Viewpoint: Saying it like it is, or not

There's a new Facebook page I came across yesterday, called 'Things Kilcullen People Don't Say', writes Brian Byrne.

It disturbs me.

The idea behind it is that anyone can make a statement, the generally perceived truth of which is exactly the reverse of what is said. An example: 'Thankfully the lane to the Eurospar carpark is wide, allowing for cars to drive freely in and out without hassle'. Of course, anybody who uses the Back Lane knows this to be false.

Though there are only 20 posts on the page as I write this, it has already attracted more than 730 'Likes' since the first one on December 3.

What disturbs me is the fact that seven of the 'statements' are about people. A number of them referred to by their nicknames. In more than a few instances poking 'fun' at them. Not always in a nice way.

The operation of the page is anonymous, though external contributors are identified by their Facebook handles. And of course, all the 'Likes' under each post have names. But there's no obvious RI — responsible individual — for the page or for the 'seed' statements generated.

An inference in one post is potentially actionable, in my view. Others are simply the equivalent of chalking a nasty comment on a wall. A couple are actually saying nice things about their subject, in the backwards way of the page.

It could quickly get out of hand. The participants, and the subjects, are adults, but the ethos smacks too close to school playground bullying of the weak or the different. We are all too well aware of tragic consequences which have resulted from things like that even before the age of digital intimidation.

Maybe I'm taking this too seriously. Perhaps it's too early in the morning and I'm cranky (though normally those two things don't happen together in my space).

Still, saying it straight instead of backwards, there's stuff on the page that makes me seriously uncomfortable.