AFAS ANONYMOUS: A COMMEMDABLE EFFORT

By Agnes Tioluwanimi Oyedokun

The Akoem led ALTRUSIM team marked her 100th day in office and decided to run an “advise-me-corner” on the 19th of March and also an “advise-the-ALTRUISM-team-corner” on the 20th of March. It was done through the famous anonymous site. The former was an initiative for students, who one way or the other, might have problems or real life issues which they are facing, to submit them via the anonymous site and AFASites will give advice to these problems after it had been posted on the newly created AFAS TV. The latter was borne out of the team’s effort to get feedback from AFASites on their performance thus far in office, especially their first hundred days in office.

In the broadcast message that was circulated to various groups, the PRO gave the reason behind the advise-me-corner held on the 19th of March as an avenue for students who don’t have anyone to share their feelings with and are scared of coming out to get their solutions when other people drop their contributions. About three questions were posted and each question got nine answers from different people.

Afasites react

AFAS Press reached out to AFASITES to get their opinions on the two anonymous initiative which went down. Winning said, “It was nice to see people give out heartfelt advice to total strangers. I half-expected most people to joke around with the problems of others and even though that might have happened, I was pleasantly surprised to see the really positive replies and I’m definitely looking forward to more “advise-me-segments.”

Michael commented, “I think it’s a good thing that they are doing already, trying to know what people think about their administration and how they can do more.”

Kehinde who had some reservations said, “It’s not a bad idea but it should not be restricted to just the executives. It should be to lighten people’s moods and more like fun. The advise-me-corner that took place on Friday was very okay, although people’s identities were not revealed, they still got their answers.”

The PRO said the segment will be a continuous one and it will take place every Friday because the motive behind it, (to give answers to confused people) was achieved and so he said we are to look forward to it every Friday.

AFAS anonymous vs UISU anonymous

Not too long ago, the SU also ran an anonymous corner and it turned out to be filled with some erotic and human shaming comments which, according to many critics, the SU PRO should have filtered. Also some of the comments nabbed on the attitudes of UCJ UI. On Sunday, the AFAS PRO ran another anonymous session and he mentioned that, that day was only meant to get students to make their comments and observation based on their performance, weaknesses, and areas where they should improve and even though it was likely for people to post rubbish on the site, he would not repost them. He meant that he was going to filter the comments contrary to what the SU PRO did. Many appreciated the efforts of the AFAS PRO because they came to a realisation that the infamous anonymous can be done without seeing unruly messages about people that aims at shaming them all for the sake of fun. While the SU anonymous can be seen to be a sore initiative, that of AFAS was commendable.

The comment on the Press

Just like the SU anonymous, there were also comments about the press. One of the messages called for a change in the relationship between the press and the executive members. To this, the PRO took his time to address the audience. He stated that the team has suffered criticism, wrong allegations and insults from AFAS Press right from the electioneering process that ushered them into their administration without cogent reasons or facts. He also said that “team Altruism is not against criticism”. There was another comment which called on the Press to stop criticizing Prime.

It is important to note that criticism only makes people better, not worse.

A good one?

In conclusion, thus far, the anonymous can be seen as a nice initiative by the team. The very first one offers life changing advice to people who are deeply in need of it, and the second one, also seems to be a genuine effort at making changes. If it is anything, it has been shown thus far that anonymous also has its own positive sides beyond the ridicule infamously associated with it. Whether or not this good side of anonymous will continue, time will tell. The PRO said he would not repost any unfiltered or “rubbish” comment anyone made because that day was just for the ALTRUISM team, but now that the “advise-the-ALTRUISM-team-corner” is over, should we be looking forward to seeing and reading unfiltered and “rubbish” comments which is very famous with anonymous next week Sunday? We wait.