Tag: online trolling

  • Shahid Afridi responds to ‘criticism of Khan’ by PTI supporters

    Shahid Afridi responds to ‘criticism of Khan’ by PTI supporters

    Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi responded to social media criticism he has been receiving after he expressed his views about PTI’s government in a recent interview.

    In a video posted on YouTube with the caption, ‘Pakistan’s sovereignty above all’, Afridi said that he wanted to respond to “negative criticism” on social media. He started by saying that he is grateful that he was born in Pakistan and will continue to serve his country in every way that he can.

    Afridi stated he has always admired Imran Khan’s leadership in cricket and politics.

    “Imran Bhai is my ideal. I started cricket only because of him as Khan inspired me. He showed leadership in the 1992 World Cup and that’s why we won the World Cup.” Afridi also lauded Shaukat Khanum Hospital and said it is a huge contribution to our society by the former premier.

    “I have always said that whoever comes to power should complete five years in government. I have always praised Imran Khan as a leader but it’s my right to disagree with his policies and views. Do not convert difference of opinion into hatred. In a civilised society, difference of opinion is tolerated.”

    He also praised PTI government’s Sehat Card.

    “I spoke as a common Pakistani regardless of any political ideology,” he added. “when I congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on becoming Prime Minister, I knew that I would be criticised for it. I didn’t do it due to any vested interest. Whoever becomes a leader of this country should be respected as he/she represents us all over the world.”

    Afridi also thanked and praised overseas Pakistanis.

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1522657700575907843?s=20&t=CRGRnGTIHNrGjT5jo24pFQ

    Previously, Afridi in an interview said Imran Khan committed numerous blunders during his time as Pakistan’s premier. He went on to say that Imran should own up to his mistakes and be held accountable for them. Afridi added that he and his family had high expectations for Imran Khan, but that he did not deliver.

    Social media users criticised Afridi for voicing his political opinion and congratulating Prime Minister Shebaz Shairf.

  • ‘Open challenge idiots, weli awam’: Zarnish Khan slams troll brigade for criticising Meera’s viral video

    ‘Open challenge idiots, weli awam’: Zarnish Khan slams troll brigade for criticising Meera’s viral video

    Reposting a video of actress Meera from the 20th Lux Style Awards, in an attempt to take a dig at her, a blog had written, “Uff yaar Meera ki English!” with laughter emoticons. Sharing the same on her Instagram story, Sun Yaara star Zarnish Khan commented, “Yaar bas kardo weli awaam (Can you people cut it out already?)”

    She then asserted, “I’m pretty sure all the people who make such memes or cut-out video clips are a bunch of idiots themselves, who probably can’t even speak Urdu fluently, let alone English.”

    The Ishq Zah-e-Naseeb diva reminded everyone that just because most of us can pass comments in the shadows, without ever having to worry about our reputation being dragged through the mud; does not mean we’ve earned the license to publicly shame people in the limelight.

    “Just because you can hide behind the anonymity of a cyber-network, doesn’t give you a right to make fun of other people,” the Ye Dil Mera actor lashed out. “Maybe she [Meera] can’t speak well in English but is that a crime? How well do you know this language? Are you ready for an open challenge? I bet you aren’t!” She concluded by asking her followers to “stop being so shallow please!”

    In the video, Meera was struggling to say, “I’m very excited to be here, obviously it’s a big night today. I want to congratulate Lux Style Awards for completing 20 years, it’s an achievement, me bohat khush hun aj (I’m really happy today).”

  • Shafqat’s disappointment

    Last month, Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood voiced his disappointment at the language used by young students on Twitter and social media. Responding to a question by senior anchorperson Asma Shiraz, Mahmood said: “The kind of language these children are using on Twitter, I think it is a collective failure of the government, teachers and parents. One feels ashamed.” Shafqat Mahmood was being trolled by students online for not postponing their exams. Later, the government did postpone the exams till June 15.

    Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir, who was leading voices to raise the issue of exams on social media and a vocal critic of Shafqat Mahmood, came to the latter’s defence regarding online abuse. Jibran tweeted: “Dear Students, anyone encouraging you to make nasty comments or insulting tweets to highlight your exam issue doesn’t have your best interest at heart. I’ll repeat don’t hurt your cause or embarrass those supporting you by participating in such trends. Keep it clean & respectful.”

    Unfortunately, online trolling and abuse has become a norm in recent years. Trolls are basically people who attack people online in a vicious and malicious way. There are many studies that observe why trolls behave this way. Dr Mark Griffiths, Professor of Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University, told the BBC that most people troll others “for either revenge, for attention seeking, for boredom, and for personal amusement”. Then there are paid trolls who are part of political parties and other interest groups. It is their job to silence their critics by attacking them. Politicians, journalists, feminists, activists and many others face vicious online troll attacks in Pakistan and other countries. But this does not make it right. Trolls feel powerful because of the anonymity that social media provides. A lot of trolls do not use their own real names and identities. This makes them feel even more ‘powerful’ and they think they can say anything to anyone, be it celebrities, politicians, journalists, etc. Trolls also think that there are no consequences for such behaviour but this is not completely true either. In some cases, trolls who were identified have lost their jobs, have been expelled from educational institutions and some have even gone to jail for threatening others online.

    Shafqat Mahmood’s disappointment is something that everyone who has faced online trolling can relate to. We hope that young students and other people who think they can say anything and everything to strangers just because it’s an online space will introspect and behave more appropriately, as they would do in an offline space.