Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is the talk of the town. Naysayers have several objections – some which are fair, some not quite. One particular complaint, however, is a unique piece of criticism leveled against the party: that of the PTI troll, someone we all know and despise.
When criticising the PTI on public forums, especially Twitter, a commenter is often subjected to harsh language and offensive speech by ‘supporters’ of the party. Instead of presenting arguments against criticism, these trolls subject the critic to intense cyber abuse. While I agree that this behaviour is not in the party’s interests, criticising the party for it and claiming that the majority of PTI supporters are on the same wavelength is misleading.
To explain this trolling, I think it’s important to understand two things: the stature of Imran Khan, and the quality of education of the masses. Here are examples:
Almost a year ago I was on a Shahid Afridi Facebook fan page. There was an ongoing discussion on his captaincy where I contributed my opinion. I posted that I thought he wasn’t cut out for the job and should be in the team just as a specialist bowler, citing various reasons such as ball-biting, retiring from Tests etc.
I had no idea what I was going to face next. By the end of the day, on a single thread I had been compared to a dozen animals, called an enemy of the state and also been called a mixture of a pig and the backside of a type of primate. Yes, I had been trolled.
I had a similar experience defending some of Marvi Sirmed’s views on a Zaid Hamid fan page. Here I was called an Indian-born, Jewish, CIA agent.
Another time, after I posted a minuscule bit of criticism of the great Muhammad Ali Jinnah, I was sent incredibly unpleasant messages in my Facebook inbox which did scare me at a point.
My point is that people here are emotional, especially about the people they love.
Imran Khan is a national hero, and therefore has a different standing compared to his political opponents. A lot of people have an emotional bond to the man, as some do with Zaid Hamid, Afridi, Jinnah and others. It’s difficult for these people to digest criticism of their heroes, even if it’s constructive. They get defensive, and then, at times, offensive.
This is not a justification – nothing can be, but it’s an explanation for why it happens. A part of the country’s Twitter population does not have access to quality education and has not been exposed to enough training in critical reasoning to put rational thought before emotion.
Others do it for fun. Yes, that means some PTI supporters will be offensive and will troll you, but does it mean that every supporter is the same? Of course not. Some might not even be associated with the PTI. The party has repeatedly asked people not to be offensive on forums and has disowned any supporter who does so. In my opinion, nothing more can be done about this on social media platforms.
Trolling is, without a doubt, offensive and should be condemned. But to claim that the troll is unique to the PTI is a criticism stemming from desperation. Ask poor Marvi Sirmed what she has to go through to hold an opinion. I support the PTI, but also get offensive DM’s on Twitter every time I write about a societal issue.
There are no PTI trolls – trolls are just trolls. My advice is to ignore them if you can, or better, drown them in a flood of your own troll vocab. Oh, wait. Not a flood, a tsunami.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.
you always right a sane and balanced article. good job 🙂
You are totally wrong. Trolls are not the common supporters of PTI alone but in their top leadership is worst. Have you listened to abusive, derogatory and below the belt language used by Imran Khan in his speeches? Take an example of Arif Alvi and how does he address other hosts on talk shows.
nice perspective. And thank God you didn’t justify it, though at one point it seemed as if you will.. Haha…Just kidding…nice article!
Why on earth do we try to find smallfaults in PTI an Imran Khan? I mean WHY?? when it comes to other parties and their immense record full of abuse, corruption, money laundering, extortion, militant groups, nobody gives a damn a out them and will still support them for such huge faults. But PTI? NO. even if they just kill an ant also people start hating them. And btw, most of PTI supporters are frustrated people who are fed up of the mess so they get emotional
Nice article. Thank u very much for explaining the trolling attitude. PTI is an ocean and InshAllah will become an institution. As u said ‘’ There are no PTI trolls – trolls are just trolls’’
whoa???!?!? Last time I check trolling wrt. social media was the act of a person who comment on a given matter that is absolutely does not pertain to the subject of the matter but is of such a type that incites replies and thus the thread is elongated unnecessarily. The PTI Abusers can’t be termed as trolls. They are plain abusers of the opportunity they have found on the web.
must say there are journalists who also troll on twitter for their rating
From top to bottom, PTI abusers curse others as looters while in the end fled away with plastic chairs. Let them try to change the world with Leghari’s, Qureshi’s and Qasuri’s, in the end they will have same plastic chairs left, screaming in streets about the real chair which turn-coats will be enjoying.
Awesome!! yaar someone please send this article to Ms. Bucha as well…she really needs to read this piece..!
oh the liberals crying for political correctness ? if you cant take the heat get out of the kitchen. You give in opinion you get a response
I tell you, they’re everywhere.
@Amna:
what is balanced about it? where is the PTI view on this ?
Compare PTI’s trolls in cyber space versus the militant gangs (called supporters) of PPP, PML-N, ANP and ofcourse, how can we forget, the MQM! Its like comparing apples with AK 47’s.
Couldn’t agree more!!! One of the main reasons why I m totally irritated by PTI and definitely not voting for it!! PTI trolls have simply ruined the party’s image!
Nice Write up, that explains the troll
@RK: not voting for PTI? then who? you think other party members dont cuss?
@Modazul: well.. when PTI claims to be different, people are perfectly justified in having different standards for PTI.
@RK:
If you judge a party by its supporters, i can only feel sympathy for you. I hope you will eventually realize that when you vote for a party, you vote for “the” party – not its supporters. Crazies are everywhere. But i still respect them as long as they dont assault and hit the opponent.
@ AbU Bakar. Sigh you totally missed the point. No other leader in Pakistan except few in MQM attack personally other party leaders. If you have forgotten kindly youtube Imran khan comparing Zardari with Kutta and resembling Babar Ghauri kids with African kids. Such low level attacks in public forum was un heard at such high level in Pakistani politics and so its supporters started taking the same line. It all starts from the top leadership.
Do people even know what a ‘troll’ or ‘trolling’ means? I’d suggest people to look the word up in the dictionary before using it.
The people, who abuse Marvi Sirmad and hail Zaid Hamid are almost always PTI lovers. They are one and the same because they are indoctrination with the false grandeur. These self proclaimed revolutionary and self righteous hooligans are obsessed with the thoughts that only Imran Khan with a patch work of “turn coats” can miraculously steer the nation.
@Nadeem:
Dr. Alvi is one of the most soft-spoken technocrats out there in politics?? which shows have you been watching lately???
As l like politics based on relevant argument. I think PTI “internet trolls” and supporter need to learn from miles away from Ron Paul supporters. Who are very well organised and much reasoned as they are well versed on issues. On other side of it sometimes the term is just used to demonize the opposite side heavily numbered. so if some one is classified or painted as troll he might have more chance on being on the right issue.
I think the media has to bare some burden over the issue. I’ve seen more perverted language used by journalists-against fellow journalists-than the trolls.
@Justice:
LOL, who told u that those were all PTI workers/supporters? they were villages who come to listen IK speech, so that if their mindset changes n they want 2 c good future, vote for IK party..,but if they want same looters to b sitted on their heads again..its their wish!! n then these chair’s looters shd not cry that cruel landlord MNA(not all landlords are same) loot their families…
PTI trolls make as much sense as Imran khan does which is virtually nothing
Oh paaai saadi kursiaa tey wapas karaayeen
Agree completely.
And with Shehbaz Sharif launching his fb page, trolling is not unique to PTI anymore. I posted a couple of respectfully-worded questions on his page, concerning his decision to move to Jeddah, and within minutes I had been trolled. PML N supporters firmly beleived that I had been launched by Israel, like Jemima was, to disrespect the Amir-ul-Momineen ‘s younger brother. And of course some of my close relatives were also remembered.
Since more social media users support PTI, there are naturally more trolls who can be (incorrectly) labelled IK-trolls. But as a proportion, supporters/fans of any other personality are at least as likely to troll, as IK fans are.
I look forward to your deconstruction of “liberal” trolls.
the bottom line is troll is troll it has no origin NO descend….when it comes to politics IMRAN KHAN IS THE BEST REST ARE BAD NO VISION NO POLICY
Oh no, not another deconstruction!
@Yasir Mehmood:
your post doesnt make any sense too btw!
Let’s not troll. As they say… parho gay likho gay tu hogay nawab, troll karo gay tu hogay kharab,,, aur woh bhi garmi mai.
All the baccha supporters and nanha leaders like Arif Alvi of PTI can not answer one simple question “Who killed roger the rabbit”, LOL just kidding. Nice article.
IK is the biggest reason PTI will go down as the biggest disappointment in history.
PTI- Pakistan Taliban-I-Insaf
sorry to say but i dont think you know what ‘trolling’ means which is hilarious
Chalo Chalo Mizar e Quaid Chalo 25th dec … Chalo Chalo Mizar e Quaid Chalo 25 th dec … 2 days remaning its time to rethink karachi .. Imran Khan Zindabad…. Chalo CHALO Mizar e Quaid Chalo …
@Nadeem:
Totally agree with you and want to add that if Imran Khan could publicly ridicule President Zardari then everything can be expected from his followers/supporters !
@youth Karachai…chalo chalo Mizar e Qaid…tear it and fled away with doors, windows and grills!
Another great post.
Go to Mazare Quaid on 25th december to pay Tribute to Quaid-e-Azam, not to listen jokes of Imran khan and Musharraf group supporting him
@Modazul:
I don’t think that it is about finding fault with PTI and Imran. The question here is that PTI supporters come across as believing that PTI is the only solution to Pakistan’s woes. This is not true as PTI lacks public support and is clueless as to how to handle the major issues faced by Pakistan today.
whats there in the article to criticize??
its a simple, well written piece of opinion!! thats all! i think its better and high time as well, we learn the art of speaking and remaining silent at right times! its easy not that difficult, i can bet on it!
Imran khan is the only hope as far as pakistani political scenario is concerned.Atleast he is untried one n manifesto of PTI is dynastic politics……best of luck Imran Khan
Before you write deconstructions, you might want to understand what a ‘troll’ really is:
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion. The noun troll may refer to the provocative message itself, as in: “That was an excellent troll you posted”.
hey no abusive talk about IMRAN KHAN 😛 i am damn possesive about him and his party:P 😀 see the agression 😛
we people are fool, why are we so much reluctant in giving PTI a chance in next elections?what worst will be happen if supppppppppose imran khan is a liar (like the whole lot of existing politicians)? we are at the bottom of the tank so take a long breath because we can,t go more deeper from here ,we have to rise and we will rise INSHA ALLAH :))