2016 May 24
by Yasonil Piyatissa
Before you continue reading, please answer this: Who died and made you the Simon Cowell of Dineth’s American Idol like life?
The average Lankans Facebook home page has been jam-packed with Dineth’s videos, pictures and posts these past couple of weeks and I’m willing to bet my life on the fact that nearly every one of them had a degrading hate comment attached to it. What was first thought to be a little playful banter being jostled around has now escalated into people actually demanding him to end his life. I guess he deserved such hate because what he loves to do isn’t ‘normal’ right? (Note the overload of sarcasm) For those of you who haven’t already realised this, what is considered to be ‘normal’ by various people is merely a social construct. It’s an abstract idea cultivated through each individual’s experiences. For example, not too long ago inter-racial marriages were shunned (just like some shunned Dineth) based on the most illogical of reasons making it an abnormal act. Now the idea of that having been such a significant issue seems so silly because suddenly it’s as normal as can get. Just because it’s not your ‘usual scene’ that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Nikki Minaj suffocating the camera with her huge bottom is absolutely acceptable for a music video but a teenager wearing some shades and swaying around isn’t? His actions in no way have been harmful and yet here we are acting like what he’s doing is some form of social destruction. It appears to be that some of us derive some cruel satisfaction from unnecessarily hurting another.
You’re tax money isn’t spent on the production of his videos and neither do you even have to choreograph his dance moves. You don’t even have a malfunctioning computer that forcefully plays his videos without your permission. So, we can admit that Dineth’s music in no way affects you but it makes you feel uncomfortable because he’s not what you consider to be the coolest artist out there… Some have actually even gone to the extent of calling him “mentally retarded”. (I wasn’t aware that such a large proportion of our country was qualified enough to just randomly diagnose people using the ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’.) It is common decency to refrain from labeling people in a manner that can have an adverse effect on them. There’s a thin line between sanity and insanity and you wouldn’t want to be the person who pushed someone over the edge just because you also wanted to join the crowd and insult him for doing the exact opposite and standing out. Didn’t your parents tell you that we could be anything we wanted? If so, then who are we to tell Dineth otherwise and ask him to “plz stop singing”? For a country that’s said to be so full of culture many of you who are a part of the Sri Lankan youth have been acting like quite the uncultured lot. While his videos may tickle your funny bone it most definitely did not deserve such a narrow minded and prejudiced reaction. This great advice and feedback you’re trying to give him by asking him to kill himself has room to be a little more constructive. Offering a well-reasoned opinion in a friendly manner is what will help Dineth while changing our society to one that’s more enlightened at the same time. Hate videos and hate comments are of no use to anyone unless people thrive on another’s sorrow as if it’s some kind of sick ambrosia to them. Social media platforms give us the massive opportunity of making dreams come true and exploring the world, then why are we using it to murder dreams and restrict others instead? Of course you are entitled to your opinion just like Dineth and many others like him are entitled to their freedom of expression. Accordingly, abusing someone isn’t giving your opinion while simultaneously also do not have the right to try and take that freedom of expression away.
Note to Dineth: Sing like there’s no tomorrow. And let me tell you a secret, I’d rather video myself mumbling the words to Work by Rihanna any day rather than hide behind my smartphone and act like I’m better than the rest of the world. While most of us can’t even handle the stage fright of having to be a tree in our school play here you are singing without a care in the world and embracing yourself like a boss! You are the true Lankan symbol of ‘YOLO’ because you’re the only teenager who has managed to be courageous enough to take on the world in such an unexpected manner. Thank you for reminding everyone else that it’s okay to be who we really are. You go, Dineth! Be your own cheerleader and work work work.
