“The best comment is apt to be regarded as ‘public opinion,’ but it is untrustworthy”
A few months ago, there was an assault scandal of a celebrity. The press reported that the celebrity was drunk in the university classroom after drama shooting and there was a little skirmish with students. A person wrote a comment that he actually saw the incident, mentioning his real name and the university. This comment was selected as the ‘best comment’ being recommended by over 1000 people. But after all, it turned out that it was a made up story. There was no one by that name in the university he claimed to attend.
‘Best comment’ is the comment recommended by the majority of people among the comments posted to the article in the website. The comment selected is listed on the top of the comment column and shown to majority of people who read the article. The best comment is apt to be regarded as a “public opinion”, but it is untrustworthy that whether the best comment is reliable and can be considered as a public opinion or not.
“The best comment is not the real ‘fact’ verified by specialists but the ‘opinion’ recommended by many netizens...Thus it is possible that the fraud or false information is turned into the fact by large number of recommendations. ”
The best comment is not the real “fact” verified by specialists but the “opinion” recommended by many netizens. It is just selected by number of recommendations of ordinary people and by their subjective perspectives. Thus it is possible that the fraud or false information is turned into the fact simply by large “number” of recommendations.
Furthermore, the writer has to reveal his real name according to the website’s regulations but recommender doesn’t have to expose him or herself. Anonimity in the internet world guarantees the freedom of speaking one’s opinion out loud but at the same time, responsibility which comes from revealing one’s identity disappears. The netizens can choose any comment he or she prefers hiding themselves.
Although it is the comment empathized with a great number of people, but the content, writer and supporters are unconfirmed by any specialist.
Not to make the harmful consequences of cyber anonymity that have cornered many people into a deadly situation occur again, not only the writer but also the other netizens have to select the comment with the critical consciousness and responsibility rather than going along with the crowd.