Please excuse my ignorance but in responding to Emmanuel's input I don't see the relationship between media's black out on politicians and the insanity on social media.<br><br>Let's put this in context - the media blackout affects a select few - the political elite who are looking for a platform to push their own personal and political agendas. The blackout has to a certain extent protected Kenyans from their inflammatory statements.<br>
<br>On the other hand, the social media activity involves hundreds, if not thousands of individuals who are expressing their personal opinions (as negative and unsavoury as those might be). I place emphasis here on *expressing their opinion*. The fact that they are using social media as one of the channels where their opinion gets aired is simply that, a matter of fact. I am sure that they express the same opinion in their homes, over their phones, in their hair salons, bars, classrooms, gyms etc...This is because the opinion belongs to them.<br>
<br>Let us not be naive and try to separate the opinion from the individual behind it. That to me, is the more important issue. A tribal tirade on social media is indicative of a tribal opinion held by an individual with tribal beliefs. Solve the basic problem of promoting Kenyanness, unity and a non-tribal outlook and I believe that strides begin to be made towards solving the problem.<br>
<br>My two cents,<br><br>Brian<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 10:08 AM, Edith Adera <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:eadera@idrc.ca" target="_blank">eadera@idrc.ca</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">John F. Kennedy - �Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable�<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u>�<u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"" lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"" lang="EN-US"> Emmanuel Khisa [mailto:<a href="mailto:oloo.khisa@googlemail.com" target="_blank">oloo.khisa@googlemail.com</a>]
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> March 19, 2013 9:50 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Edith Adera<br>
<b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:oloo.khisa@gmail.com" target="_blank">oloo.khisa@gmail.com</a>; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u>�<u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">+1,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">�<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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...<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">�<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">�<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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...<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">�<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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..<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">�<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Regard<u></u><u></u></p>
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<div><div><div class="h5">
<p class="MsoNormal">On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Edith Adera <<a href="mailto:eadera@idrc.ca" target="_blank">eadera@idrc.ca</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Bwana Ndemo,</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">�</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">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� <a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/446672/1723754/-/ee6vonz/-/index.html" target="_blank">
http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/446672/1723754/-/ee6vonz/-/index.html</a>� it occurred to me that we probably need something deeper, while we must address the madness online.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">�</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">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.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">�</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">As you crack down on cyber haters (to address the
<u>symptoms</u> 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:</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">�</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">*why are people so angry?
</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">*is this anger only in cyberspace?
</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">*If not, to what extent is it a reflection of simmering (unexpressed) anger on the ground?</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">*what are the implications of unexpressed anger?</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">*why are people comfortable to express such deep anger online and not offline? What are they afraid of?</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">*How can long-lasting co-existence be achieved, once and for all?</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">* etc etc etc</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">�</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">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.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">�</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Reflective Edith</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">�</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">�</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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</div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
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<br>
-- <span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS""><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<h6><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">"Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"...<u></u><u></u></span></h6>
<h6><u></u>�<u></u></h6>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br>
Oloo Khisa<br>
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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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
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