Digital immigrant

Vuvuzela supporters are causing a stink — a cacophony? — with their insistence on using the instrument during the World Cup next year. And now Motoaki Inukai wants Fifa to ban the instrument.

I’m no law expert and these are only my personal views but the supporters seem to believe their right to making as loud a noise as possible is an inalienable right. There are few such rights — life, dignity, health, freedom and equality. Inflicting pain and suffering on someone else’s eardrum doesn’t strike me as one of those rights.

Some claim the vuvuzela is uniquely African. Alas, it seems that the instrument is uniquely American and Chinese.

Anyway.

When two rights oppose each other , eg, your right to smoke and my right to clean air, we have a problem. Sure, you’re allowed to smoke. But my right to a clean environment trumps your right to smoke in this instance. My right to quiet enjoyment of my property trumps your right to play doof doof music at any time of day. And my right to clean air trumps your right to wear perfume that constricts my throat.

So why is it that this is not common knowledge? Why are people quick to point out that I’m infringing on their rights? And why the defensiveness? Perhaps it’d be a great idea to go back to Emsie Schoeman’s etiquette guide.

I read a post about perfume in the workplace and one commentor sums it up nicely:

I foresee the same thing happening to fragrance wearers that happened to smokers. At least banning the use in the workplace and using natural deoderizers (baking soda, etc.) and fragrance free cleaning products. Unfortunately we are the ones who are in the forefront of this revolution similar to the suffragettes who fought for the right for women to vote.

South Africa does not have enough legislation to cover those of us who feel our rights are being infringed. Nor are enough people, organisations and companies aware of the problems. All too often, people are told to suck it up; the offender will not change their behaviour(s). This needs to stop. It’s time to recognise that we all need to be more considerate of other people. And sometimes that means forgoing or altering certain of our behaviours or products.

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