Raqif Makhdoomi
There is a well-known Kashmiri proverb: “Hatie Hounie kathie zang”—which essentially means unnecessarily inviting trouble upon oneself. In today’s hyper-connected digital landscape, this adage has never been more relevant. Increasingly, people rush to comment on issues they know little to nothing about, driven solely by the desire to speak rather than the need to contribute.
In an era dominated by likes, retweets, and shares, we have lost sight of what genuinely matters. The primary focus has shifted from seeking truth to being seen and noticed. While expressing oneself on social media platforms is a fundamental aspect of free speech, rights inevitably come with responsibilities and legal boundaries. Freedom of expression does not grant immunity from the consequences of careless commentary.
Complex social and political developments rarely happen overnight; they are usually the result of long-term processes. Yet, when an event surfaces on social media, users often react impulsively without fully understanding its background. When these hasty reactions gather likes and shares, creators mistake viral popularity for validation, assuming their viewpoint is undeniably accurate. In reality, they are often unknowingly amplifying misinformation or feeding into narratives designed to manipulate public perception.
On modern platforms, factual accuracy has taken a backseat to follower counts and monetization. Where individuals once shared thoughtful commentary to enrich public knowledge, many now post sensational content strictly for engagement and revenue. This relentless drive for online prominence has fostered a culture of hyper-criticism—a phenomenon captured by the local phrase “Noun mai nukta doundna,” meaning to find fault where none exists. Constantly adopting a reactionary and cynical posture does not make one an intellectual; it simply turns a commentator into a source of unnecessary conflict.
If our words do not add value, it is better to remain silent. Unfortunately, public discourse has degraded to a point where uninformed commentary drowns out established facts. We see this play out regularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
A prime example occurred recently when severe allegations of harassment were raised against an academic administrator. Outrage quickly spread across social media, with countless users issuing swift, severe judgments to project moral authority. Later, when an official investigation cleared the administrator of all charges, those same vocal commentators offered no corrections or follow-ups. This selective outrage demonstrates that for many, the goal was never truth or justice—it was merely riding a trend for maximum audience reach.
Before broadcasting an opinion, we must ask ourselves critical questions: What purpose does this serve? Is it grounded in fact? What potential impact will it have on those who read it?
The age-old advice to “think before you speak” exists precisely because words, once released into the digital sphere, cannot be recalled. When two elephants fight, it is always the grass beneath them that gets crushed. By recklessly participating in manufactured outrage, we often become unwitting tools in agendas larger than ourselves.
For the sake of public discourse—and our own mental peace—it is time to practice restraint, value facts over views, and recognize that not every issue requires our commentary.
(About the Author: Raqif Makhdoomi is a law student and human rights activist)
