John F. Kennedy - "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable" From: Emmanuel Khisa [mailto:oloo.khisa@googlemail.com] Sent: March 19, 2013 9:50 AM To: Edith Adera Cc: oloo.khisa@gmail.com; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop +1, Indeed cyber responsiblilty is not a standalone initiative...cyber exists as a channel for expressing the societal views and does not therefore exist on its on... The day we realise that gagging the traditional media does not work in the 21st century internet age we will start making steps to tackle the difficult issues the SOUL of the country is struggling with. We can make noise about responsible internet use but for as long as the media blacks out channels of communications, blogsphere will remain the only media of expression for the populace... IMHO we are a country that is quick to bury its head in the sand and now we are left with a simmering problem on Agenda 4 which remain unattended to and which is awaiting an opportune time to explode.. Regard On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.ca<mailto:eadera@idrc.ca>> wrote: Bwana Ndemo, As I reflected on your unenviable job as a "cyber cop" (watching you on The Trend last Friday) and stumbled on this article by Gaitho entitled "The demented postings on social media must stop before blood flows" http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/446672/1723754/-/ee6vonz/-/index.html it occurred to me that we probably need something deeper, while we must address the madness online. You're on record here advocating for policy/decision-making based on empirical/research evidence. I recall your spirited campaign about the Cancer Bill that MPs excitedly passed without the benefit of scientific evidence as to "the actual cause of cancers in Kenya". You argued that you wished they did not get excited about addressing the symptoms of the problem, but the root cause. As you crack down on cyber haters (to address the symptoms of the problem), could we also ask ourselves a couple of questions (listers, feel free to add more questions) to get to the ROOT CAUSE of this ANGER: *why are people so angry? *is this anger only in cyberspace? *If not, to what extent is it a reflection of simmering (unexpressed) anger on the ground? *what are the implications of unexpressed anger? *why are people comfortable to express such deep anger online and not offline? What are they afraid of? *How can long-lasting co-existence be achieved, once and for all? * etc etc etc Someone has work to do as we try to address the short-term symptoms - is it the academic community? or pollsters can have a post-election job to do? I don't know, but the RROT CAUSE, we must find including the solutions. Reflective Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. -- "Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"... Oloo Khisa P.O. Box 24324-00100 Nairobi 0721321086/0731849128 http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa