No, CNN Did Not Praise Filipinos

11-9-2013 2-39-46 PM

The above image of a CNN comment has gone viral. At this writing, it has been liked by 12,555 users, shared by 3,768. And that’s just the version shared by Gloc-9. There are surely other versions going around, and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that by the end of the day, the post will have been viewed by millions.

I’m sure that many will be uplifted by such an image, and when tragedies like Haiyan happen, people will use anything as a source of inspiration. But that can be a problem. Especially when the source is not completely true.

Most of the people who will see the inspirational image will take it out of context. Because in most cases, it is presented without any. The average social media user will see it and think, “CNN, one of the most prestigious news organizations in the world, thinks Filipinos are special. Cool.”

But CNN didn’t praise Filipinos in this way. We have a commenter named “dudesk001” to thank for that:

11-9-2013 2-38-42 PM

Suddenly the statement becomes a lot less noteworthy. If the comment from the CNN article were shared this way, the image would probably be less popular — especially without the CNN logo prominently displayed.

This misattribution may be harmless, but it is still wrong in principle. Imagine if a racist comment in the same thread were shared in the same way, making it seem that CNN was critical of Filipinos. The post would also go viral, but in this instance, more would point out this important detail: CNN said no such thing; it was just some random commenter.

I also find it interesting how the comment was revised before it was shared on social media. The original comment went, “Filipinos will just shake off the dirt from their clothes and thongs and go about their business.” In the sanitized version, there were no thongs.

Another detail that deserves more attention is how the comment says that being hit by a supertyphoon is somehow a privilege. Given the mounting reports of damages and casualties, few would agree, and many would even think that such an idea was perverted.

Some users have criticized this detail as they commented on the image or shared it themselves, but I’m sure their sentiments won’t get as many likes or shares. In a time when many need heroes and hope, the one who pokes holes in positive things could be seen as the villain.

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11-9-2013 3-49-20 PMIt’s images like this that deserve more likes and shares.

13 comments

  1. Filipinos don’t complain and just move on instead of forcing the government to take more precautions and be more prepared next time. This is why nothing gets better in the Philippines, only worse – sorry.

  2. People/CNN saying having a disaster in the Philippines is a privilege to Filipino’s. I say you have the privilege to die right now and consider that a lucky gift from which you believe who made you. I’ll call it quits. -.- Filipino’s might have the advantage of looking for a brighter tomorrow after a disaster, but this is not a reason to have us suffer and call it a privilege. This is just an excuse in a way you are saying “Thank God my Country wasn’t affected by the typhoon”.

  3. Instead of focusing on CNN’s name and how people would understand this tiny detail, people, PLEASE HELP US.

    People have been creating ways on how to help Central Visayas. Please spread the word that we need goods, aid, etc.

  4. what’s wrong with thongs?

    Also, the word privilege has been quoted since commenter is using it in a different way, on how an optimist looks at this kind of burden.

    Let’s just appreciate people looking up to Filipinos, and not burst out and complain with your own racial stereotype.

  5. Don’t be ridiculous. We don’t need heroes. It’s our damn obsession with heroes that keeps us passive to begin with. Sometime we just have to clean up our messes by ourselves.

  6. Well, it’s true anyway. Inspirational as it may be, we also have to know that Filipinos don’t alway have to live this way. We can praise ourselves all we want but the truth is, certain choices have also led us to this never-ending catastrophe that we are experiencing right now. If only the Filipinos can use that spirit to thunder down on the supposed “leaders” of this country who have never invested a single cent on this place except when it benefits them, then perhaps we can be on the right track towards using that indomitable spirit to rise up, and definitively this time around instead of just passively waiting for the next storm or earthquake to show up.

  7. It’s clear that it came from someone other than CNN… it say: “SUPER TYPHOON HAIYAN HITS THE PHILIPPINES; BEST COMMENT Posted in CNN website by: Dudukes001″…These freethinkers and/or atheists are just sour grapes… “Idiom Definitions for ‘Sour grapes’
    When someone says something critical or negative because they are jealous, it is a case of sour grapes.”

    • Back up the bus! I’m an atheist (an American one even) and I liked the original quote enough to take the whole thing and make it a new graphic I uploaded. I did so because I thought it was shitty that the quote had been edited to not include some of that person’s words. Sorry to bust your bubble, but an atheist can like the comment just as much as anyone else can.

      • i don’t see how atheism has anything to do with this post. all that’s being pointed out is that the quote is not an official statement from CNN despite how the image makes it look like one.

  8. Dude!!! WTF!!! you guys are thinking too much that it makes you paranoid!!! Thongs! We have natives still wearing thongs! And can’t we make a wrong choice of words and correct it if we find it unsuitable?… Sometimes you guys are such a pooper… That post gave a different inspiration to more than 12k people. Its already pride that we can have this down time after a great storm and you guys still want to rain on that? Hahaha

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