1. #Eritrea’n social media engagements in a nutshell. Facts? What facts? #OpinionMattersMost

(A thread)

(With little overgeneralization to establish my argument) no matter where you stand politically, #Eritrea'n social (traditional) media reflect similar inclinations.

2. Lack of news that resulted from media blackout, economic blight, stern political developments, etc. R filled with opinions, often made up.
Repression advocates (supporters) establish their facts from Op-Eds, editorials, communiques, slogans, even perhaps artworks.
#Eritrea

3.The state media, where news was manufactured from editorials, serves as a role model. https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/07/eritrea-anecdotes-indefinite-anarchy-170705064408749.html.
Slogans take a substantial proportion of the gov. media & later help in formulating opinions; soon to be passed as facts. #OpinionMatters #Eritrea

4.Cheerleaders, such as @stesfamariam, @Ghidewon, @hawelti (I am enjoying the break after they blocked me) R resistant to facts and dutifully rebut anything stated by their “adversaries.” This would be followed by acrimonious attacks of the troll brigade. #OpinionMatters #Eritrea

5. On the other end of the spectrum R the “justice-seekers;” who espoused the same playbook. Strong opinions are passed as facts, or facts are established through consensus. Anyone who shows slightest difference is automatically labeled as “PFDJ stooge.” #OpinionMatters #Eritrea

6. For example the former army commander & prisoner of conscience (28+years), Biteweded Abraha has been conferred with brigadier general and Mesfin Hagos is a general with public consensus, formulated on social media. Good luck if you try to argue both do not have military ranks.

7. Many only accept one condition—confirm their opinions, assumptions or biases. Otherwise anyone who dares to argue should be ready to be vilified and publicly called out. With most fake accounts and handles, you can’t even take the conversation an inch. #OpinionMatters #Eritrea

8. This culture has produced an exceptional tendency. The burden of proof lies on whoever questions Z claims. Z vile exchanges scared many & turned them into observers. “The best lack all conviction while the worst/Are full of passionate intensity.” W.B. Yeats The Second Coming.

9. Example: many people have been asking me to provide proof as I countered @AtvAsena’s claim of #Eritrea’n commandos’ deployment in #Ethiopia. Some prominent #Oromo activists who have made such public statements similarly restored to “let @AbiyAhmedAli or #PFDJ disprove us.”

10. Good luck if you fail to confirm what most people in Z camp want to hear. For example: I was updating on Z failed assassination attempt of #GeneralSebhatEphrem in Dec. 2019. Many were extremely angry as I was telling he was alive as opposed to others who claimed of his death.

11. Similarly, in April this year, amid the wild rumors of the death of #LifePresidentIsaiasAfwerki, just because I refuted the claims, many openly called me out while others asked for proof. Some would even argue as if this is a matter of opinion. #OpinionMatters #Eritrea

12. Oddly, others who have been floating about Isaias’ incapacitated state or perhaps his possible replacements or some who claimed he is 50% dead (strangely) would pass unexamined. #OpinionMatters #Eritrea

13. None of the traditional media or the social media influencers who made wild claims would later apologize if proven wrong. They would rather justify it: “he won’t live forever and one day he will die, anyways.” #OpinionMatters #Eritrea.

14. I am worried this is slowly eroding the culture of trust media needs to nurture and eventually cultivating a collective amnesia. It’s further exacerbated by incestuous culture of anonymity and multiple interest groups with several agendas. #OpinionMatters #Eritrea.

15. Need proof? Just wait and see the reactions to this thread.
#Eritrea. Facts? What facts? #OpinionMattersMost