Beating intolerance needs a society for humans, not profit

 

A quick digital fix may remove expressions of hate and intolerance from public view, but it will survive and continue to spread stealthily as long as it resonates with the audience.

Fighting intolerance over the long term requires a bold re-evaluation of what a good life should be in Malaysia. That is, one that makes sense not just for the individual, but also for the society and environment we live in.

It is obvious that we live in our respective echo chambers, with little meaningful interaction with people, alike or otherwise. Demonising and dehumanising people who are different has never been easier or less guilt-ridden while making it more difficult for real empathetic conversations to take place.

At first glance, social media services appear to be a means of communicating hate and suspicion. The many past and recent examples show they can be very efficient at that, but they are not the reason intolerance exists. Neither are they the reason that they persist.

Yes, we must definitely push for tweaks to algorithms and moderation practices, and judicious application of existing laws to fight intolerance, but it does not make the problems disappear just like that. To their credit, social network services have taken steps to contain their spread or at least attempt to with the tools at their disposal.

There is more to people believing and amplifying intolerance than the convenience of a button and a broadband internet connection. The messages that they, and we, have an effect on find resonance because of how we have come to view the world, and our experience of it.

The fears and insecurities that people have made them susceptible to paying attention to, or even believing fake news and misinformation that offers simple rationalisations and solutions to a complex reality.

Social media is a cheap junk alternative to social interactions, in the same way that fast food is a bad substitute for nutritious meals. We know, and need to teach everyone that social media is filled with junk content and misinformation that are harmful to ourselves and to our communities.

At the same time, we need to recognise the lack of affordable and accessible alternatives. This applies to food, it applies to transportation, it also applies to how we socialise.

In the short term, people’s emotional and cultural worries need to be addressed. That a better world is possible without resorting to xenophobia, racism, and discrimination has to be emphasised widely and repeatedly so that extreme voices do not monopolise the conversation on society’s identity and vision.

That space needs to be cleared out to allow for the more difficult job of repairing the systemic causes underlying people’s fears.

Finding time to be civil

The ordinary Malaysian is no slouch. After spending most of his or her day either working, getting to work, or performing other kinds of work at home or for the family, there is only a small window left for recreation, much less civic engagement.

Free time is limited, and finding ways to spend it with others requires more time and money spent. The distance, cost, and tiredness are disincentives to taking part in civic activities with strangers.

Are our work lives (and study too) arranged in a way that allows us time to be more than productive economic agents? Not just in the number of hours spent, but also in how our urban lives are located, and structured.

There are clearly many layers here that need to be understood and addressed: low wages, urban development, civic and political education and awareness, organisational capacity, and workers’ protection. They all add up.

Inclinations to intolerance are shaped through time and experience, and the outcomes of a wide range of policies that have pushed aside the importance of a fulfilling human life in favour of the chase for economic growth.

The government obviously has a huge role to play in ensuring that the right policies and enforcement action is taken. Equally important is a united civil society and local communities in demanding for a better quality of life overall, not just in monetary terms. - Mkini

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LUTFI HAKIM ARIFF is co-founder and podcaster at Waroeng Baru, a not-for-profit collective to promote democratic participation and resilience. He is also the co-author of the book "Parliament, Unexpected" and an unrepentant believer in the power of local independent media. Lutfi tweets at @ltf_ha.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.