Who can say that this can or cannot entirely influence people to become bullies?
What can Vice do or the ABS-CBN management do? Well mass media can up their game and report on the dangers of bullying; to start the campaign against bullying. To Vice Ganda’s credit, he has started this with “It’s Showtime’s” ‘adVice’ segment.
One problem he solved (there were rumors that this segment was created to directly compete with Eat Bulaga’s Problem Solving segment then) was about a woman who was bullied.
The advice was good and all, but the problem lies not within the message; but with the messenger. This would have so much credibility if and only if Vice Ganda’s brand of humor does not walk that think line that separates the offensive from the not. If only Vice walks the talk, then there probably be no issues. The mention of his past blunders and other comedy bar shows uploaded on YouTube, seems to haunt the public figure. But is it already a hopeless case for the main comedian of the Kapamilya network?
I think he is ‘fixing’ his ‘public image’ nowadays. The newer generation are more critical now more than ever. If Vice wants to have a goody two-shoes public image as a comedian then he should start cleaning his act. In the digital age in which everyone can seem to record a clip, take a screenshot, or call one out for an offensive remark, a public person should thread carefully. This is a conflict for a comedian as for what will be left of him if his brand of humor is the very same thing that is the source of his problems
Vice can’t seem to put an exact lid to completely stop his offensive comedy-bar-type of humor, but he is putting an effort in doing so or at least that is the only rational thing for him to do. What Vice usually does nowadays is take the preacher’s route. Fans of the show may have noticed and observe that Vice Ganda is more preachy about life lessons (to a fault) in most of his public television shows. This is worth commending and is a step up the right direction. Vice is now a very influential public figure and the last thing he should be involved with the direct or indirect creation of bullies whether they are online or off.
If Vice Ganda can’t properly pick the jokes that would be less offensive or at least not at the expense of others; then he should not be preaching about what is right from wrong, that one should accept one’s self, and that bullying is wrong. Either walk the talk or don’t have the ‘talk’ at all.
