I’ve been having a lot of different conversations or reading commentary on various things that have opinion and not fact as their argument. Some of my comments have been heard and in others I am asked for the burden of proof, and other times people just dig their heels and stick to rumors and gossip. I am really tired of having arguments with people when there is no factual proof for them to argue from and they are using opinion as fact. Yes you have a right to your opinion but then make it clear that it is so… I will give an example of one such discussion I am having right now.
A couple of days ago Future DVD Store in Amman was attacked. A physical and violent assault on the owner, his son and their property (their new store) took place. On camera there is record of four men assaulting them with what looks like bats. A criminal investigation is still taking place. No official statement of who the attackers are and why this attack took place. Yet, boycott calls and allegations against one of their competition started immediately. It is are all over the social networks, on and offline. I find this very disturbing. Gossiping and rumor spreading, and action to hurt another business are the first response when really there is nothing factual to back it up except broken glass.
I think that if you are going to make an allegation against any entity you have to have the proof to back it up. The burden of proof lies on you, not me. If it is opinion then say it is so and do not word is as fact. I like hard evidence- not opinion!
Going back to the Future DVD store. Boycotting the competition doesn’t help Future as much as supporting Future would. The owner is in need of both moral and financial support after the attack and so if you feel that you want to do something- do something positive. Go to the store, see Zaki, buy a DVD. And when the truth about the incident comes out… then take the appropriate action and back up what you say.
Shalabieh's World 
March 23, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Like I said on the posting on FB, using the word “Alleged” would have been good, that said, when Zaki himself and his son accuse then one is inclined to believe him.
Also the truth has a way of getting muddled when it starts to circulate. It is like a game of “Chinese Whispers” (you know the game where some one whispers a story and by the time it has circulated the originator cannot recognise his/hers story).
Like you said we can only support Zaki by buying his videos, I have to say this, I have been supporting Zaki and been a loyal customer of his ever since I came back to Amman, and will remain so.
As for boycotting well, it has never sat well with me, I prefer to use the word avoidance rather than boycott.