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Thursday, August 09, 2012

The Controversial Post by Tan Kin Lian on Facebook Post

With all the rumours piling on a rumoured death of a senior politician (let's admit it, the rumoured figure is Lee Kwan Yew) in Singapore, former Presidential hopeful Mr Tan Kin Lian posted a Facebook post that resulted in several netizens condemn.

But it turned out Mr Lee Kwan Yew is actually fit and healthy! What a great news! He was spotted walking out of SGH and looked okay.

His Facebook post (currently hidden from TKL's timeline) gathered at least 222 comments (would have been more if not for some or many been deleted and members blocked) content and screen capture are below:


A rumor was circulating yesterday that a well known personality in Singapore, who is somewhat respected and generally feared, had passed away. That rumor turned out to be false.

I recall a story told by a Swedish friend. In a speech 20 years ago, he said, "During the dark days of the second world war, Norway was occupied by the German Nazis. Every few days, there was a rumor that the Allies had landed and that Norway would be liberated. It turned out to be another false rumor. After a while, the people became skeptical of these rumors, but felt that it was nice to hear them anyway! "

Ha, ha!. Happy 47th National Day!

What disappointed me was his emphasis that everyone's viewpoint can be different and they are to be respected. But ...


Revision 1
Dawn, you asked about "diverse views". Let me explain in this way.
You have certain views about what is right and wrong. I have my own views that are different from you. You have to accept them as "diverse views".
You do not demand to have an explanation and do not argue over their views that their views are wrong. Their views are only different from yours.

Revision 2
Dawn, you asked about "diverse views". Let me explain in this way.
You have certain views about what is right and wrong. Other people have their own views that are different from you. You have to accept them as "diverse views".
You do not demand to have an explanation and do not pass judgement that their views are wrong. Their views are only different from yours.

But his going around deleting comments and blocking members seem to be contradicting. A post that was edited several times:


Revision 1
I have banned a few members of the lynch crowd from posting in this Facebook. They can express their views elsewhere, not here - and I do not care about their views anyway.

To Hou Loke and other decent people who are genuinely disturbed by the link between the local rumor and the Norwegian rumor, I wish to express my apology. I did not intend to offend you.

Revision 2
I have banned a few members of the lynch crowd from posting in this Facebook. They can express their views elsewhere, not here - and I do not care about their views anyway.

To Hou Loke and other decent people who are genuinely disturbed by the link between the local rumor and the Norwegian rumor, I wish to express my apology. I did not intend to offend you.

For those who want to know my reason to post this "joke", I am sorry to disappoint you. You have to guess the reason by yourself. If you think that I have a hidden message, it will remain so.

Revision 3
I have banned a few members of the lynch crowd from posting in this Facebook. They can express their views elsewhere, not here - and I do not care about their views anyway.

To Hou Loke and other decent people who are genuinely disturbed by the link between the local rumor and the Norwegian rumor, I wish to express my apology. I did not intend to offend you.

For those who want to know my reason to post this "joke", I am sorry to disappoint you. You have to guess the reason by yourself. It will remain a secret, which I will share with my friends only.

I am lucky that I belong to a crowd of 2 million who didn't vote for Tan Kin Lian.


To Kerine Chen, Diana Liew and many other people who were glad that you did not vote for me. You belong to a crowd of 2 million people, so there is no need for you to advertise your decision here.

2 comments:

  1. Posts monstrously inappropriate comment right before National Day: Insensitive

    Undertone of his controversial post: Bitter

    Says he has a hidden secret message that he does not want to share: Childish

    Using Facebook to air such volatile views as a public figure: Unprofessional

    Argumentative, poor quality, circuitous rebuttals to ordinary citizens just to prove he is right: Petty

    Failed to become President of Singapore: PHEW!

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Dawn, you asked about "diverse views". Let me explain in this way.
    You have certain views about what is right and wrong. Other people have their own views that are different from you (sic). You have to accept them as "diverse views".
    You do not demand to have an explanation and do not pass judgement that their views are wrong. Their views are only different from yours."

    Unfortunately, this itself is passing judgement on a view that is different from yours, Mr Tan.

    Besides, "diverse views" really should not function as an 'immunity idol' that allows anyone to say whatever they like, no matter how immoral, blasphemous, sacrilegious, sinister or subversive. I am not advocating an absolute morality, nor am I going into the complexities of deriving a stable sense of justice and morality from pluralistic paradigms. At least not here.

    I am saying we can't say any bloody thing we want and then run from the consequences by claiming "diverse views". There is something wrong and very dangerous here if this meme were allowed free rein.

    My opinion is that some opinions can be wrong, and I shall say that that Mr Tan's opinions on diverse views are wrong.

    But from Mr Tan's view, even if he disagrees with me, he has to accept my view as a different view on diverse views without passing judgement.

    ReplyDelete

Do provide your constructive comment. I appreciate that.

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