Don’t let socializing on Facebook jeopardize your relationships

Have we ever thought about Facebook’s disadvantages or the negative sides?

I think, we have. But we didn’t dwell on the thought and moved on. Here’s the danger, some reports have said that Facebook is fast becoming a major factor in marriage conflicts and increasingly being used for a source of evidence in divorce cases.

Interestingly, Facebook is popular among people for the simple reason that it is a means of communication and you can share information in a lot faster manner.

But who thought Facebook has the potential of breaking marriages?

According to an article on ABC news published last year in March, a third of all divorce filings in 2011 contained the word “Facebook,” according to Divorce Online. And more than 80% of US divorce attorneys say social networking in divorce proceedings is on the rise, according to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Having said that, Facebook is made the cause of all the trouble and not the root of the problems per se.

It is said that greater availability of information online through social media has created a variety of problems in relationships at every level. Alright, but why would it matter if the person using Facebook were responsible enough to refrain from making nasty comments about their spouse and to be away from sending inappropriate messages to the members of the opposite sex?

These are little things the users have to focus on when they are using social media. It only takes one insignificant mistake to just ruin a marriage.

I think one should really take social media seriously because one would think their personal profile is not seen or checked by others as they are extra careful about not leaving it off guard. But we are forgetful. You forget once and your luck overcomes you and reveals all your secret to your spouse. Once your spouse finds out about your clandestine acts, chances are that you will lose their trust for life which in effect will jeopardize the relationship. Worse, the marriage will be over.

Maybe, these suggestions are not common to come from a guy. Especially from an unmarried guy at that but these are just my two cents on what I understand about marriage and relationships. You do not need to take me for granted.

Indian deputy Consul general Devyani Khobragade arrest case

The arrest of Indian deputy consul general Devyani Khobragade in New York recently has deeply offended India. The diplomat was arrested for alleged visa fraud.

The IFS officer is accused of giving false information while applying for a visa for a “babysitter and housekeeper” she brought from India, and of underpaying the help.

An article published in Times of India says she had limited immunity as a consular officer and could be arrested only if her crime was grave.

Indian officials are arguing if her offenses were so grave, why was she released later on the $250 bill?

Yes, the charge filed against her was indeed grave. If proven guilty, She could get up to 15 years in jail.

While it is understandable why the US authorities took her into custody, I do to understand why will a middle-level diplomat be humiliated in such a way?

What is most disturbing about the incident is that she was publicly handcuffed, humiliatingly strip searched and kept in a cell with drug addicts after her arrest.

Worse still, she was taken into custody on a street in New York as she was dropping her daughter to school. Meaning she was arrested and handcuffed in front of her daughter.

Being a senior foreign diplomat, she had certain rights and therefore had to be treated with decency. But apparently, the US officials were indifferent to her status as a diplomat.

As expected, the angry Indian government has asked all US Consulate personnel and their families to turn in their ID cards immediately.

Infuriated BJP leader Yashwant Singh said, "The media has reported that we have issued visas to a number of US diplomats' companions. Companions means that they are of the same sex. Now, after the Supreme Court Ruling (on gay sex verdict), it is completely illegal in our country. Just as paying fewer wage was illegal in the US. So, why doesn't the Government of India go ahead and arrest all of them! Put them behind bars, prosecute them in this country and punish them?"

Some thoughts on Mollah execution

I think the main problem with Quader Mollah execution was not merely the outside pressure. Rather the problem from the very beginning was that the whole trial process was flawed.

I regret that I was fool enough to not follow David Bergman's blog on Bangladesh war crimes trial at first.

I always found it difficult to understand as to why would the international media care about the Bangladesh war crimes trial. Yes I understand they were against the death penalty but why would they even give a hoot about Bangladesh's internal matters? Again, they could run stories on the trial considering it was a big enough event but criticizing a trial which was supposedly of the internal standard?

That is because as Bergman says the entire trial process and the hanging of Mollah was 'filmsy.'

The witness who was brought to the court hadn't even seen Abdul Quader Mollah. She said someone else told her that Quader Mollah killed her family!

It goes without saying that when a person is executed based on hearsay then something is horribly wrong.

Which is exactly what The Economist opines in a blog published on December 13th.

There could be many other reasons why the trial process should have done justice to its name.

For one thing, this trial was by and large the most significant trial in the history of Bangladeshi people. Hence, it absolutely needed to end well.