SCMP: Is Hong Kong ready for reconciliation? The writing is on Facebook walls
Originally published on SCMP on 6th July 2020
A new era has dawned in Hong Kong. Perhaps the only good news is that there were no new locally transmitted Covid-19 cases for at least 17 days. But all sorts of news, speculation and hearsay plagues the city and my ears. As someone graduating this year, I am filled with despair and pessimism.
In the past weeks, I have had the chance to talk to people from different walks of life. Much of the “news” and “facts” thrown across the room had never been heard of by the other side. Based on what they knew, every group I talked to tried to correct those with opposing views, guiding them back onto the “right track”.
This is only natural and reminds me of a good read, The People vs Tech by Jamie Bartlett. Bartlett offers insights into the workings of Trump’s election campaign, Facebook and Cambridge Analytica to highlight how technology has changed politics, or worse, harmed democracy.
The chapter on “tribalism” was exceptionally remarkable. He pointed out how the domination of online news media blinkers each persons’ world view, strengthens our perception of “reality” and diminishes our willingness to listen to opposite views.
We’ve seen tribalism throughout history and it’s nothing to fear. What is worrying is modern society’s thirst for speed, which has made us relinquish the need to digest information. We’ve forgotten there are ideas outside our comfort zone and the importance of listening to them. But that’s how our brains work.
It seems to me that the world has been plunged into a kind of religious fanaticism. That’s nothing to fear either, if we live in a place where we get to choose what we read, and people are principled and virtuous.
Coming back to Hong Kong, I’ve recently heard the question being asked: does reconciliation have a chance? The answer is written on Facebook walls. There are no signs that power players are toning down their provocative rhetoric, especially now, at the height of the election cycle. We need, but perhaps do not deserve, reconciliation.
Even as efforts are on to find a way out, we must stay alert and take any information we receive with a pinch of salt.
Gordon Choi, Wong Tai Sin
