The Nigerian Police and Twitter Echo Chamber
Regardless of the captivity of negativity on X (Twitter), which is worsened by the quest for Musk's ad revenue-sharing, many people won't stop providing nuanced perspectives on situations...
The shortcomings of the Nigerian Police Force
A couple of weeks ago, the Nigeria Police Force worried over the discovery of a gas pistol (Spyder Victor) which was recovered from a suspected robber on the Eko Bridge.
In a press statement released after the discovery of the gun, the police explained that they were still studying the gun to know how it came into the country, and why the gang decided to go for the make. It was reported that the prime suspect, who could have provided the police with the needed information about the gun, jumped into the Lagos Lagoon to avoid being arrested.
While parading the suspect and other suspects in front of the press, Lagos State Commissioner, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa "described the gun as a unique gun, Spyder Victor." The CP explained that he had never seen such a gun since he joined the force.
Idowu Owohunwa's claim that such a gun hadn't been seen in Nigeria before was misleading. A quick search on Google would have provided brief information that it's a recreational gun and is not intended to be deadly. A brief visit to any highbrow recreational center and beach would provide a better understanding of how the gun is operated. The CP's pronouncement shows the deficiency in the force's lack of diligent investigation on something even minor as a toy gun. It would be great if the Nigerian police made it a practice of conducting thorough research on an issue, no matter how flimsy, before briefing the press. This practice will save the force from embarrassment.
The brainless show of greatness on Nigerian Twitter
In a typical Nigerian style of throwing wickedly funny potshots at government parastatals for making a mistake, many Nigerians on X, formerly known as Twitter, threw aspersions on the Nigerian Police Force for calling a mere toy gun a never-seen deadly weapon. In their usual "I must shine behaviour", some made a fierce mockery of the force, and some made in-depth tweets to explain that Spyder Victor isn't a lethal weapon.
One guy wrote an in-depth tweet to show that the gun isn't as deadly as the Nigerian police claimed. Knowing how Nigerian blacksmiths could make deadly guns out of harmless materials, I asked the guy what made him think that the thieves hadn't converted the gun into a deadly weapon. Someone else replied, saying "Nigerians have comprehension issues.” I understood what he meant by that statement—it was an insult that I lacked comprehension. But I'm not a person who engage in a dick-measuring contest or brainless battle for the superiority of knowledge on the Internet. So, I replied that I didn't understand what he meant.
"Gbam! That's exactly what he was saying," the first tweep replied. "Comprehension issues. You can never get anything, my brother." Wow, what a gbas-ology!
I know what he wanted. Sadly, I had no gbos for his gbas (I had no pungent retort to his scathing attack).
Since I don't engage in pinheaded discussion on the internet, I gave him a calm reply. I explained that I knew what the gun was but I'm saying the thieves might have converted it into something deadly. I further explained that pointing out a possibility is not a comprehensive issue as he claimed. It's giving another perspective. But it's nice he saw it as an issue, though.
News of thieves robbing people with locally made guns is the fodder of Nigerian media. With the ingeniousness of some local blacksmiths, the harmless Spyder Victor could be converted into a harmful gun.
The echo chamber effect
One of the inherent challenges of X (Twitter) is the formation of echo chambers. These echo chambers are spaces where users with similar beliefs and opinions interact, reinforcing each other's viewpoints, even to the detriment of people's or societal sanity.
Within these echo chambers, confirmation bias tends to prevail. Confirmation bias is the cognitive phenomenon where individuals seek out information that aligns with their existing beliefs and dismiss or downplay information that contradicts them. In this case, those who believed the police's initial interpretation of the gas pistol may have dismissed contrary opinions without careful consideration, further solidifying their own views. And those who mocked the police misconstruction of the innocuous gas pistol failed to see the possibility of it being converted into a deadly gun by the thieves.
Caustic responses are one of the major reasons for the lack of nuanced conversation on the internet, especially X (Twitter). They are also the reasons why people are afraid of sharing dissenting opinions because someone can easily record, edit, and take whatever is said out of context just to go viral or to earn Musk's ad revenue-sharing money. Practices like these are pitched against civil discussion on issues that could be of value to individuals and the public.
The fear of being misconstrued or targeted by online mobs, fueled by canceled culture, has created an atmosphere of caution. Users are increasingly reluctant to voice opinions that deviate from the mainstream or challenge prevailing narratives. The consequences of sharing dissenting opinions can range from online harassment to real-world repercussions, making X (Twitter) a potentially hostile space for those who wish to engage in critical thinking and dialogue.
Echo chambers, confirmation bias, the fear of backlash, and the potential for tweets to be taken out of context all contribute to the challenges faced by users who wish to engage in thoughtful discourse. While X (Twitter) has undoubtedly revolutionized communication and information sharing, it also presents significant obstacles to productive dialogue.
Regardless of the captivity of negativity on X (Twitter), which is worsened by the quest for Musk's ad revenue-sharing, many people won't stop providing nuanced perspectives on situations, while others will hesitate to do so for fear of backlash or being misunderstood and canceled.
Note: I’m currently in between jobs. I would appreciate writing gigs or a full-time position as a writer or editor at a culture or tech publication outfit.