Cyber Manhunt in Hong Kong

Do you know there is a “Cyber Manhunt Team” which tracks down Hongkongers’ private life through internet media?

…Or so the rumor said. It’s only a running gag originates from the “Hong Kong Golden Forum”.

That team may not truly exist, but this “cyber manhunt” (網上起底) behavior is real.

“Manhunt” is a term originally used by police, referring to the search of background information of an objective person. With the progress of internet and technology, and more people sharing their lives on social media, cyber manhunt became a popular method to hunt for personal information by the netizens in 21st century.

This kind of personal data collecting is different from those done by companies for business promotion, since the aim of the hunt is supposed to “bring the target to justice”.

It’s true that most of the time, it’s the immoral and unfair issues that were brought to the cyber trial, like the famous “Uncle Bus Incident”, “Kong Girl” hitting a child and some animal abuse cases. Some scholars think that it is a way for the stressful Hongkongers to voice out their dissatisfaction in lives and to acquire their own sense of justice by punishing those who act inappropriately.

However, there are lots of criticisms saying that, this behavior is just basing one’s happiness on others’ suffering. Some other scholars blame the “cyber judges” for they enjoy seeing the victims’ embarrassment and pain (from their daily lives being revealed), and that they are only hypocrites trying to make themselves look morally superior by teasing the “less moral” victims.

Though, I am kind of neutral on this issue.

As suggested above, some people really deserve to be criticized on the internet even though what they have done is totally legal. (Yeah, I am one of those self-righteous hypocrites)

The only problem is, in my opinion, what should be considered as “right” or “wrong”?

What gives us the power to decide whether someone has done something bad?

What standard do we base on when we make that judgment?

If these questions don’t even come to our minds when judging others, then…we are no better than kangaroos.