MGT-6209 Group Assignment 2

If You Are Slapped

Photo source: http://news.takungpao.com.hk/paper/q/2013/0810/1818927.html

Story Background

The incident we would like to study is an incident happening in the pedestrian area of Mongkok, Hong Kong on 14^th July 2013. A teacher named Ms. Lam Wai Sze shouted and said profanity to the policemen. It happened when Hong Kong Youth Care Association members used their banners to surround the banners of another association named Falun Gong practitioners. Many pedestrian were criticizing the police for simply cordoning off the two battling associations rather preventing the harassment. Ms. Lam just walked by and also remonstrated with the police. 

Reference Link: 

Subtitle: "Profanity words to police" at 00:06

Subtitle: "WTF" at 3:10

RTHK: Documentary on MongKok Incident

Are you willing to be slapped?

In the incident, we are not going to investigate who is right or wrong on the political position of any parties. Instead, we would like to study the ethical behavior of Ms. Lam when she reflects that saying offensive language to the police is kind of Freedom of speech. Under article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Freedom of speech is the political right to communicate one’s opinions and ideas using ones’ body and property to anyone who is willing to receive them (1). In this case, it is thought that profanity is obviously an offensive language to the police. Even thought the offensive way is not physically, but mentally. It still hurts the opponent – the police who is reluctant to receive this “attack”.

Can you do this in HK?
In addition, ethical is generally regarded as social norm. Different counties have different cultures. Different cultures would bring different personal value. Different values would eventually come up with a social norm. Even thought there is no rule by government to forbid profanity in the public area. There are still many areas where profanity is not allowed. For instance, it is not permitted to use obscene language in Ocean Park, otherwise, it is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 1 month (2). In MTR, it is also prohibited to use any threatening and offensive language. Otherwise, it is liable on conviction to imprisonment (3). Regard with these norms, it is thought that social norm in Hong Kong does not accept profanity in the public area. Therefore, it is seen that HK culture does not accept profanity.

How “Freedom of Speech” is been used in Hong Kong

Satire Comic Strip 1

Satire Comic Strip 1: MongKok Incident (Reads from left to right)

The first Satire we have is a parodied version of the MongKok incident. This Comic strip is a combination of 2 blocks.

The main message we would like to carry out is how Hong Kong People nowadays blindfold the use and concept of “Freedom of Speech”. The contents before the incident is not so important, but the how Hong Kong People use “Freedom of Speech” , “Core Value of Hong Kong” and “Justice” to defense or blurrify one’s mistakes and accuse other people is the key value for our investigate.

                                                                                                                        

We have used the incident of Ms.Lam where she had use profanity words to Police, when legally is violating the government’s law. But then after the incident, there were 2 clear parties on support and not supporting her profanity words in the incidents. On one hand, the supporting party claims the persecution of Ms.Lam is writing off the “Freedom of speech” (They claimed this is the core value of Hong Kong); and on the other hand, the non-supporting party was rejecting the use of profanity word which could poison the next generation if such action continues.

On the first block we had started with the moment when she swore to the police which it had really happened, then caricaturize the second block by make up a scene at the court where Ms. Lam submit a Self-defense letter for the reason of “Freedom Of speech” to prove she is not guilty and had set free from the judge.

To ensure the satire and the persuasion of message are able to deliver effectively, we went straight to the point on profanity word; this is to neglect the unnecessary background story which would not help on our persuasion. Whether she is telling the justice is not so important, it is also not as important about the opposing parties’ political background as to avoid wrong perceptions from audience eyes. “The logos of persuasion” (4) we have used is to simplify the complexity on the background story in the 1^st block of satire strip. Rhetorically, we used lively dialogue to release the tensions and formality of proper English rhetorical method. Furthermore, lesser words to make the dialogue outstanding, more salience; in terms of composition of the comic strip, we have magnified the focal point on each block. For example, magnifying Ms. Lam’s character is to signify its focal point of the strip.  Moreover composing characters postures and gestures to reinforce Ms. Lam’s tensions versus police’s calm to create a strong contrast and impression for the comic. Then on 2^nd block, using the Magnified Judge character to represent the common thinking of Hong Kong People regarding to the “Freedom of Speech” (1) where this has been widely used as excuses and to defense one self.

To make the comic strip successful, “The Ethos of persuasion” (4) played a very important part where it has influenced the way how we construct the comic strip. We have used Ms. Lam from Mongkok incident as a starting point but on the 2^nd strip, we have used the judge, the highest authority of legislative court to reversely making decision perfunctorily by just a simple reason of “Freedom of speech”. We have used the authority to show how Hong Kong People now being easily influenced and twisted their logic of thinking. Therefore we have chosen the Judge in the 2^nd block of strip making a perfunctorily decision as a super big contrast where a judge should really be a very detailed mind and knowledgeable person.

On the comic strip, using “the Pathos of persuasion”(4) we continuously repeating the message of the foul word consistently to raise the emotion of audience, to get audience to engage into our strip, rethink about the message we are trying to deliver, as we are trying to persuade our wide audience. We tried to re-capture our audience logic; help them realize our message.

Freedom of Speech V.S. Cultural Context of Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a well-known successful British colony, yet, there are many cultural and political conflicts and contradictions between democracy and pro-communist party after handover to China in 1997. Although we are not going to talk about politics and it is not the right forum to share here anyway, the conflicts between these two believes supporter are destroying the social harmony of Hong Kong. Whenever and whichever ways Hong Kong Government take actions to settle the confrontations, the Anti-communist would came up with HK Government interfere the freedom of speech.

Hong Kong People are very sensitive about the Freedom of Speech where some of Hong Kong people think that the Freedom of Speech overcomes anything. To effectively deliver the message that fits in cultural context of Hong Kong. We have not only use one comic strip above and rhetorical strategy stated above but also created 2 other comic strips to show the cause and consequences that are interrelated.

Satire Comic Strip 2

Comic Strip 2: Butterfly effect of the incident

This comic strip is to show the consequence from MongKok incident at family and kid‘s level and assuming its being accepted for using the excuse of Freedom of Speech.  By using a simple context of message in a fun way, bringing humor in the comic strip to draw more audience attentions; we have strategically expanded the audience and narrow it down to parent’s level, persuading them through their only kids; assuming their kids are also being influenced by the false logic, foul words in society to recall their concerns. The technique we used is an innocent kid character to reinforce the empathy from audience, and the contrast of grown man and kid (Father and son) to make the scene more salience. Furthermore, repeat and consistently use of foul words in the strip also help to recall the severity of wrongly use the concept of Freedom of Speech and the consequence it could possibly happen from supporting the MongKok incident, creating resonance from the very first Comic strip.

Satire Comic Strip 3

Comic Strip 3: Mongkok Incident rethink

The Final Comic strip is been setup at the new generation and school level.  Exaggerated the fact that the influence could be to kids when school is setting a penalty policy on swearing and get fines when swears in school. Again, used of simplicity words refers to the 1^st and 2^nd comic strips, exaggerated and highlighted the size of the swear box to magnify the severeness from the social cause. We also have used a huge contrast, perhaps a hidden line on this last comic strip. The idiotic/robotic ways of paying fines from innocent kids versus grown man with an obvious motive, it signify how followers not think thoroughly and being take advantage from motived party. This hidden line is being set up to help persuade and rethink our social and political issue we are continuously having in Hong Kong where the protest people are being use by motive parties for fulfilling their only interest and goals. Those political parties are experts in manipulating follower’s mind and misleading their path like those kids were being poisoned and finally get penalty on themselves. The connections of the three comic strips would be a good cycle that can help effectively persuade audience fitting in the cultural context of Hong Kong and made decision with their only mind and logic not with perceptions, hence, improve their society and social behavior.

Summary – Can violence solve the problem?

In the argument, we try to apply different theories/ methods such as ethos, logos and pathos to persuade people not to abuse freedom of speech. This may raise the unnecessary conflict within the society.

According to Jay, A. Conger, Four essential steps of persuasion, HBR 1998_The necessary art of persuasion, we try to identify the common goal with all audiences (5), we share the social norm in HK with quoting different examples such as the rule on profanity in Ocean Park and MTR. And then we reinforce our position by using vivid language and compelling evidence in the comics (6). Finally, we try to connect emotionally with their audience (7). That is the reason we show the consequences if profanity becomes freedom of speech in the comics. This may bring a negative impact to our next generation.

We truly encourage people to think twice before action.

Reference:

1) Definition of Freedom of Speech, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a19

2) Ocean Park Rule on Profanity, http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/html/en/footer/rules/

3) MTR Rule on Profanity, https://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/legal/cust_terms_of_use.html

4) Definition of Logos, Pathos and Ethos, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modes_of_persuasion

5) Four essential steps of persuasion, Jay, A. Conge, HBR 1998_The necessary art of persuasion P.87

6) Four essential steps of persuasion, Jay, A. Conge, HBR 1998_The necessary art of persuasion P.88

7) Four essential steps of persuasion, Jay, A. Conge, HBR 1998_The necessary art of persuasion P.88