The duality of human nature is an interesting one. While some are easygoing, polite, and nice, others are rude and ill-mannered. They seize every little opportunity to pick on others. It is even worse when they are in a position of authority- they pick on vulnerable people and those lower than them. No matter what you do, humans will always find a way to test your patience and push your boundaries. You could be doing something as simple as living your life to the fullest- enjoying yourself on a beach- when someone out of nowhere will come and insult you. You’ll be left to wonder if you ever did anything to offend such a person. Recently, I came across a post on Instagram by an influencer who posted pictures of himself drinking bottled water. In the comment section, a user replied, “People who drink bottled water think they have made it in life.” This shows that even if you do something as simple as drinking water, people will find a way to share hate comments. Some human beings have a natural talent for spreading negativity.
Today’s Hive Learners prompt asks us if it would be okay to take legal action against those who commit acts of hate against you. First off, like I mentioned above, it is important to understand that some human beings are unwise and will seize any opportunity they get to share hate comments; whether it is slandering your name in public, sharing false information about your identity, or damaging your reputation or that of your brand. Sometimes, ignoring people who share hate comments is the best. However, depending on the severity of the crime, we need to take action sometimes. Letting these people off the hook every time will only add to their confidence and they won’t know when to stop. Sometimes, we need to take legal action, lock them behind bars, and put some sense into their heads. That way, they’ll forcefully learn to do better.
As I mentioned, depending on the crime committed, taking legal action against individuals who commit acts of hate is the right and best method. For example, a person who is intentionally spreading false information about you, just to tarnish your reputation. Interestingly, some people do it just to gain attention. Come on! That’s psychotic! Last year, we found out that the popular Nigerian musician, Davido, imprisoned a mini-celebrity for sharing false information about him. About three years ago, this other celebrity shared numerous videos claiming that Davido was a bad person and that he killed his friend. He made a video alleging that Davido killed his friend, without providing solid evidence- just word of mouth. How should we believe what you said when you don’t have evidence to back up your claim? He kept sharing slanderous posts and comments about Davido until one day, he disappeared. He stopped posting on his social media accounts.
We all thought he turned a new leaf or something, but it turned out Davido sued him and threw him into prison where he was forced to learn the hard way. After many months, he got out of prison, apologized to Davido, and turned a new leaf. If the hate crime is as severe as sharing false information about our identity or brand, then it is important to take legal action to protect your reputation and that of your brand.
Moving on, if someone constantly shares hate comments or threatens you online, taking legal action is the best way to control the situation. Some people find joy in doing things like threatening people online without valid reasons. If you’re unfortunate enough to fall into their trap, they’ll torment you to the extent that you’ll be scared to come online sometimes. The best thing to do is to gather enough evidence and report it to the authorities. Who knows if the online threats will lead to physical ones? Before that happens, prioritize your well-being and do the right thing.
While it can be physically and emotionally exhausting to deal with hate crimes. Taking legal action for every crime committed against you might not be the best solution. As I mentioned, sometimes it is best to avoid them. If you pay no attention to them, in a matter of time, maybe they’ll get tired and give up. However, if they don’t and if the acts committed are severe, then it is best to take legal action.
Thanks for reading.