Internet trolling is a unfortunate but unavoidable reality born out of the evolution of the internet and the way it has given voice to the voiceless; anonymous voices at that. People who have hateful, hurtful things to say are now able to express themselves without shame or the fear of consequences because they are sheltered by the very internet that gives them a voice. Though I am not much of a Karan Johar fan his letter to trolls resonated with me; not because I have been the victim of trolling but because I am so familiar with the futility and the obnoxiousness of rude arguments, ad hominem attacks and sheer nastiness that populates the net today. I think every voice of hate, nastiness and cruelty should read the letter.
The letter expresses a touching vulnerability
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Though Karan Johar is one of the most well known celebs in the country, he admits to having many emotional problems, feeling sad, lonely and unhappy in spite of admittedly being among the most privileged of people. He also admits that he sees a therapist, something that most Indians would prefer to carry to their grave as a secret. While never speaking directly about his sexual orientation (a subject that people to find endlessly fascinating for some reason) he is frank about the fact that he is perceived as effeminate. He even pokes fun at his own perpetual pout and the fact that his dancing has far more enthusiasm than skill.
It shares pain
Apparently he has grown used to being addressed as “chhakka” and being greeted each morning with a “gay ma*****od, good morning”. Apparently “chup kar ch***ye” is something he gets all the time along with some more choice appellations. Any human would feel sympathy for someone who is so routinely vilified; wouldn’t you? And for what – looking, talking and behaving a way that doesn’t sit well with the common perception of ‘normal’?
How sad that incomprehension and ignorance; and perhaps a deep-seated envy for what is seen as undeserved privilege, translate so easily into an unreasoning hate and unhesitating vituperation. How pathetic that so many feel the need to wound and injure others to validate their own perhaps inconsequential existence? How refreshing that all the hate and the nastiness are countered with some very hard won indifference.
Karan Johar comes across as nice
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The letter written by Karan Johar to his trolls made me well up with sympathy and understanding and then it made us want to cheer for the way he came to terms with it (as many of his friends did). It made me want to say good for you even though I remain unimpressed by some of films he produces as well as the sort of TV show he is a part of.
Trolls, it is OK to be unimpressed, it is also OK to dislike and it is even OK to share this in a civilized manner. But to let hatred rule what one thinks and says; to be vicious, attacking and abusive to another human being; a nice human being, is just sad.
Author – Reena Daruwalla
