Responding to Netizen's Comment

On the latest photo story I made, I said: Thousands of netizens have rushed in Leni's defense, what with BBM's pompom girl Melinda Barlis immature and feckless comment, " Yeah I get it.  Gagraduate ang anak, but the point is need pa bang picturan?"  

Was Melinda simply trolling or did she just totally miss the point in a proud parent’s need to get a photo with her graduating daughter? 

And one netizen said: Not true!

What is NOT TRUE in what I wrote? Was it false that I wrote thousand of netizens have rushed in Leni's defense?  Was it false to say BBM's pompom girl Melinda Bariles made an immature or feckless comment? Or was it false to say that a proud parent of a graduating student doesn't need to get any photo of her daughter?

Whatever is NOT TRUE in what I wrote especially if there is a smilie at the end waving his index finger right under my nose

(saying shame on you) is quite baffling to me. At the most, it is a little disconcerting especially if the ones writing it are the

regular commenters on the forum. 

I am not at all defensive when I wrote this piece, I can always accept if there are flaws or sins of omission and commission in the thread or its content, but at least make it clear to me which item needs remedial and corrective treatment so I will learn my lesson and things will never happen again.

As a netizen browsing, Facebook youtube IG's and forums I am constantly inundated with information some of them are true

and some are fake news. Believe me, there is a thin line separating facts from fiction or the truth from fake news. While the internet provides a forum for democracy in some Southeast Asian countries, it’s also become a tool for fake news, misinformation, and political hoaxes.

In Southeast Asia, information manipulation has been increasingly used as an instrument to influence public behaviors, polarise societies, exacerbate ethnic conflicts, draw support of religious ideologies, manipulate election results and incite public fear, hatred, and violence.

Reacting to an issue played, discussed and reacted by thousands of well-meaning members is the act of gathering, assessing, and presenting news and information. Making a thread like this is the product of every newspaper you read, every video you listen to on YT, every news station you watch, and every news article you read online regardless of whether the source or author is believable, authentic, or credible, or whether it is fake or the gospel truth.  Nobody knows. 

I wrote this thread and I don't know whether it is true or not, we are not privy to what really Melinda wants to say. Or his words were just put on the wrong context or she was just being misunderstood. The whole thread is pregnant with high alert and alarm signals with full disclosure that it can be true or it may be fake or maybe she meant another thing and the readers judge her right away.

As a member, I have a responsibility to inform the readers and I have the responsibility, to tell the truth. I don't want to be a pawn to encourage fake news, I report it because people are talking about it. I also want to serve as a gatekeeper as I determine what issues are brought into the spotlight and which remain in the shadows.

So we have a situation here where everyone on Facebook and Instagram and the social media have a field day discussing whether or not the Vice President taking souvenir shots at her daughter's graduation can be faulted. Any member worth his salt would jump onto the bandwagon - if taking photos is already ancient and antiquated then convince us and tell us the reasons. But if VP Leni is just doing a normal thing just like the rest of us are doing on birthdays, graduation, funerals anniversaries, and alumni homecomings then Melinda was just trolling to score political points against the VP.

The purpose of this thread is to provide members with the information they need to make the best possible decisions about this issue, whether fake or not it needs to be brought up that somewhere out there, a lot of people are talking about it. I thought it was a slam dunk topic, but the response here on this site was tepid and lukewarm.

And borrowing the Fox News tag line: "I report ... you decide."