http://www.arabnews.com/?page=13§ion=0&article=103057&d=1&m=11&y=2007
The Middle East's Leading English Language Daily
Thursday 1 November 2007 (21 Shawwal 1428)
E-Infidelity
Bassma Al-Seyoufi, Al-Eqtisadiah -
He married his cousin after two years of a
fairy-tale love. She was a conservative woman who would not commit to any
relationship during her teen years. But she wasn't the first woman he had known
and definitely, she won't be the last. He married his cousin and she dedicated
herself entirely to being a housewife. He was the type who got bored very
quickly. He moved from one job to another until he finally settled down. His
wife showered him and their first baby with all her love and devotion. She
thought that their son would fill their lives and make his father more settled
and more creative in his job and so improve his financial condition.
One night, she advised him to buy a computer so
he could finish his work when he was home. He bought one and every day he spent
long hours searching the Internet for "information." Gradually, he mastered
online tricks and chatroom behavior. His wife was only glad that he was at home
with her and his son. She cared about her household, friends and fashion
catalogs. She never questioned him or bothered him.
He returned home one night and hurried to his
computer, ordering his wife to prepare dinner. When she walked into his office
to call him for dinner, she noticed that he was confused and took a glimpse at
one of the Instant Messaging (IM) windows on his screen but she didn't see
anything. When she asked him, he said that he was chatting to one of his
friends and that he would continue later on.
Her husband's confusion resulted in her using his
password - that she already knew - to get his e-mails. She found one name
repeated over and over in his inbox. It was a woman's name and she was sending
him literary subjects and poems while he discussed his opinions of her and what
she was sending. His wife didn't find anything immoral or out of line between
them, but the entire situation bothered her and she ended up blaming her
husband.
He was a "gentleman" so he explained and
apologized. He told her that it was a mistake and that his relationship with
the woman was shallow and innocent. How many are called "innocent" in this time
of twisted morals and defamed ethics? Is there really anything called innocent
friendship between a man and a woman? Physical infidelity shakes a woman
because the husband is cheating on her but what if the infidelity is electronic
- whenever he turns his computer on?
Marriages are being destroyed because of these
Internet chatrooms. Irresponsibility and carelessness are catastrophes that can
destroy a family's close-knit ways and strong bonds. How many people have been
hurt and felt cheated because of online fraud at a time when computers are said
to be necessary for everything? E-infidelity through chatrooms and instant
messaging programs are of great significance because they are practiced by both
men and women. Unfortunately, there is no monitoring system that can tell
people how to behave or what to do.
The key to solving this problem between married
couples is to maintain soft communication and sincere feelings between them so
that neither one ends up hitting the keyboard in a search of love and attention.
Solemn Warning
Muhammad Diyab, Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi General Security's statistics for the
year 2006 revealed that 88,609 crimes had occurred. The distribution is as
follows: 39,608 thefts, 15,492 murders, 11,680 morality crimes and 2,145 crimes
of fraud. If crime rates in general dropped in 2006 compared to 2005, there was
an increase in some of the offenses over 2005. Murders increased in 2006
recording 1,452 cases, fraud cases increased with 300 crimes and morality
crimes increased with 945 cases.
The general drop in the number of crimes
highlights the good efforts officials are making socially and concerning
security issues. On the other hand, the increase in the number of certain
offenses requires deep analysis in order to understand the reasons. Murders
reaching 15,492 cases in the year 2006 with an increase of 1,452 cases over
2005 need much reflection and deep thinking. This huge number of crimes in one
year is a solemn warning to society.
We have to seek the help of thousands of
specialists in the fields of psychology, sociology and education to pin down
the reasons causing so many crimes. We need to harmonize people's thoughts and
intellectual efforts and eliminate some of the aggravating methods used with
children and adults that breed hatred and violence in them. We also need to put
an end to the idea of sympathizing with criminals. We have to stop paying
millions of riyals to save them from the death penalty. Murders should not be
underestimated.
It is really unfortunate that fraud is so
widespread in society. Such crimes rely mainly on earning people's trust in
different types of situations. The increase of fraud has replaced trust with
doubts and having bad intentions instead of good ones.
It is truly unacceptable to blame all of
society's wrongdoings on the security forces. Social security is the
responsibility of the family first and foremost. If every individual does his
job properly in contributing to the community's welfare, we would not have had
15,492 murderers, 39,608 thieves and 2,145 fraudsters - always keeping in mind
that these statistics include a number of expatriates as well.
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