Out of hand

Just when I said that the online situation had gotten out of hand, it became even worse. Those who wanted to derail the process of the International Criminal Court turned to professional networking site LinkedIn and bombarded the presiding judge's profile. The comment sections were filled with repeated pleas to release former president Rodrigo Duterte, a resort that seemed to exhaust all means. However, on a social media post, one striking comment came from a male Cebuano who called the judge a term only seen on pornography sites.

"MILF" is a derogatory term, describing a woman who has given birth whom men find attractive. While we continue to invoke the freedom of expression, this is a blow beneath the belt. It is an embarrassing word to say to a woman of high caliber, one who has excelled in the judiciary in several arenas. Others may want to laugh and scoff at the presiding judge, who presented herself as cold and straight to the point on Friday night. However, they fail to see that these women were chosen for their wisdom and ethics.

It does not have to come to this. We can always choose to defend our beliefs, including the president, on our own terms. Both sides present valid arguments at this point; there is no need to strike at others. To argue is to maintain a narrative, not drag others into the issue. This is only done when one party runs out of points to present, serving as a distraction from the original topic. False photos also continue to dominate the cybersphere, all in an attempt to make believe otherwise.

Truth be told, gone are the days of misogynistic remarks. We live in an era where equality and inclusion now dominate. To make a rude remark about a highly-respected woman reflects one's identity and an inability to respect the women who raised them. It is shameful how we resort to name-calling. There are many ways to strengthen the fight.

The mainstream media also continues to be attacked despite efforts to put out a well-crafted story. They are reduced to “manipulators”, accused of hiding the truth. Then again, truth is absolute, but journalists always strive to use gathered evidence to present the story. Those who think highly of themselves without the media are those who refuse to see and hear the truth because it simply does not sit well with them.

As Duterte's next appearance in the ICC is set for September, I bet the situation will become even more chaotic. I have sanitized my own echo chamber for the sake of my sanity, but they somehow continue to creep into many crevices of the internet. We can always stay in our own lane as we fight for what we believe is right. This is the essence of democracy: being able to speak our minds without striking at others. This is also what respect means, which we all deserve.