Dear online bully,
Last night, before sleeping, I checked my Twitter account again out of habit. I came across a tweet by my favourite journalist and went through the trail of abuses you had left for her.
That rape threat you wrote sent shivers down my body. I tried to imagine you writing it, but I couldn’t. I guess people like you have no face after all.
I noticed how you and your friends trolled a celebrity for wearing a short elegant dress. You asked her if she had no money left to buy clothes or if she was showing skin to attract the likes of you. After a never ending debate on women’s safety, feminism and society, when I see you expressing your preposterous views with such confidence, I realise my debates with my friends and colleagues are futile. It is really not your fault – it’s mine.
You read it right – it is all my fault. Every time I react to a nasty, distasteful comment from you, it’s my fault; every time I reply back to you with a defensive remark, it is my fault.
I still remember reading the news of a girl who gave in to your harassment and took her life. I remember reading news about Hindu and Muslim women alike, about teenage boys, school girls, celebrities and so many others whom you tried to attack and threaten behind the veil of anonymity, from the comfort of your bed. But it wasn’t your fault. It was their fault – just like me, they were at fault too.
It is our fault that we fail to understand that you are nothing but an embodiment of insecurities which you vent out on people to satisfy your ego. You crave attention, you lack empathy. You thrive by demeaning others, you feel victorious by insulting others. You are weak – and I pity you.
From today onward, it won’t matter if you feel I am too fat; it won’t matter if you think I am a terrible singer; it won’t matter if you think I’m not ‘man’ enough; it won’t matter if you think I’m ‘anti-national’; it won’t matter if you think I’m a whore; it won’t matter if you think I’m not good enough; it won’t matter if you feel I’m ugly; it doesn’t matter if you think I’m a failure; it doesn’t matter if you think I’m pretentious; it doesn’t matter if you don’t accept my sexuality; it doesn’t matter if you question my choices; it doesn’t matter if you think I’m not a good mother; it doesn’t matter if you think I cannot wear pink; it doesn’t matter if you find my short dress vulgar; it doesn’t matter if you think I’m not religious enough; it doesn’t matter if you think I’m not patriotic; it doesn’t matter if you say I lack morals. It doesn’t matter because you do not matter. An invisible, feeble and scared person like you cannot drag me down.
I promise you today on behalf of all those people who love to speak their mind, who talk about their lives and express themselves on this space, that you won’t matter to us. We will not return the hate you give, we will not reciprocate. We will not let your negativity get to us. We will brush you off like the speck of dust you are.
You write whatever you like, I’m equipped with my weapons. I’ll delete, block and move on. This space is mine and I will win this time.
Yours truly,
Internet user