Railway To Integrity   

 

By Dino Cesta - 12 January 2015

OBELISK  INSIGHT 

 

Certain issues have the power to galvanise people to fight passionately for a common cause. The advent of social media has enabled many more people to become active participants on debates through public group chat forums.

 

The most intriguing insight regarding the current Newcastle rail line issue is the level of verbal vitriol from both sides of the debate.  Particularly on Facebook, some of the comments have been vile, crass, unbecoming as well as bordering on defamatory.

 

Even The Newcastle Herald has been the target of verbal discontent for the perception of biased reporting from not just one side, but both sides of the rail issue. 

 

One Facebook Page even insinuated The Herald accepting brown paper bags for its perceived biased reporting. The suggestive picture and comment was subsequently removed, likely in fear of defamatory action being initiated.

 

We are blessed to live in a country in which we have the ability to freely express an opinion without retribution, within legal limits.

 

But some people need to deal more with the facts than fiction, and play the ‘ball’ instead of the ‘man’. One's argument is more likely to be taken seriously, and ensures one’s credibility remains intact once this issue is done and dusted.

 

And I believe our community will also be better for it.