I WAS disturbed to read about ragging in our schools and civil institutions ("Uproar on Net over birthday-prank clip", Nov 14; "Ragging video: SCDF to punish those involved", Nov 8) and am grateful that The Straits Times has brought this to light.

Ragging should not be encouraged, as it is a form of bullying and abuse. Having been on both sides of the coin in my youth, I can only conclude that to rag is to manifest the desire to abuse others in word and deed.

It is no better than pranks played on those of different race and religion, and on the disabled and mentally handicapped. Progressively, these pranks got worse till they resulted in discrimination, fear, injury and death. Some even escalated into infamous and horrible crimes against humanity globally.

Why does one have to humiliate another verbally and physically, and even promote it on the Net? It shows a disturbing lack of EQ and values, and is a sign of social decay. It is a poisoning of young minds by peers, and by society if we condone it.

Ragging must be condemned in both our schools and civil services. A peer-pressured response of acceptance after bullying is no proof of benevolence. It is most regrettable to read that the school had brushed off the incident as trivial.

Awareness and education are urgently needed to weed out this social disease, perhaps The Straits Times and volunteers can lead with a media campaign?

Raymond Tham

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 19 Nov, 2008.