Anti-Ghosting Bill in the Philippines: Valid but not Needed

Have you experienced being ghosted by someone? If so, how do you feel about that? I'm sure it was mentally unhealthy most especially if you have already invested a feeling, formed a bond and made a sense of attachment with that person. But do you agree to implement this bill and consider ghosting as a crime?

In contrast, let us flip the table. Have you experienced ghosting a person? If so, how do you feel about that? I know you have your own reasons on why you did that, and there are also possibilities that you are just playing around with that person you ghosted. Regardless, how would you feel if you will already be considered as a criminal by merely ghosting someone?

Ghosting is pretty rampant nowadays especially to teenagers due to the advent of technology. There are dating sites made to aid their problem about being single hoping to find their special someone there and to end their role as a "sana all (hope all)" ambassadors. Even in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram and other social media platforms, many people tend to look for their so called "the one" there. As a matter of fact, there are other people who happened to find their partners for life in those realm without even looking for it. But little did we know, there are also some downsides on internet love or fling and one of it is the occurrence of ghosting.

What is ghosting?

Basically, Oxford dictionary define it is an act of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. This means that if someone is cutting off your communication without reasonable explanation, who left you hanging in the air wondering what just happened to that person and why is he or she not replying to your texts or chats anymore with all the laughters you shared, praises and sweet words you have exchanged with each other.

In such instance, the whole Philippines got star strucked by the news that Arnolfo Teves Jr., one of the Filipino lawmakers which is also a member of of the National People's Coalition, filed House Bill No. 611 titled "An Act Declaring Ghosting As An Emotional Offense". According to his statement, he explained that "when someone is being ghosted, it can be mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting to the ghosted person." He even used a study that states "any kind of social rejection activates the same pain pathways in the brain as physical pain, meaning there is a biological link between rejection and pain, that goes from friend and partners". "The ambiguity with ghosting is that there is no real closure between the parties concerned," he added to the statement.

This information got easily disperssed like a prism and most citizens pulled negative responses about it, some even made memes out of it. Nonetheless, there are still positive feedbacks you can read which stated that his statement is actually valid. Well as you can see, he is concerned with people who suffers mental breakdowns and abuses, but the thing is it is not needed, there are still other necessary bills that can be proposed which will more benefit and help Filipino people like creating sustainable jobs. After all, his suggestion was not merited by the majority for according to some netizens, in reality, you really got to taste pain first before savoring happiness, which is certainly agreeable. Through the judgement of many, most people claim that the bill is unlikely to be passed.

For teenagers and people out there who experienced trauma from getting ghosted, assumed and get hurt, being thrilled but are left-behind, you will soon get healed and find the happiness that you deserve. You don't have to find the "one", for the right person will find you.

Sources:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/07/26/2198109/anti-ghosting-bill-offers-no-resolution-closure-either/amp/

https://sea.mashable.com/life/20968/filipino-lawmaker-wants-to-make-ignoring-text-messages-a-crime?amp=1

https://twitter.com/onenewsph/status/1551811091441008640?t=64xxjOoUrHH7sSs0nEJNTA&s=19

Lead image by: Mashable