Watch this video, first:
And then, this (warning: his smile is incredibly creepy and disconcerting!):
Then, read this piece from BuzzFeed India: This Video Of An Indian Girl Confronting Her Alleged Harasser On A Flight Is Going Viral
(Pic courtesy, BuzzFeed India)
Now, read this *entirely hypothetical* (meaning, ‘imaginary’) piece on the aftermath of this incident. There is no sarcasm, no taking-sides and no humor in the piece at all – none intended whatsoever. It is penned to merely illustrate multiple sides of this incident.
—
****FICTION****
Bhubaneshwar, February 3, 2015.
In a shocking twist to the IndiGo Airlines episode from Bhubaneshwar, the man accused of harassing the girl in the flight was found dead in his home. The police told the press that it was a case of suicide.
“The man perhaps felt intensely humiliated by the video of him going viral on the internet and that may be the reason why he decided to end his life. We’re still investigating the case, however”, said Sub-inspector Mahapatra.
The man’s daughter was inconsolable and angrily reacted to our reporter seeking time to speak to her. She shouted at him, “Who was that girl to take law into her own hands? Why didn’t she complaint to the authorities like she should have?”.
A female reporter from the group of media persons stationed outside the man’s home reacted instantly with, ‘Tell me, <name>, would you have acted in the same manner? Don’t you think such perpetrators would get away easily if all of us follow standard protocols like complaining to poilce? Isn’t that why we need newer ways to tackle such a disgusting menace by men?”
The man’s daughter was silent and did not offer any response. After a few seconds, she started crying and sat down wearily, crying all the while, until her mother ushered her inside the home and shut the door.
**** STILL… FICTION****
Social media was ready to offer a lot more views on the topic, however.
Twitter user #1 said, “The bastard deserves to die. Such lives are pointless anyway”.
Twitter user #2 added, “Seriously, we need such swift methods of justice. Can’t expect outmoded, slow forms of justice to help us anymore!”
Another Twitter user, #3, countered, “But, what if the man had not intended anything and if all this was a mistake? Then…”
But he was cut short quickly with another user, #4, who said, “But haven’t you seen the 2 videos in question? The man was clearly trying to hide his face. That indicates shame – meaning, he is ashamed of what he did? If that doesn’t nail his guilt, I don’t know what does!”
Twitter user #1 continued, “Oh yes. Those 2 videos were crystal clear. Why waste the time of courts or poilce to delay justice in such obvious cases? What she did was perfect – that video made all the difference and helped close a disgusting episode quickly”.
Twitter user #3: “But, is there no benefit of doubt at all? After all we just saw the girl’s 2 videos, we haven’t even heard the man talking prope…”
But #2 cut #3 short with, “C’mon, that 2nd video is mighty obvious. He is clearly seen apologising profusely and even called his act a mistake. That says everything right? See it from a psychological perspective. If he did that unintentionally, he’d have been apologising in a different way, no?”
#1 added, “Indeed. He’d have put a valiant fight to clear his name, I guess. Instead, he was meek all the way. Clearly points to his guilt.”
Twitter user #5: “But guys, if a woman is shouting at you in full public glare, how can a man defend himself? The crowd support would usually be with the girl, right?”
#1: “Are you nuts? It takes immense guts for a woman to speak up like this in public. No woman in her sane mind would drag her own name to a situation like this. It’s our meek and submissive attitude that such creeps exploit to continue harassing us in public!”
#2: “You bet! Twitter users #3 and #5, please do not go around with your counter theories supporting a creep like this man. He’s dead, and for a good reason. He himself is to be blamed for his death.”
#5: “But who gave that girl the right to take law into her own hands?”
#2: “What law? What hands? All she did was post a video of someone who harassed her in public! If he can do that in public, she can expose him in public too, right?”
#5: “Yes, but then, he is dead now. We’re discussing that, remember?”
#1: “He deserves it, in my opinion. And that’s entirely his prerogative to take his life. But hey, what’s your intent in questioning her action? Victim-shaming? You mean she shouldn’t have exposed the pervert?”
#3: “No, did I ever say that? All I’m asking is, when did public shaming became a method of delivering instant justice? Are there rules in who can use it and who cannot? What are the situations for the usage and by…”
#1: “Sheesh, stop it! What are you up to? There’s a girl who has been harassed in public and you’re talking motherhood, societal theories? How lame can you get?”
#5: “But #1, isn’t there some logic in what #3 is asking? In the absence of rules or established understanding on who can use public shaming, now that every person on the street has a camera, and for what, doesn’t that warrant a debate?”
#1: “It may, but I suspect your intentions when you bring that up ONLY for this incident, when a lone girl is harassed in public!”
#5: “Fair enough, but we did discuss this when the Rohtak Girls video went viral and you recall how it turned out? We still do not know the truth and it is split right in the middle – some alleging that the girls staged it and the rest saying they are victimized for speaking up and acting on the issue.”
#1: “I agree, but everytime a girl gets the courage to expose a pervert in public, you guys come with your larger-issue bull and crap, and it further helps the perverts to act with courage and do more harm. Don’t you realize that?”
#3 and #5: “Yes, we get that. Sorry.”
****FICTION ENDS****
Related, must-see: The first episode from Season 1 of the 2011 British TV series, Black Mirror (Warning: deeply disturbing theme, though not graphic visuals)