Remember the song “Whistle while you work”?
It was made famous in the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
When I was young, I also remember that lots of people around me whistled. They whistled in the street, on the tram, the trolley bus, in their car and yes even at work. Some were vey good, some were very bad. Some even whistled at girls, perish the thought! For those not blessed with the whistle gene, a rhymical hum would usually suffice.
In the end, it didn’t matter, it was a sign of cheeriness and happiness, and sometimes it was infectious.
Without having to sound like a grumpy old man, I can’t remember tat the last time I heard someone whistling in the street. Instead of walking down the street with a song in our head and on our pursed lips, we now prefer it bow in silence to the irresistible sight and sounds of our iPhone. That’s life in the digital age.
But there is another form of whistling that is quite contemporary and even controversial. It is not, however, a portent of happiness. It’s called Whistleblowing – telling someone about someone who has done the wrong thing.
Culturally, we are attuned to not telling on others or snitching. That is regrettable in certain spheres of human life. I speak of Elder Abuse.
As so much of it is hidden behind curtain or in online bank accounts, it is difficult to identify. In many cases, the victim is either unable too complain or reluctant to. However, some of the best place people to discover it, are right next door to it – neighbours. Of course, their proximity to the problem creates a conundrum – what will be the consequences for me and what will by life be like if I blow the whistle?
Fortunately, our lawmakers have grappled with this problem, to some extent. Provided they have a reasonable basis to blow the whistle, in Queensland, we have a law whish protects you form any legal consequences including defamation or other adverse implications.
That can help in making the crucial decision whether to speak up or not. It will never be total protection. It then becomes a moral question for you – is the cost of silence greater than the cost of disclosing?
As usual, the best way to judge that is to get legal advice before you decide.
In the meantime, stay happy and start whistling!
