Beware the power of the internet....

Guess this warning is repeated too often but nobody cares about it until it hits them. But a real story that happened during this week reminds us all not to be too yaya papaya behind the computer screen.

For starters if you have yesterday's Straits Times (040407) then may I refer you the first page of Home section.

The story goes like this... In late 2005, a young man took a MAZDA MX5 for a test drive along Upp Paya Lebar Rd. He flipped the car, crashed it into the opp direction road and in the process killed the young female SE. Time passed by and nothing was heard about the case.

However, recently, this driver went onto an online forum and opened a thread discussing about GOLF GTi vs WRX STi as he was considering changing his car. Nobody knew who that nick was and contributed comments but alas someone from the forum knows the female SE who died and recognised the nick of the thread starter. This guy was perhaps incensed that this guy still had not been brought to justice and was even thinking of changing to another performance ride. Thus he started another thread to remind people of this tragic incident. Initially the driver's details was not revealed but through trawling the internet, forumners unearthed his personal details like photo, home add, work place add, hp number, model of car he drives and even licence plate number. The thread soon spread to other forums like hardwarezone and was eventually picked up by a Straits Times journalist and led to the article today.

The GOLF vs WRX thread

Read the Straits Times Report in this thread

(The thread that the friend started was deleted by moderators...)

I am very uncomfortable with the amount of witch hunting that one can easily do in this internet day and age. Just like the girl in the "elitist" debate a few months ago, one's personal information can easily be dug up if one is determined/bo liao enough to go and trawl through the net. However what makes this case a bit special is that the guy probably dug his own grave... no matter whether he had been convicted of any wrongdoing or not.

Most people misunderstand that the intention is to witch hunt this guy but that is not the main bone of contention. The main issue is that starting a thread to ask which performance car to buy when you cannot even handle a good car like the MX5? Doesn't really show that one is guilty after causing such a tragedy... His various other posts also exhibit that he is still rather reckless and a racer wannabe. Nobody is denying he has the legal right to buy another car but a normal person with conscience would probably think twice about buying a performance car, much less discuss it online. Secondly, why wasn't his driving licence suspended while investigations are still ongoing? If I speed above 60km/h above the speed limit I would be hauled to court immediately, what more flipping a car into the opposite lane and causing 1 death? And why are the investigations taking so long? Surely people's memory would fade the further the time taken?

With the power of the internet, more and more of such things will happen, and this hopefully will make people think twice about posting too much personal information online. Things would also be harder and harder to "sweep under the carpet". So if you have done something wrong, it is wiser to keep a low profile and repent...

I sincerely hope that the investigations can be closed ASAP and the punishment given. RIP to the female SE who died and condolences to the family of the deceased. It probably is painful for them to have this reminded all over again....