Caught on Camera

Namibians are so spicy. We just love stories about people being exposed – that’s just the cold, hard truth.

At the sign of a cheating husband, something in our minds disconnects and next thing you know we’re twitching and running straight to Whatsapp (because like it or not, that’s where all the tea spills).

Screenshots are apparently ‘so last year’. This year, calls are recorded and there’s no way to hide your scandalous ways any longer unless you book a room at some bed and breakfast where no one knows you. And I find this sad, by the way.

January has just started, mbuae. We can’t even spend one month without someone’s marriage being destroyed. What does that say about us?

Aren’t you tired of these videos? Because I am. It’s always a triangle involving someone’s popular husband/wife. But my argument isn’t with the people in the video – it’s the person who records all of these things and exposes them.

Now, I don’t know if this is a new attention-seeking stunt intended to ruin marriages or plot revenge, but why can’t you keep your business to yourself?

We’re really not interested in your flesh and what you can do with it – we really aren’t. Maybe I am speaking for myself here, but come on.

Thinking about it, it’s actually not new. How many years have we heard of people being exposed? Even in high school, etse.

There was always a story about people participating in sexual activities and getting caught behind the principal’s office, in the school bus, or whatever, and a recording to go with it. And each year, it has evolved into something worse. What a shame, hey.

What we have not come to realise is the legal aspect of it. You can get sued for exposing videos and ‘damaging’ someone’s reputation, you know.

That’s why consent is important. Consent is defined as giving permission to do something. Saying yes, agreeing, at some extent nodding … all of this.

And you have to take this into mind when you plan on engaging in anything sexual with someone. It’s a lesson not many people are taught when they are young, but it’s always good to learn.

That’s what life is about anyway, right? Learning? Hence, if you leak a sex tape, for example, without the other party who was involved, what’s to say that you can’t have a lawyer sending you an email the next morning, demanding that you go to court?

Respect people’s decisions to keep their relationships private, cheating or not. Consent goes a long way. It’s in the workplace, it’s in public and it’s definitely in the bedroom too.

Everyone loves a dose of entertainment, but doing so in the form of leaking someone’s personal information for the sake of having a laugh… what does that really say about you? Is jealousy the cause? Are you driven by hatred? Or is it the likes on Instagram and Facebook that just appeal the most? Wow.

I know that Namibia is small and everyone has information on everyone, but really. Don’t be that person. And the same goes for people who have nude pictures of their boyfriends or girlfriends.

Leaking is so childish, my gosh! I know people criticise: why do you even take nudes in the first place? But honestly, what people do in their relationships should be none of our concern.

You are entrusted with explicit material – take care of it. And if need be, delete it. Because something goes wrong, you’re the only one who will be implicated and it won’t go well for you. I suggest you be careful, keep your phone close and do take care.

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