and set house on fire.

Indian Express reports that it was an act of vengeance. What vengeance against kids? Aren't we one of the most barbaric, violent nations in the world. All talk of 'ahimsa' is absolute nonsense. This is an immoral, unjust society.

READ: Isn't Indian society one of the most violent, discriminating and unjust societies in the world?

Cops, courts, none is able to provide security, basic dignity and respect.

Burn yourself, kill each other but at least spare the kids. Why did you kill these innocents.

* Will the monsters who committed the act, be arrested and sentenced to death?
* Will Haryana chief minister ML Khattar send casteist terrorists to Pakistan?

Where is humanity?
Cry, this country.

LINK: READ INDIAN EXPRESS REPORT ABOUT FARIDABAD KILLINGS

'Love Jihad' was right-wing extremists' conspiracy to demonise Muslims, split inter-religious couples: Hindutva project in India

For the last couple of years, the term 'Love Jihad' had gained currency in the media.

Hindutva groups, especially, Bajrang Dal and VHP, used it publicly on a regular basis, targeting Muslims.

1. Any inter-religious relationship in which the groom was Muslim and the bride was Hindu, was termed 'Love Jihad'.

2. The term was used so often that many people started to believe the theory that Muslim youths were 'trapping' Hindu girls.

3. A sting operation by Cobrapost revealed that it was a conspiracy to defame Muslims, split inter-religious couples, fan communalism, spread hatred against Muslims and polarise society on religious lines.

4. This sting operation was conducted over a period of several months and the Cobrapost reporters caught BJP, VHP leaders on camera, that how this nefarious conspiracy was hatched and was going on, across the country.

5. The videos were made available along with other evidence at the press conference. However, the media didn't give proper attention to this shocking expose. Perhaps, the reason was that the BJP government is at the helm at the Centre.

6. But, imagine, how serious is the expose, that members of the party that rules the world's biggest democracy, were involved in the false 'Love Jihad' project, which was apparently planned to corner, defame and demonise Muslims.

7. Doesn't this case require a high-level investigation? But the problem is that probe agencies work under the Centre, and their disinterest in probing other cases in which right-wing or Sangh Parivar elements are involved, suggests what will happen even if an investigation is launched.

8. After the expose, courts needed to have been approached for action against these conspirators. But nothing happened. There was absolute silence. Newspapers, TV channels, mostly ignored the story. Was it too explosive?

Across the length and breadth of India, the right-wing extremists were propounding the Love Jihad theory.

9. When they found an inter-religious couple, they put pressure on girl, her family, used their influence in police and like-minded lawyers, to file cases.

10. The strategy was that the girl was blackmailed, pressurised, even drugged, to quit the relationship [marriage]. The youth was implicated in abduction case and other cases were also slapped on him to ruin his life.

11. Such organised plot at the national level? And yet, there is no seriousness about it? This was a nationwide project to de-stabilise the communal harmony of the country. It was also used to defame 200 million Muslims of India.

And, it is just one of the projects. Muslims don't slaughter cows but they are being blamed and demonised in systematic campaign. Such campaigns continue through out the year. This is hurting not just Muslims, but also Hindus and the entire country.

12. Azam Khan recently said that he would approach United Nations (UN) over atrocities on Muslims. He was mocked it. May be, Khan, was reckless. You may not agree with him. But what do you do, when organised groups that are now part of government, plot such crimes?

This is systematic persecution, a hate-campaign. This must be known across the country and the world. And, organisations involved in it, should be brought to books. Cobrapost-Gulail deserve a salute for exposing the nefarious plans of the Sangh Parivar's allied organisations.

LINK

*Cobrapost investigation, read, watch videos: Busting the bogey of Love Jihad

Sakshi Mahraj should start his cow protection campaign with India's biggest meat exporting companies

Sakshi Maharaj, the Saffron-robed leader of Bharatiya  Janata Party (BJP), has said that he is prepared to go to any extent to protect cows.

It is admirable that the BJP leader, who is also a member of parliament (MP), has such a strong conviction, and love for cow.

Even if, his statement, that he is ready to 'kill or get killed' is not proper as per constitution, [we oppose any act of violence or inciting violence], we must be able to go beyond this and admire his passion.

I am sure, he will follow it up with actions in near future.

I hope that he would remain sincere to the cause and the top meat exporters who supply beef, would now figure on his radar. Sakshi Maharaj must be aware that India is among the leading countries as far beef export is concerned.

And, he must be aware of the names of all the top beef exporting companies in India.

The leading firm is Al Kabeer, which is owned by Sabarwals--Atul and Satish. He muts also be aware of the other leading exporters, the companies owned by the Kapoors, the Madans, the Bindras, and many others.

If not action, at least, he would speak against them--this is the least we expect from him. One hopes that an 'ascetic' would not fear the moneyed and would at least speak truth and stay true to the cause, at least, when we are talking about an issue as important as cow protection.

1. Sakshi Maharaj says, 'ready to kill, get killed'. See link
2. India tops the world in exporting beef. See link
3. Al Kabeer, India's leading beef exporter, is owned by Hindus. See link & link
4. Four biggest companies that top the list of meat, beef exporters. See link

Facade of liberalism, tolerance falls off: Isn't Indian society intolerant, violent and more discriminatory than other countries?

It is very common to say, that India is the nation of non-violence. Indians take pride in the fact that 'we taught non-violence' to the world.

So often it is said that we are 'sahishnu samaj' i.e. a tolerant society, that people begin to believe it from their childhood without realising that the truth could be just the opposite.

How much we know about tolerance, peace and liberalism? In fact, if you pick up newspaper of any day you will realise that we are a 'hinsak samaj'--a violent society.

Just today, the first story in paper was that of a man who was disabled permanently due to tortured by cops just because his vehicle had hit a cop's vehicle. A youth (Hindu), committed suicide because of harassment by cops.

Yet another case, a schoolboy brutally beaten by his teacher for touching 'thaali' of other students in Rajasthan. Just a couple of days back, a 90-year-old Hindu man was burnt to death in Uttar Pradesh for stepping into a temple.

These are mostly cases of injustice against Hindus. Not just police, anyone in power is engaged in violence against the 'weak', the 'poor, and the 'other. Law is applied in accordance with the victim's and the accused's social-financial status.

Further, recent incidents show that the facade of 'tolerance', 'liberalism', has fallen off completely. Claims about 'sahishnuta, sambhav' are not true. Many of us are beginning to see the reality.

Some of you may not immediately agree to this as the moneyed middle class is generally not the victim of prejudices, state's oppression. The problem is that the moment you feel you are morally superior, your culture is best, your 'sanskar' are ideal, there is no possibility of reform.

For improvement, you have to accept that there are issues with your society, very serious issues. At least, I feel, that we are members of a 'hinsak samaj' that has a 'mob mentality'.

TEN POINTS ABOUT VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY

1. It is common to term other countries as barbaric, but in which country do you hear leaders deliver hate-filled, racist, threatening and poisonous speeches day in and day out. This happens in world's biggest democracy.

2. The sadhvis, saints, threaten minorities on regular basis, demonising them, warning them to kick them out of the country, at the drop of hat, and the politicians 'justifying' hate, killings.

Where does it happen?

Does it happen in countries we contemptuously talk about, and whom we term as 'banana' republics. Are such political statements against minorities, atrocities, mob violence ever heard there?

3. In which country, there is such social sanction to violence, mob killings and discrimination. In which country, there are always 'action-reaction' theories floated.

4. Where would Ministers goes to site of tragedy and declares, "it was an accident". Takes meeting in the temple from where the false, provocative rumour was spread about an air force personnels' father carrying bovine meat in his house.

The minister categorically says, "it was not pre-planned incident". Then, he says, 'justice will be done, to arrested youths too'. This happens in India. Prime Minister doesn't speak up to allay fears or to rein in the fanatic groups. Ministers speak like louts.

5. In this violent society, lives of Dalits, Tribal, Poor, Minorities, so many others don't matter. There is so much hate prevailing in the society among different sections of people on the basis of colour, creed, caste, faith, class and region.

6. The laws are promulgated and applied to discriminate, subjugate your own people, cow slaughter laws made stricter and people are framed, bizarre punishments given.

The law-enforcing agencies put blame on victims. After an innocent man's murder, meat kept in his refrigerator is sent for lab test.

7. Where in the world, 'food fascim' has reached such bizarre levels. The country tops in beef export but people are attacked, killed just on suspicion of carrying beef.

There are housing societies that don't let 'non-vegetarians' live. In schools, children are asked not to bring 'non-vegetarian food', even omelette in the lunch box. In angan-wadis 'anda' is not given to kids, as it 'offends sensibilities'.

So you are taught from childhood that 'meat eaters are bad', that they are evil. This thought process can't be altered easily. All these your 'sanskaar'. The poor malnourished tribal kids are deprived out even egg in angan-wadi. This shameless violence is taking place in a country when 70% Indians are non-vegetarians!

7. Rationalists are killed. People are threatened for speaking in their minds. Governments refuse to act against extremist campaigns and vigilante groups' divisive acts and thuggery, as in Mangalore. Organisations that ought to be banned, are termed 'nationalist'.

8. With due respect to the courts, we all know who gets death sentences, who get hanged in this country. Most of them are Poor, Dalits, Tribal and Muslims. And further, the society has the cheek to claim that they are 'liberal', 'non-violent, 'good to weaker sections'. The list is endless.

9. People don't want to accept their own bigotry. If you talk about 'khaps', immediately the issue will be diverted and you will face the question, 'Why X things happen at Y place, reply first, Why you don't speak about it". So the problem is failure to 'confront bitter truths'.

10. I haven't talked yet about rapes, the gang rapes, the amount of sexual violence, which exists in the country, majority of which goes unreported. I don't even want to venture into this territory, as this piece can't end.

I haven't talked about communal riots, at all. The list is endless. But still we consider ourselves 'sahishnu'. Even on social media, people threaten others just because their opinions don't match with someone.

Hold the mirror and see your face. When I look, I see it as one the most violent, barbaric societies in the world. The reform, the change, can't begin unless we accept that there is a problem. 

'White terrorist' kills 10 students in Oregon in America: US media calls him 'gunman', 'shooter', NOT terrorist

Once again, a man went on a firing spree on a campus in United States. He killed 10 students in cold blood in Umpqua college in Oregon.

The man turned out to be 'White', his name is Chris Harper-Mercer. Once again, the reports in media were on expected lines.

Initially, when the reports came, many people on social media began blaming 'Muslims'.

Later, when the first photograph surfaced, some assumed that he could be from 'mixed race' or from African-American background'. 

There were hate-filled, xenophobic comments about the 'other races' including Mongoloids.

But, soon it became clear that Chris Harper-Mercer was a perfect 'White'. By now, media groups were terming the incident as 'gunman', 'shooter', 'lone wolf'. The words like 'Terrorist' or 'Extremist' were not used, at all.

1. It is so strange, that despite series of such fatal shootings in America, the 'mainstream' refuse to believe that the shooter can belong to 'them', 'their race'. For them, it is always, someone from 'others'.

This is similar to right-wing racist behaviour in India, where it is common to say, 'Hindu, aatankwadi kaise ho sakta hai?". [How can someone from the majority community be terrorist?]. This is majoritarian syndrome.

2. In the past, many such shooters have committed massacres in America. But the moment, their race and identity is known, the words used to describe them are 'soft'. There is talk about their being 'lonely, 'disturbed childhood', 'recluse' and similar terms, as if that could justify the killings.

3. Harper was born in England but as a child brought to US. He belonged to 'upper middle class', says reports. In some of the photographs, he was seen supporting the extremist outfit, 'Irish Republican Army' [IRA].

In the Oregon school, he asked students' religion [most of them said Christianity], before they were shot dead. Clearly, Harper came from a privileged background. He was White. He was Christian. 'Faith, religious belief' did play a role in this shooting spree, but still no one talks of his ideology.

The reasons for the behaviour may come out during the course of investigation but once again the hypocrisy of the media, was exposed. The White lone wolves have killed hundreds in America lately, see the photographs on the rights.

Chris was finally shot dead by a policeman. More than a dozen weapons were recovered from his place.

TREAT ALL CRIMES ALIKE, ALL ACTS OF TERRORISM OUGHT TO BE DEALT STERNLY

4. Every time such an incident occurred, the first suspicion in public forums, social media is on the 'other'. 'Others feel the heat, pray that the killer would not be of their community. Media has created a situation where people belonging to majority, dominant culture, can't be shown as 'Terrorists' or 'Killers'.

5. Here lies the rot. With each incident, there is talk of gun culture in US, but no 'War on gun culture' is announced. Nothing changes. The 'mass killings' continue, one after the other, these 'lone wolves' kill innocents, but the stigma is always for the 'other'.

As the 'stigma' won't go, he will remain the suspect. However, the majority has no need to worry, as an individual belonging to the majority will always have 'softer terms' used for their horrendous crimes. 

The 'majority' guy can never be terrorist. That 'tag' is reserved for the 'other'. It's exactly the same script which we have been watching, playing out on our TV screens and newspapers. So, how can things change?