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You have to understand something about a subset of 'elite' Pakistanis. This subset cherishes creating controversies as it generates the most attention in Pakist

You have to understand something about a subset of 'elite' Pakistanis. This subset cherishes creating controversies as it generates the most attention in Pakistan and puts them on global platform as 'expert' on Pakistan issues. Pakistanis are addicted to 'conspiracy' theories and he who can garner most attention in this circle will ultimately get most media limelight within Pakistan and hence most money. Pakistan is a simpleton Country and Society in many respects and it is quiet easy to herd the masses and profit out of it. And with certain Countries always looking to drag Pakistan's name and reputation into mud, these people's outlandish claims will go unchallenged and will be etched into global media's output. This is not to say there aren't any problems with Pakistan -- there are some very serious problems and media and authors and journalists do a great job highlighting them. But unfortunately, certain class of 'elite' Pakistanis tend to view themselves as universe revolving around them. And icing on cake is that these are same Pakistanis who typically hold dual nationalities and foreign visas and on slightest signs of trouble, quickly take next flight out of Pakistan in order to evade authorities in Pakistan. They from outside of Pakistan, they continue to preach against Pakistan.

glitchc 7y ago
Don’t see this as a Pakistan-specific problem. Driven by the law of large numbers and regression to the mean, the intelligence of an average member of society is expected to be roughly constant across all countries i.e. the average person in Pakistan is about as intelligent as the average person in the United States or elsewhere. Controversies and conspiracies go viral because they capture the human imagination. They appeal to an innate tendency in us to trust a more detailed version of the event with embroidered descriptions over a simpler version where incompetence, coincidence and happenstance determine what truly happened. If there are signs of a grand master plan linking the reported event to other significant events, then all the better. It requires the capability to apply sober second thought to deconstruct such narratives and dissuade oneself, which most people lack either by virtue of talent or training. There are those who would take advantage of this gullibility to spin narratives completely devoid of reality, these elites that you refer to. And as long as their mission is to enrich themselves at the expense of others, they will continue to do so, and society will suffer as a result. Education of the masses is the only solution.
nakodari 7y ago
I believe having dual nationality gives them the courage to cover what locals may not be able to cover because they can flee in case of the prosecution from the government. However, I wouldn't call this a Pakistani specific problem, it happens the world over. If you see someone promoting communism or any ideology that the govt is against in the US, I bet the intelligence agencies will interrogate or in extreme cases just vanish that person. There are also many cases in the US where there is a huge amount of cover-up. So I wouldn't call this a Pakistani problem alone. What the author is reporting happens everywhere, West or East.
taway712 7y ago
I think you're getting downvoted because you're not really linking the content of your comment to this submission. I assume you are referring to the author as the elite? It sounds like you are criticizing the piece (or him?), but I have no idea what that criticism is. >These people's outlandish claims will go unchallenged and will be etched into global media's output. Can you tell me which claim is outlandish in this story? The appeal for positive news? The killing of the journalist? Getting to your comment: >Pakistanis are addicted to 'conspiracy' theories and he who can garner most attention in this circle will ultimately get most media limelight within Pakistan and hence most money. I'm not sure the conspiracy theories about the US and/or the Jews gets people much money. In my experience, those who most vociferously push them in Pakistan are usually those with the least money. >Pakistan is a simpleton Country and Society in many respects and it is quiet easy to herd the masses and profit out of it. They've had far too many people killed by mob violence. Someone I personally know was severely beaten by a mob on the basis of a rumor (thankfully not killed). Yes, if by profit you mean gain the upper hand in a personal vendetta by the one spreading the rumor, I can see your point.

glitchc 7y ago

Don’t see this as a Pakistan-specific problem. Driven by the law of large numbers and regression to the mean, the intelligence of an average member of society is expected to be roughly constant across all countries i.e. the average person in Pakistan is about as intelligent as the average person in the United States or elsewhere. Controversies and conspiracies go viral because they capture the human imagination. They appeal to an innate tendency in us to trust a more detailed version of the event with embroidered descriptions over a simpler version where incompetence, coincidence and happenstance determine what truly happened. If there are signs of a grand master plan linking the reported event to other significant events, then all the better. It requires the capability to apply sober second thought to deconstruct such narratives and dissuade oneself, which most people lack either by virtue of talent or training. There are those who would take advantage of this gullibility to spin narratives completely devoid of reality, these elites that you refer to. And as long as their mission is to enrich themselves at the expense of others, they will continue to do so, and society will suffer as a result. Education of the masses is the only solution.

nakodari 7y ago

I believe having dual nationality gives them the courage to cover what locals may not be able to cover because they can flee in case of the prosecution from the government. However, I wouldn't call this a Pakistani specific problem, it happens the world over. If you see someone promoting communism or any ideology that the govt is against in the US, I bet the intelligence agencies will interrogate or in extreme cases just vanish that person. There are also many cases in the US where there is a huge amount of cover-up. So I wouldn't call this a Pakistani problem alone. What the author is reporting happens everywhere, West or East.

taway712 7y ago

I think you're getting downvoted because you're not really linking the content of your comment to this submission. I assume you are referring to the author as the elite? It sounds like you are criticizing the piece (or him?), but I have no idea what that criticism is. >These people's outlandish claims will go unchallenged and will be etched into global media's output. Can you tell me which claim is outlandish in this story? The appeal for positive news? The killing of the journalist? Getting to your comment: >Pakistanis are addicted to 'conspiracy' theories and he who can garner most attention in this circle will ultimately get most media limelight within Pakistan and hence most money. I'm not sure the conspiracy theories about the US and/or the Jews gets people much money. In my experience, those who most vociferously push them in Pakistan are usually those with the least money. >Pakistan is a simpleton Country and Society in many respects and it is quiet easy to herd the masses and profit out of it. They've had far too many people killed by mob violence. Someone I personally know was severely beaten by a mob on the basis of a rumor (thankfully not killed). Yes, if by profit you mean gain the upper hand in a personal vendetta by the one spreading the rumor, I can see your point.