Many Veterans have now turned into excellent Centre Forwards – not in the game of Soccer- but on social media.  They forward anything and everything they receive including some of their personal messages; without realising that the group or person to whom one is sending has already received the very same wisdom from someone with a faster finger. The speed at which their finger moves on their mobile screen is akin to applying lime on a betel leaf. In effect, they glance and never read.

The tendency to forward messages on social media could be to prove to themselves that they are Virtually Alive.  They tend to forward every kind of message without thinking of its consequences. Most of the messages they forward are far from the truth and are from unreliable/ unverified sources.  They are unaware that the truth travels at the speed of sound whereas fakes travel at the speed of light.

Forwarding someone else’s message is plagiarism and a copyright violation.  Forwarding a fake or incorrect message is a crime.  In 2018, Madras High Court rejected the anticipatory bail of a journalist-turned-party leader for his allegedly derogatory Facebook post on women journalists. The judge noted “Forwarding a message is equal to accepting the message and endorsing the message.”

In another case of fake social media messages in 2020, Justice N Seshasayee remarked, “Mine would be the first vote for freedom of expression. But irresponsible, unverified and unsubstantiated social media posts cannot be tolerated.”

Social media is highly addictive and habit forming. In one’s spare time or breaks between our day-to-day tasks, many are trying to be Centre Forwards on social media.  The time they should have spent with their family or friends, engaging in a conversation, pursuing a hobby, reading, exercising etc are wasted by being a Centre Forward. A sure way to kill whatever creativity left in you.

The Centre Forwards on two Whatsapp groups I am a member of, were my superior officers – Majors, Colonels, Brigadiers and Generals – who were either my commanders or my instructors during many army courses I attended.  As Cadets at the Academies, we had to come up with ingenious ideas to escape the prying eyes of our instructors.  As young Lieutenants, we were asked to be innovative.  As Captains we had to be unconventional and unorthodox.  As Majors we had to think out-of-the-box and be imaginative.  As Commanding Officers our senior commanders expected us to be enterprising and insightful.

Many of these superior officers who wanted me to be Original and outthink the enemy are now spectacular Centre Forwards on Whatsapp.  One Veteran Brigadier even justified being a Centre Forward and gave a detailed argument supporting it akin to the use of faculty notes (pinks) by student officers during various army courses. Our academy coursemates, many of whom were instructors at various military institutions and commanders at various levels, are now exceptional Centre Forwards.

In both the Whatsapp groups, it is 99% forwards with 1% original content.  These Centre Forwards were never creative while in the army and continue to be so post retirement.  Many of these Centre Forwards pass the ball without even reading it, analysing it and evaluating its relevance and truth. They carry out blind passes, many times ending in scoring self-goals.

In this age of unparalleled transparency, it is impossible for anyone to disown a statement or opinion expressed on these public forums. Every netizen is both accountable and responsible for all their actions on social media.  Any post once made, becomes the ‘property’ of the social media.  Even if you delete or edit the original post, the original remains somewhere. 

The new generation in Canada do not want any of their photographs posted or tagged showing them smoking, drinking or partying as they feel that their prospective employers might dig into the social media.  Some political leaders are now haunted by some innocent photos of their youth that their friends posted on social media.

These Centre Forwards do not realise that their unverified and unsubstantiated forwards raise many questions about their credibility – if they had any while in service.  The most important aspect regarding communication is the credibility and trust your friends and the society bestows on you, especially as a Veteran.  While forwarding any mail or making any posts or comments, ensure that this trust is never betrayed.

When in Doubt, Do Not Post It, Always Throw it Out. Never become a Centre Forward.

If you do not read the messages on social media, you are uninformed. If you read them, you are misinformed.  Courtesy Mark Twain