Humanity First, Not Humanoids

Almost every movie freak knows “The Matrix”. If you haven’t watched it yet, let me spoil your story. In “The Matrix” a self-aware artificial intelligence system (commonly known as ‘machines’) has wiped out most of the human race from the earth and start PRODUCING cyberpunk humans in a vast farm of artificial matrices.

After that movie I was in different state of mind. Because they were not human, but they were not robots either, but at the end it was a movie/fiction. (No I’m not here to discuss about THE MATRIX).

Last week I read a news I’m sure you all did , Sophia, an intelligent humanoid robot, had been granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia on Oct, 26, 2017, as part of a publicity stunt at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. Well, I couldn’t stop thinking about “The Matrix”. Fiction is about to be real, not yet though. it will take a century or centuries but sure it will.

2nd part of the news is Saudi Arabia going to give legal status to a humanoid robot. Without any doubt, this is historical being the first robot in the world to be recognized with a citizenship. However, no details of the condition of her citizenship were revealed.

It means A (kind of) woman without any male escort and without any hijab is a Saudi national now. As far as I know when a woman marries to a foreigner she loses her status of being Saudi national. Even her kids will no longer be treated as Saudis. For me this is not humanity, not at any condition a woman should be deprived of her identity. She is a Saudi by birth and no one can deny this, neither can throw her away from her homeland.

Now about three days ago a news was circulating on social media that Saudi Arabia beheaded Sofia, the AI woman. The crowed started stoning her then tied a chain around her neck and drove her through the streets until her head detached from her body.
After hearing this kind of news from Saudia where death penalty is in practice for a wide range of offences which are not even considered as the “most serious crimes” among international laws and so-called human rights activists, you start judging like a human. But the fun part is this news was from an authentic FAKE NEWS blog i.e. duffelblog.com. Well done guys for demonstrating your dark sense of humour.

To my inferior knowledge, this whole venture is nothing more than a mockery. Depriving the humans of their basic rights and providing the robots with privileges they don’t even know, is a serious contempt to humanity. Isn’t it?

PEMRA on indecency

This is funny now, PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) issued a notice to some private channels for airing vulgar content, specifically, they said that the channels aired something indecent and presented in a manner which was "disturbing ", "distressing to children" and against "commonly accepted social values". Also, they depicted some obscene behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, drugs and abusive language. 

I really don’t get what does actually PEMRA/MEDIA HOUSES think about social values and behavior. Or how they define this? Because what I watch from my TV, 70-75% aired stuff is disturbing and against social values. All I see is "a love triangle, Saas-bahu unhealthy relationship & dirty politics with bad language" and have been watching this for a long time. Ads regarding feminine products, rubbish morning shows, so-called reality shows and talent hunts also contributing their fair share to pollute the scenario. So, if you are picturing same thing again and again to kids, no wonder they'll start digesting everything and execute.  

There is a lot more in Pakistani society to show in the name of entertainment, we all accept that new generation follows electronic media more rather than books and print media, so let them follow and start showing them what you want to teach them. 

Let's make this simple, I plead to watch American/English TV shows and movies, guilty as charged. Why? Because I have seen a variety over there. They give a friendly version and insight into different walks and departments of the society unlike Pakistan. Name me any Pakistan drama from last decade, with a different/new storyline, all I can see is bed room story. No offence, but everything starts from bedroom and ends there. 

Why there is nothing on Pakistan police, medical department, justice department, education department. There is navy, army and air force, too. We all know that 1122 is doing good in Pakistan but how they are pulling this off we all want to know. I am scared to death of Police department in Pakistan. I want to see a good side. I want to know how is life inside the buildings, not bedrooms.

Show to the society how departments should work, trust me these people will learn and help to make this society worth living. How can we condemn vulgarity and obscenity when we don’t have any choice besides watching worthless "saas bahu controversies" and " dirty politics". When viewers go to international media for variety, you can't endorse "Pakistani ethics" on them. Show something new to let them stick to "your" channels. Then you are in the right position to state your own version of "social values and ethics". 

By the way, media policy endorsed by PEMRA has always been notorious for imposing political expressions by governments rather than stating a neutral version on which all major media houses can agree. So, the question is, " Is it really the 'social or moral misconduct' as a reason behind the ban or government is pulling the strings of non-favourite channels again?"