【慈幼通訊社
─
2016 年
03月
30
日羅馬慈幼總部訊】
─上週末，媒體公佈了數以百計，有關聲稱一名慈幼會傳教士死亡的新聞項目。所有的資訊源自一篇講道，這位會士的死亡便作為事實般報導。
這消息率先在網上公佈，在週末期間更傳送到媒體中。不幸地，在未經官方來源證實前，已在數小時內傳遍五大洲。有關這位司鐸死在恐怖分子手中的報導，在臉書、Twitter中反覆轉載，而一些電視頻道亦作正式報導。
這些傳播者，看來更有興趣強調這事件引人注目的性質：「一位司鐸在聖週五被殺，猶如基督」，甚於了解事件的真相。這種消息的後果，就如計時炸彈般，首先在社交網絡中產生混亂，並引起人們之間的恐懼，尤其因為事件看來，是出自與當事人關係密切的可靠人士。
在社交網絡的動力場中，我們每一個人都成為傳播消息的主角。故事的發展取決於我們每一人。有時候一個「讚好」，已足夠讓我們所有朋友，立時接收到一個訊息，就是我們找到了一些與我們相關的事情。因此，在你們為頁面上的一切事件評分前，要加倍當心，尤其把消息向網絡中的「朋友」分享前，更要審慎。傳意專家忠告各位，要留意消息的準確性，證實第一手資訊，尤其消息會影響到一個人的自尊 ，甚或性命。如有懷疑，請勿轉傳消息。
在我們於自己的頁面轉貼消息之前，我們必須醒覺到，這樣做會令我們在「朋友網絡」中會招致什麼的後果。如果我們要令自己成為可靠的人，就切不可跟隨混亂與失望的邏輯，更不能在人群中散播恐懼。作為消息發放者及複製者，我們的目標應時常跟隨尊重別人與追求真實的邏輯。如教宗所說：「為使和平常存於團體、家庭、國家及世界，我們必須開始與主相偕。因為哪裡有天主……哪裡便有兄弟之愛。我們祈求天主，勿讓我們的口舌傷害我們的鄰人。」
Publish first, apologize later
(ANS - RMG –Roma, 30 March 2016) –Last weekend in the media hundreds of news items were published about the alleged death of a Salesian missionary. All the information originated from a homily in which the death of the religious was reported as certain.
The news was published on the web and spread in the media throughout the weekend. Unfortunately this happened without its being verified from official sources, and in a few hours this word had spread across the five continents. It was replicated on Facebook and Twitter and some television channels officially announced the death of the priest at the hands of terrorists.
It seems that these communicators are more interested in highlighting the spectacular nature of a situation, in this case "a priest murdered on Good Friday, like Christ", than in getting to the truth of the matter. The consequence of this type of information is that it can become a time bomb, which first causes confusion on the social network and then fear among people, especially since it seemed that the message had come from trustworthy people who were close to the situation.
In the dynamics of the social networks each of us is the protagonist of the dissemination of information. The course a story will have depends on each of us. Sometimes a "like" is enough for all our friends to receive immediately a notification that we have found something that is relevant for us. It is therefore advisable to take some precautions before you give credit to everything that appears on your page, but above all, before sharing information with our "friends" on the network. Communication experts advise that we pay attention to the veracity of the information and verify first-hand sources, especially when the dignity and, even more, the life of a person depends on the news. If in doubt, do not repeat the message.
Before we replicate a particular news item on our page, we must be aware of the consequences that the position we have taken in its regard entails for our "network of friends". If we want to be considered trustworthy people, we are obliged not to follow the logic of confusion and despair, and even less to spread fear among people. As producers and multipliers of information, our goal is always to follow the logic of respect and truth. As the Holy Father says: "For there to be peace in a community, in a family, in a country and in the world, we must begin to be with the Lord. Because where the Lord is present ... there is fraternity. We ask this of the Lord, that we may never kill a neighbour with our tongue."