What does it tell about us when many go berserk over a tweet?

May 2021… it was the worst summer for India in the recent history.

Not because of a deadly heat wave. But due to the second wave of COVID. Many people who contracted the virus were dying of cardiac attack, pneumonia, or a handful of other complications.

On 4th of that month, I almost did.

It started with a call which informed me about a tweet that was going viral. It was a death hoax on Lucky Ali. Reading it almost gave me a heart attack.

I immediately called his nephew and got assurance that he is healthy and fine. I then logged into my twitter handle and passed on the message to many tweeples who were raising a hue and cry.

That day, I experienced the diabolical effects of social media. That day, I realized all it takes is a tweet to make a large population believe what’s not true.

Two years, six months, and 25 days later I came across a tweet that created the same effect. It wasn’t the tweet per se but the replies and criticisms it received.

The tweet was:

Most of replies written in the harshest possible language were from no random people. Many of them were fans who didn’t think twice to hurl the worst abusive words at one of their favorite musicians. Fans, who, one day, could have been a part of our social media community and extended family — The Lucky Ali Fans’ Club.

They didn’t think twice why the legendary musician tweeted it in the first place. The ‘what’ became far more important than the ‘why.’

His religious identity became far more prominent than the person he is and everything he has done for the country and its people.

Does a Muslim wanting to go to Palestine always mean that he or she wants to join the ongoing war?

Can it not mean that the person wants to advocate peace?

Can it not mean that the person wants to ease the sufferings of the innocent who are the worst sufferers in the war?

Can it not mean that the person wants to offer aid and support to those affected by the conflict?

Can it not mean that the person intends to build bridges and dialogues between two warring parties?

Won’t you be willing to volunteer in a country (if you have the guts, means, and resources) that’s been ravaged by a natural calamity? You may hate Palestine’s government and military all you want. But you cannot hate its common people. That’s evil.