The world of vlogging was spooked last night with revelations of backstabbing by Zeinab Harake, divulged by the talent manager Wilbert Tolentino in a widely watched livestream. His narration quickly injected energy and zeal into a nation eager to spot the next item on its Marites agenda.
The unfolding drama wouldn’t be compelling if it resorted to the usual he said, she said format. It relied on damaging screenshots, probably cropped to ensure no other chats would muddle the story.
Last night’s buffoonery reinforced the notion that screenshots are now more valuable in the age of social media, trumping gold or the dollar. Though peso depreciation and rapid inflation hurt our pockets, what’s more hurting than frank and below-the-belt comments meant only for private consumption to circulate unimpeded in the realms of cyberspace?
Chatrooms exist for unadulterated conservations regarding someone’s characteristics. It is a breather to manage vexation without having to confront, temporarily, the person who is causing that. Since many would rather master the art of plasticism – my classmate’s term – applications like Messenger and Viber conveniently grip all our grievances in the world.
We cannot deny the fact that we have lambasted someone in the harshest terms possible in chats. I had certainly called someone “nuts” but can’t remember who because of my goldfish memory. Some may have likened their enemies to the devil.
In Ms. Harake’s case, she has belittled her fellow vloggers in unrelenting terms. Speaking to Mr. Tolentino in confidence, she wondered why he would collaborate with Kim Whamos, called Ivana Alawi “matataas [ang] ihi,” described Jelai Andres as “pinakasabaw samin” and discouraged him to partner with Robi Domingo because “walang market dun.”
The influencer Christian Albert Gaza, however, defended his bestfriend, observing that Mr. Tolentino and his allies launched a “coordinated attack on a Sunday night kung kailan peak na peak sa social media” to halt her momentum as her fame skyrockets. Still, he described Ms. Harake as “walang preno” wherein there were times “mga sarili niyang kaibigan ay napagsasalitaan niya ng hindi maganda sa harap ng ibang tao.”
No one will know if this episode would deplete Ms. Harake’s followership – 12 million on Facebook and 13 million on YouTube. But trust would indeed precipitate following the release of the screenshots.
Though peso depreciation and rapid inflation hurt our pockets, what’s more hurting than frank and below-the-belt comments meant only for private consumption to circulate unimpeded in the realms of cyberspace?
Many fear that when they send juicy gossip privately, they will end up ruing the day because of the screenshots that might make or break their reputations. Snakes can sometimes be in the form of a family member or friend.
Messenger’s “unsend message” button can be helpful, but taking a screenshot can be as fast as an F1 racing car in its prime. The paranoia is growing by the day.
However, as a devil’s advocate, the publicization of screenshots, no matter how vile, thrust us to confront the truth head-on. No more, in technical terms, backstabbing. No more secret whispers. No more plasticism. Raw feelings should be unleashed with the same vigor and zeal as when they’re just being unshackled privately. In this instance, Ms. Harake is forced to unveil her truest sentiments to the personalities abovementioned. Only in this way could the process of reconciliation begin, if there’s any.
Screenshots possess such incredible powers that others may use them to attack someone mercilessly. That’s why we are all in a jarring situation: Whom do we, should we and could we trust? Who are the persons who, amidst the ups and downs, can bring online tranquility forever?
Ms. Harake’s regret is confiding with Mr. Tolentino. But Mr. Tolentino could have reasonably believed such receipts were necessary for public consumption – it isn’t, by the way.
The next chapter in this awful story is one that will surely muster keen interest. What are the repercussions of all of these? Probably, the screenshots could cost a hefty price to either personality or both. Just as when our humiliation is laid bare, the toll – mental, emotional and, to by extent, physical – is too expensive to be compensated maybe in our lifetime.
Featured image from Facebook.
The Edj View 