The utopian state

There is a country which is witnessing exponential growth in every sector. Inflation that once marred the economy is almost in check, while citizens have reposed their trust in institutions, with mega projects like dams being built from charity collected across the globe. Once a stagnant country, is now rising like a phoenix from its ashes. The country alluded to in the lines above exists in a parallel universe we all know as social media. However, sometimes the radiation of events from this proverbial universe affects our real world too, and right now this is happening in Pakistan.

The prevalent scenario can aptly be elucidated with the help of a term from Psychology called “Illusion of truth”. The technique was effectively used by Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels who said, “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth”. 

The tool and its usefulness has impressed the incumbent government so much that they have also embarked on this path to gain easy political millage, but the problem is that they assumed it was an elixir that could cure any problem they might encounter. However, they need to be told that too much use of the same legerdemain can also desensitize the masses, and rather than doing any good, it has started to work against them.

So the ludicrous streak of sensationalism manifested itself with ‘helicopter-gate’ that started a new debate in the country regarding per kilometre expenses of a chopper flight. Rather than ignoring the information minster’s naïve claim, the intelligentsia joined their heads together to solve this mystery. Those who never got more than 50 percent marks in mathematics went to the extent of deriving complex theorems on social media to prove their point for, and against, the claim.

Then it was reported by a senior journalist that our Prime Minister refused to take the French Premier’s callSupporters of PTI were on cloud nine that at last they had found someone who does things the way he likes, and does not bend over backwards like the previous leaders. A few days down the line, it emerged that it had I fact only been minor officials who were trying to schedule a call for an appropriate time which was convenient for both leaders.

Giving false hopes based on false assumptions will only create a utopian state on social media. Things need to be set straight, otherwise the ultimate losers will be the people of Pakistan who have given PTI the right to govern the country.

The writer can be reached via twitter: @murtazakazi1