Smokers’ Corner: The abuse excuse
Move over, Jamat-i-Islami (JI), there’s a new danda brigade in town. But this brigade’s reactive gringos prefer mimicking the Tourette Syndrome and assorted incoherent abusive tics almost entirely in cyber space.
Of course, by now, we all know who they are: A generation of apolitical urban middle-class young men and women who suddenly (and as if through shock therapy) became politicised (if one can call it that).
This politicisation did not emerge from the passionate consumption of academically sound political and social literature or with the help of some stimulating debates.
Rather, it has appeared as a by-product of what has gone on in the name of freedom of speech in Pakistan’s electronic media in which, anchors were/are given a free hand to turn debates between politicians into ratings-friendly shouting bouts. A media where demagogic characters were put in front of an unblinking camera and allowed to unabashedly distort and retard history and faith in an attempt to generate a supposedly ‘positive’ nationalistic and theocratic narrative.
It was a passionate, feel-good narrative that, in essence and actuality, glorified hatred of the ‘others’; defined reactionary mob mentality as ‘unity of nation and ummah’; and suggested it was entirely okay to throw unsubstantiated and knee-jerk accusations at anybody’s religious convictions, political ethics and social behaviour if that person even slightly disagreed with the mob’s idea of faith, politics and society.
Just like the Pakistani state’s compulsive habit of creating ‘strategic assets’ that usually mutate and become faithful monsters eating up the state from within, Pakistan’s privately-owned electronic media has fumbled by creating its own monsters.
Recently some well known TV anchors faced an ugly barrage of abuse on social media sites by what are perhaps the most vivid examples of the blithering generation of young Pakistanis I was talking about.
Called the ‘PTI trolls’, this large section of the Imran Khan fan club shower’s anybody with a wide range of Urdu, Punjabi and English abuses if it believes that person has been critical of Khan or his party.
So who are they? Well, most of these misguided missiles are uppity young folks who belong exactly to the target market that many TV channels once rushed in to capture.
The channels did this by putting ideological chauvinists and hate-mongers in front of the camera just so this market’s unstable craving for feel good narratives (built on half-truths and assorted distortions) could be (profitably) served.
Now whenever a channel or a well known anchor tries to even slightly move away from this narrative, he or she is not only abused by this market, but also accused of being on the payroll of any number of ‘enemy countries’ or parties like the PML-N and the PPP.
What’s even weirder is the way some anchors whose shows have been losing ratings or are not taken seriously, have also jumped into the fray, littering social media sites with loud allusions against certain well known anchors, suggesting they were ‘US agents!’
However, most interesting is the fact that the bulk of the abusive nonsense and unsubstantiated dribble that one notices against some journalists, TV anchors, the PPP and the PML-N on social media sites and forums, is almost all coming from young people and media men who appear to be Imran Khan supporters.
Funnier still is how these apparently pro-Khan anchors and journalists and certain sophisticated entrepreneurs-turned-politicians who have joined Khan’s party have suddenly adjusted their tones to that of Khan’s.
For example, one can now come across perfectly ‘normal’ looking media men and PTI members tweeting (on Twitter) like they were quoting from a right-wing Pakistani version of Chairman Mao’s Red Book!
This despite the fact that each one of their gung-ho Khomeini-meets-Mao-meets-Maududi spiels about corruption and bad governance can quite easily be deflated, considering their own not very ‘clean’ pasts as individual bastions of sparkling morality and ethics.
Nevertheless, it is believed by those perturbed as well as bamboozled by the abusive PTI troll phenomenon that the blame for this ultimately lies with a man that the media itself helped to create: Imran Khan the politician.
Even though recently Khan has been heard sounding apologetic to journalists who have been the centre of his trolls’ vicious cyber attacks, the journalists have been blaming his unhinged rhetoric against his ‘enemies’ in which not only has he gone on and on about their ‘corruption’ but has even questioned whether they were real Muslims or not.
But my question is why those anchors and channels who are now blaming Khan’s angry babblings for triggering the tsunami of abuses that many of his young fans have become, allowed him to air his excessive views in the first place?
Just as Khan seems to have become a prisoner of his own rhetoric, the media that once thrived on bagging ratings by putting demagogic pretenders and hate preachers in front of the camera, is facing the crooked music it itself composed.
But whereas certain sections of the media are now trying to rectify this lapse (while others are still milking it), I wonder just how much of an issue it is within the PTI.
My take on this is that though there has been some movement within the PTI to now control this phenomenon, it has actually gotten worse as far as its presence and support in the social media outlets is concerned.
So much so that recently I actually heard a PTI campaigner and a TV actress suggest that a suicide bomber should explode the National Assembly!
Of course, this didn’t stop these ultra-patriots from swinging their fists at drone attacks and then line up for a US or European visa.
NFP , it is the exposure, I K is on the scene while your favourites – one is safely bunkered in Islamabad, other in safe haven of London. No wonder they do n't have 'trolls'.
Proud PTI troll because i am stopping 2 political parties who have ruled us for decades and has produced nothing… obviously PPP and PMLN…
i consider NFP a PPP troll.
Reminds me of conversation I had with a classmate who is living in USA for almost 20 years. In his criticism of those whom he regarded as Fundamentalists, he sounded as one!! That is, labelling them as evil. While I support Imran Khan for his intentions and energy, my concern is that his supporters are likely to be disappointed even if he comes into power. As with Obama, he will find it difficult to change things instantly. Even Chief Justice is criticised for not curing country of all ills, even though all he can do is write judgment and instruct.
excellent and absoulutely true article as usuall on the pulse ,well done NFP please keeps going to educate most of the self denial people of this country
Run for cover NFP! PTI trolls are gearing up.
Well written as usual.
Good article. from NFP again. He writes it as it is. He does not care that right now it is dangerous to criticize Imran Khan. He makes his points and is done with it. Great job.
typical reaction by NFP. in part due to the explosion in social media, and its expliotation by a vigouros educated class who happen not to be PPP supporters. NFP is 'threatened' by the viciforus attack on his biased views and like a man cannot take it. if he had a little shred of decency he would concenrate his energies on the daily corruption being uncovered within his love (PPP),treachery, etc
See what you did. He said criticise PTI and the trolls will come and low and behold you did. You people are so predictable, make being a fortune teller so easy
Great article! These PTI trolls should trawl the newspapers, tabloids, and magazines of 80's and 90's. They will surely see juicy, meaty news and pictures of their dear upright leader.
Very frankly .. all your observations reflect that you have some personal issue with Imran and PTI …
Show some intellect. You are using this medium wrongly. thanks .
I agree about abusive language by PTI trolls but your article is not much better. In your diatribe you have managed to somehow tie Imran Khan with "Khomeini-meets-Mao-meets-Maududi " and even adding "chairman Mao" for good measure. I take it you have never actually watched Imran Khan's interviews? pray, do tell, where is Imran Khan shouting or using abusive language or spewing propaganda? If anything he has explicitly asked PTI members not to be abusive towards others. But aside from that, have you considered perhaps you have it wrong. Perhaps these trolls, as awful as they are, (which by the way, is somewhat understandable given the lack of education and poverty in Pakistan) have not been brainwashed. Perhaps they are with IK because he speaks the truth that resonates with them i.e. the blatant corruption that has broken all records.
I find it hilarious when you make arrogant omniscient statements like "This politicisation did not emerge from the passionate consumption of academically sound political and social literature or with the help of some stimulating debates." …. all the while you are writing a totally biased, hate-filled article comparing PTI leaders to Khomeni, Mao, Maudidi etc. without any reasoning and further projecting this bias toward all PTI members. How are you any better than the trolls? are articles like this supposed to be intellectually stimulating? or stir healthy debates? some might say you are an anti-PTI troll with a gift for writing… would you disagree? and if so, why?
I think the reason why Imran Khan has become popular is that PTI trolls have forced many people to like Imran Khan. A lot of poll was done by some international organization. You know what PTI troll did? They gave bribe to these international organizaton
sir ,no one is going to vote for PTI ,so why not to write on something else
So much for equality for women in Islam.
Mr NFP, I dnt knw wht to say abt ur article coz maybe i didnt knw much abt PTI troll criticisam but if u think they are wrong then u are more wrong in ur analysis.Criticisam for the sake of criticisam hu?
Mr Paracha- I disagree with you NOT because you dislike Imran Khan rather your support of status quo and corrupt system that have benefited few.
Regards
Tariq Bashir
I think the author is confused about where his actual problem lies: is it the growing number of active PTI supporters amongst the literate Pakistanis or is it their not holding punches during debates. lol…
Hey guys…I again wasted my time reading his article. NFP you are biased as your articles are pro PPP and you know it why.