Just read from Marc Macuha’s blog that columnist Malu Fernandez of Manila Standard Today and People Asia has resigned and apologized for what she wrote on some of her recent articles.
This would have been a huge triumph for the blogosphere that have been very vocal against her — but death threats?
Demanding a public apology and outright dismissal from the said publication is a valid argument. Name calling and cursing is treading on thin line but is always expected in times of outpouring emotions. Making death threats is totally crossing the line.
GMANewsTV reports, quoting her:
Fernandez claimed that because of the article she became a subject of hate blogs, a target of death threats and personal insults.
“Our society is bound together by human chains of kindness and decency. I have failed to observe this and I am now reaping the consequences of my actions.” Fernandez said.
Fernandez said she now truly understands the “insidiousness of discrimination and prejudice disguised as humor.”
Yes, she might deserve the ridicule thrown at her but subjecting her to death threats is a huge cause for concern (isn’t that a criminal offense under Philippine Law?). Death threats are no joke. The internet (and blogging) is a great tool for freedom of expression. That liberty, coupled with the inherent benefit of anonymity online, shouldn’t be used to cause anyone bodily harm.
Bloggers should also be vigilant to prevent this. I know it’s an impossible task but measures should be made to minimize it. Moderating comments deemed to be libelous and threatening should be exercised especially in situations like these. The same is true with anonymous blogs that calls out for someone to be physically harmed — do no link to them or allow them to post links on your blog.
This reminds me of Tim O’Reilly’s call for a Bloggers Code of Conduct after fellow blogger and friend Kathy Sierra was subjected to hate comments and death threats.
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haha did anyone of you actually read her apology? You wouldn’t feel sorry for her and may probably join the people who are sending her death threats!!! hahaha
it’s a a sad reality, i have encountered a lot of malu fernandez in my life. i am now in the u.s. also have been an ofw for over ten years. when you look at people like malu fernandez, you can immediately discern ang pinanggalingan niya or at least ang background at mentality niya at ang kinalakihan niya. nakakaawa ang ganitong mentality actually, you can imagine how the real genuine rich people listed in forbes list feel about her. or also, how the god-fearing, genuinely humane people must think about such a heartless creature ano? mababaw ang isip at kaligayahan. hindi sanay. walang diyos kung hindi karangyaan.
and to actually consider her physical appearance and the way she poses in the pictures, parang isang deprived na creature na ngayon lang nakatamasa ng sarap. come on guys, tayong mga educated and coming from buena familia, we pity this kind and instead pray for them. people like malu fernandez need our prayers, pasalamat tayo hindi natin sila kautak and let’s pray na sana maayos ang pagiisip nila.
other people do not laugh or make fun of ofw’s for wearing axe or cheap colognes, who sacrifice to earn a living, they make fun of creatures like malu fernandez who are nothing but skin deep,socially starved and desperately physically lacking, nothing else. malu fernandez personifies the typical mentality, attitude and grasp of thinking, that made the philippines and filipinos poor, poorer and poorest. not to mention tasteless. look at the face…. it says it all.
Malu Fernandez is Back.. nagpalamig lang ata..
check this out
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife2_oct8_2007