There is a minor religious war bubbling within the confines of the alarmingly fast-growing Facebook social networking site/programme. It would appear, as a surprise for many it seems, that several Facebook groups are springing up in response to a particularly idiotic original directed specifically towards anti-Islamic rhetoric and generally tasteless commentary (login is required to view the group in question.) For those still living in caves or resisting the Facebook craze, the responding group, imaginatively entitled ‘petiton: if “f**k Islam” is not shut down..we r quitting facebook’, is threatening mass boycotting of Facebook membership if the offending original group does not cease and desist.

The whole matter seemed rather absurd, and thus worthy of my attentions, so I prodded a little deeper. It would seem that inter-user disputes are not at all a problem for the Facebook staff, nor should it rightly be. They make such notice quite clear in their terms agreement:

You are solely responsible for your interactions with other Facebook users. We reserve the right, but have no obligation, to monitor disputes between you and other users.

I should most probably at this point make it clear that I have no care for the anti-Islamic group nor the advocates against. Religious snickery has long since bored me and it amounts to little more than impassioned, ill-conceived responses which are as emotional as they are unhelpful. I don’t care enough about which religious camp best advocates for their specific faith, nor do I give two hoots as to the level of offensiveness this group has achieved. Rather, it is more the practical implications this little Facebook spat may have for the rest of its user base. And in this, I find the consequences are two-fold…

…Now what interests me isn’t the inevitable religious tit-for-tat idiocy that has become endemic of any pro or anti religious arguments across the board, but rather the significance of this particular spat. One the one hand, I find it discouraging for the simple fact that these people posting on these groups, replete with all the illiterate trappings only years spent punching out text messages on cell phones could provide, are largely brainless. Not only are the messages of support or criticisms either sycophantic back-slapping words of solitude with their fellow “brothers” in this most righteous struggle, or ill-judged assaults against various religions, denominations and media groups, designed purely for reaction rather than understanding, they are largely incapable of punching out a full sentence in any semblance of modern day English language. Normally I’d expect a certain level of mediocre writing when any religious cat fight ensues, but it’s truly discouraging to see just how few people in the group (there were well over 30 000 at this point) have any real perspective to add. Alas I weep for my generation if these are its advocates of faith! Here are some of my favourite gems:

firstly no religion encourages violence of any sort so if evry1 was devoted to their religion then the world would not be torn apart by any bnuclear holocaust (that can be left for the USA to do but that’s a whole different topic)

Now aside from the mental image I have of a a caveman-esque struggle to punch out the correct letters to form words, the simplistic candle-waving sentiment is absolutely nauseating. Of course it is Facebook after all, so I don’t expect a hefty discourse on Pan-Arabian water-politics/Britain’s betrayal in WW1/Nazi’s making the Jews suffer more or some equally thought-out idea. I doubt if it would even be welcome in a format such as Facebook. Likewise I doubt the local clergymen, rabbi or cleric spend their office hours browsing the site’s many groups for just such a flashpoint. But I was a little disparaged that there was nothing even remotely interesting or unique being brought forward. And this disappoints me for two reasons. Firstly, I now have the strong suspicion that my generation are idiots, or at least significantly less-conscious of the world’s great struggles than one would hope. It sounds arrogant to say, but then again, I am an exceedingly arrogant fellow, so I’m comfortable with it. But the sheer simplistic forum and discussions ensuing in these groups are so mind-numbingly tired and generic I can’t help but wonder if we are doomed to a generation of such intellectual mediocrity. Again. And secondly, that a group of over thirty thousand educated young minds from all corners of the world, and stretching over many different faith groups, cannot reach some sort of consensus as to whether the original offending group should or shouldn’t be banned. Indeed, even discovering some precious middle ground is impossible. World peace and a land of milk and honey, it would seem I can say with confidence, is at least a generation or two away from realisation if this little demographic slice is anything to go by.

But on the other hand, and more importantly, is just what Facebook’s reaction will be to this petition, which is growing momentum steadily. There is an option to report a group, and indeed Facebook as quoted above can intervene at their discretion, but I have to wonder what banning the original ‘f**k Islam’ group might just mean for the significant freedom of speech and expression allowed through the networking site already. Where one’s friends can have anything from streaming video to huggable ninja baby pet abominations on their profile page, where does one draw the line at acceptable social practice? If this group is banned, it would mean a victory for mass pressure against tastelessness. But it would also mean an unhealthy precedent would be set for the removal of social groups if sufficient resistance is gathered. Obviously the notion of ‘or else we’ll leave Facebook’ is laughable at best, given the incredible popularity of the site. But it would mean that one’s liberty with one’s friends will be diminished significantly.

I’m not supporting anti-Islamic groups or their continued existence, nor am I in favour of such rampant and idiotic lobbying attempts against it. But rather I am for the choice to choose. If these 30 000 vibrant young youths really wanted to surprise the world, they could have reacted with counter-literature, creating groups explaining why ‘f**k Islam’ is so terrible (for those who can’t quite understand why), create groups where such mindless individuals can be verbally put to the torch. Instead, as we have seen when the Danish comic scandal emerged, or when Harry Potter was branded a heathen pagan devil boy, reaction groups spring up with a discordant screech for the banning of the offending material.

Wake up folks, freedom of speech gives you the most potent weapon to protest such blasphemies. It can equip you with precisely what you need to defame your opponents. Running to big brother and tattling only makes you look childish and insecure.

But then again, this is Facebook, a place where childish and insecure are on each other’s ‘best friends forever!’ list.