What happens when you put your contact details out for help amid the pandemic?
People praise you — thank you for being a good samaritan and help you as much as they can!
So… what happens when a girl or a woman put her contact details out for help?
Well, well… before you guess, check these few tweets out!
Yeah, you see, all men aren’t bad… but some are!!
In a time when the pandemic is at a fight with people — when the leaders have left us all alone and the hospitals are running out of oxygens and beds — there are some people who are just not able to stop thinking from their genitals!
A sick environment is responsible for the sick mentalities around, but what would someone do when half the country is sick both physically and mentally?
“A lot of good samaritans came forward to help out and give me contacts. A few friends helped me get the word out by asking some influential contacts to post on my behalf. And my number was circulated. That’s when the issues began. In a day, I got multiple video calls, so fast in succession that I couldn’t find a few seconds to block. It was wildly violating my space,” wrote Mumbai-based writer Shasvathi Siva on her Twitter page describing the horror she went through — only because she thought of helping and battling the pandemic.
What’s the end to this?
“A guy updated his ex’s phone number on an editable Covid information list just for revenge. The girl broke down after a while, and the patients got false hope and ended up wasting time and energy. This is the sad state of evilness in such upsetting times,” wrote another Twitter user, Aanchal Agrawal.
And this is not it. There would be innumerable of such stories — untold, unshared and unreported.
To avoid such a horror experience, NS Nappinai, advocate, Supreme Court and founder of Cyber Saathi, shares, “almost in every household there is a minimum of two phone numbers. Give out your brother’s number, or someone else’s number or even the hospital’s number. Look at the alternative, which is the least personal. Also, put a date on the message. There might be a chance that it will not get circulated beyond that date. They just have to be cautious.”
That’s what Shasvathi only says,
My advice to all women is to not put numbers on a public forum. The stress isn’t worth it. As much as I wish we could live freely, we really cannot. Rather use a male friend/dad/brother’s numbers.
“The people who take advantage of such situations don’t understand the seriousness of it. They think they pulled a fast one on somebody. It is important, therefore, to nip such depraved actions in the bud through the legal process. I still have sick family and friends, that’s where my focus is,” she added.
“When dealing with such Covid related requirements and services, please stick to the verified portals for help — registered NGOs or authorised government agencies. Even now, the government agencies are sharing the contact details of various legitimate vendors on social media, so please check for whether they are verified and legit sources or not,” said Prathamesh Sonsurkar, cybersecurity expert and founder of WhiteHack OPC.
Too much gyan from too many people?
Well, this is the reality — sad, and it is going to take a lot of time to get fixed.
Women are advised to be cautious by themselves.
Look for safer options. Look for a secure way of sharing information about the pandemic. And do not share any important and personal details online. While there are too many needy people around us, there are a few perverts wandering as well!!
To register a complaint against online harassment, visit https://cybercrime.gov.in.