‘Instant fame’ is not worth endangering yourself
This is an extremely important move from Dubai’s Environment, Health and Safety Control Authority (“Local order against daredevil selfie takers”, Gulf News, March 21). They are curbing the recent craze of ‘selfie-adventurists’ doing dangerous stunts on top of high-rise structures. Not only is this a death-defying act, but also creates negative motivation for others to follow and receive ‘instant fame’ on social media.
In fact, people don’t just perform these kinds of stunts in Dubai alone – it happens everywhere. In one of my trips to Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, I witnessed a family encouraging children to jump repeatedly from the guard rails for a picture-perfect opportunity, while someone else kept clicking pictures on their camera. This happy excursion could have become tragic any time one of them fell down the side of a steep slope. I hope there will be more awareness programs to constantly alert and remind people of any imminent danger. Safety should be our priority at all times.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
UAE
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Hard to handle
Nowadays, there is too much peer pressure in academics (“3 tragedies in 3 years shock students”, Gulf News, March 22). Children are not able to handle it. A few minds are made that way – not everyone is strong enough to deal with so much pressure. So, I would ask all parents to please talk to your teenage children. Failing is okay, losing your life isn’t.
From Ms Sameena Syed
UAE
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Critical thinking
Maybe we should look at the exam system and culture. Not everyone is suited to exams. Perhaps it is time to look at written assignments on set topics, which more often than not, reveals children’s ability for critical thinking and can be an eye-opener for change.
From Ms Teresa Ali
UAE
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Change in mindset
More than children, I think parents need counselling. Some parents put a lot of pressure on children to study.
From Mr Prakash Manokumpuzha Jacob
Dubai
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Wrong focus
Sadly, all this happening mostly because parents seem to concentrate only on their children’s grades rather than their actual growth and development as individuals. I hope the authorities will spread awareness regarding this matter, so that they can help save the lives of the next generation.
From Ms Joy Fatima Octaviano
UAE
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New-age parenting
No doubt, a lot has changed (“Speak Your Mind: Modern motherhood”, Gulf News, March 24). Perhaps due to people’s needs, or in order to build a career, it has become a necessity for many mothers to work. Experience shows that working women can raise more successful children than some housewives. I am a teacher myself, and have a three-year-old daughter.
From Ms Shafaq Maaz
UAE
Barbaric act
And we call ourselves civilised (“Police: Chicago teen apparently gang-raped on Facebook Live”, Gulf News, March 22)? What is this world turning into? People do all sorts of evil for likes and popularity, and there is nothing as bad as a person who watches someone commit a crime without doing anything! I am afraid many people have lost their humanity and this world is meaningless if people no longer have empathy for their fellow human beings. I hope this young girl finds peace, to deal with such a traumatic experience.
From Ms Cassandra Jr Sandra
Dubai
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Ban will have an impact
This is directly going to affect passengers who travel in business and first class (“Daesh bomb plot prompted device ban, claim US officials”, Gulf News, March 23). People traveling on long-haul flights would prefer working on their laptops. This move would force them to travel with western airlines. I think the US government has hit back at Gulf carriers, which they believed were receiving government subsidies and taking away from the competition.
From Mr Mikhail Fernandes
Dubai
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Live and let live
In Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently announced a Rs500 million (Dh17.52 million) fund for the betterment of the Hindu community in Karachi. As a citizen of this nation, this news brought a smile to my face. Even though I have spent very little time in the country, having been raised in the UAE, every time I have visited, I have witnessed a lot of discrimination based on religion. For a change, Sharif is doing something that is praiseworthy. I commend his actions and hope that more people living in this beautiful nation open their eyes and minds to the possibility of coming across someone who may or may not believe in the same things that you do. In this day and age, when many countries around the world are falcing troubles in the form of civil wars, the least we can do is accept each other for who we are. Live and let live.
From Ms Rabia Shahid
Sharjah
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