<commit_before>---
category: blog
layout: post
title: Blocked by "the man" himself
---

<p class="lead">Or, online arguments in a nutshell.</p>

For the past few months, I've been kind of aware of people, or so-called "old-friends" who have been blocking me on Twitter, but this one *really* caught me by surprise.

<figure>
  <img src="{{ site.baseurl }}/public/images/blog/tiffysembiring/2015-06-25_19-06-28.png">
</figure>

Yep, that is Tifatul "Tiffy" Sembiring, [the ex-Minister of Communications & Technology who brought up the whole "Internet Positif" mess]({{ site.baseurl }}/blog/2014/05/12/a-desperate-plea-for-internet-freedom/), blocking me on Twitter.

Well, of course, my first reaction to this was... pretty much expected.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA <a href="http://t.co/lmqLCk6V9J">pic.twitter.com/lmqLCk6V9J</a></p>— ️ (@resir014) <a href="https://twitter.com/resir014/status/613936272751460352">25 Jun 2015</a></blockquote>

Now, I know I've been heckling him quite a lot on Twitter lately on his remark about "fast internet" in Indonesia, and this whole thing most likely went down without a fight, but although a dick move, the idea of pissing someone off with my opinions can sometimes feel rewarding.

In other words, good game Tiffy. Good game.

## A tale of two Twitter users getting on each other's nerves

Though hilarious, this also reminded me of the amazing tale of how local politicians and their so-called "criticizers" fling their bowl of shit to each other on Twitter.

I've been recently seeing a trend with Twitter blockings recently, as happened yesterday when the Indonesian Minister of Marine Affairs & Fisheries, <NAME> ([@susipudjiastuti](https://twitter.com/susipudjiastuti)) went on a Twitter feud with so-called "activist" <NAME> ([@RatnaSpaet](https://twitter.com/RatnaSpaet)).

Bu Ratna, being someone who has been actively criticising the government from her right-wing perspective, accused Bu Susi of creating bigger problems with her recent policies.

Then she got told.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/RatnaSpaet">@RatnaSpaet</a> you better chek yourself and see by yourself. Then have your opinion. Good profesional analyst do apropriate good governance</p>— <NAME> (@susipudjiastuti) <a href="https://twitter.com/susipudjiastuti/status/612455564988190721">21 Jun 2015</a></blockquote>

The argument went on for a few more tweets, ultimately leading to Bu Susi blocking her.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Saya putuskan untk berhenti tweet dg bu Ratna, tdk cukup waktu & kerjasn saya banyak jadi sy block. Juga tweet lainnya yg tidak konstruktif.</p>— <NAME> (@susipudjiastuti) <a href="https://twitter.com/susipudjiastuti/status/612827222211063808">22 Jun 2015</a></blockquote>

> Translation: I've decided to stop tweeting at Bu Ratna, I don't have time for this and I'm busy with my work. She also has other, non-constructive tweets.

## The lesson

So, what did this teach us about online arguments, yet again?

This whole debacle doesn't necessarily have to make you think that you shouldn't engage in any online debates/arguments ever, let alone starting one. Online debates are actually fun if both sides have valid points and sources to bring up, but it's better to be wary on how we try to tackle people's points.

Be wary of fallacies. From what I've seen so far, Indonesians are most likely to be caught in a fallacy. It wouldn't take long to find one, but when you do, try not to pull a ["fallacy fallacy"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGBO-WMrlIQ) on them either.

And lastly, what's also important is that you also have the right to walk away and declare someone "a troll" if the discussion becomes unhealthy.

Although some people will probably then try to spin this into "Bu Susi backing down from this argument". But the reality might be that Bu Susi is actually busy with her work as a Minister, so she probably has other important stuff to do than to answer some people's dumb rant.<commit_msg>Edited: Blocked by "the man" himself<commit_after>---
category: blog
layout: post
title: Blocked by "the man" himself
---

<p class="lead">Or, online arguments in a nutshell.</p>

For the past few months, I've been kind of aware of people, or so-called "old-friends" who have been blocking me on Twitter, but this one *really* caught me by surprise.

<figure>
  <img src="{{ site.baseurl }}/public/images/blog/tiffysembiring/2015-06-25_19-06-28.png">
</figure>

Yep, that is Tifatul "Tiffy" Sembiring, [the ex-Minister of Communications & Technology who brought up the whole "Internet Positif" mess]({{ site.baseurl }}/blog/2014/05/12/a-desperate-plea-for-internet-freedom/), blocking me on Twitter.

Well, of course, my first reaction to this was... pretty much expected.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA <a href="http://t.co/lmqLCk6V9J">pic.twitter.com/lmqLCk6V9J</a></p>— ️ (@resir014) <a href="https://twitter.com/resir014/status/613936272751460352">25 Jun 2015</a></blockquote>

Now, I know I've been heckling him quite a lot on Twitter lately on his remark about "fast internet" in Indonesia, and this whole thing most likely went down without a fight[^fn-1], but although a dick move, the idea of pissing someone off with my opinions can sometimes feel rewarding.

In other words, good game Tiffy. Good game.

## A tale of two Twitter users getting on each other's nerves

Though hilarious, this also reminded me of the amazing tale of how local politicians and their so-called "criticizers" fling their bowl of shit to each other on Twitter.

I've been recently seeing a trend with Twitter blockings recently, as happened yesterday when the Indonesian Minister of Marine Affairs & Fisheries, <NAME> ([@susipudjiastuti](https://twitter.com/susipudjiastuti)) went on a Twitter feud with so-called "activist" <NAME> ([@RatnaSpaet](https://twitter.com/RatnaSpaet)).

Bu Ratna, being someone who has been actively criticising the government from her right-wing perspective, accused Bu Susi of creating bigger problems with her recent policies, citing a questionnable source[^fn-2].

Then she got told.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/RatnaSpaet">@RatnaSpaet</a> you better chek yourself and see by yourself. Then have your opinion. Good profesional analyst do apropriate good governance</p>— <NAME> (@susipudjiastuti) <a href="https://twitter.com/susipudjiastuti/status/612455564988190721">21 Jun 2015</a></blockquote>

The argument went on for a few more tweets, ultimately leading to Bu Susi blocking her.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Saya putuskan untk berhenti tweet dg bu Ratna, tdk cukup waktu & kerjasn saya banyak jadi sy block. Juga tweet lainnya yg tidak konstruktif.</p>— <NAME> (@susipudjiastuti) <a href="https://twitter.com/susipudjiastuti/status/612827222211063808">22 Jun 2015</a></blockquote>

> Translation: I've decided to stop tweeting at Bu Ratna, I don't have time for this and I'm busy with my work, so I blocked her. She also has other, non-constructive tweets.

## The lesson

So, what did this teach us about online arguments, yet again?

This whole debacle doesn't necessarily have to make you think that you shouldn't engage in any online debates/arguments ever, let alone starting one. Online debates are actually fun if both sides have valid points and sources to bring up, but it's better to be wary on how we try to tackle people's points.

Be wary of fallacies. From what I've seen so far, Indonesians are most likely to be caught in a fallacy. It wouldn't take long to find one, but when you do, try not to pull a ["fallacy fallacy"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGBO-WMrlIQ) on them either.

And lastly, what's also important is that you also have the right to walk away and declare someone "a troll" if the discussion becomes unhealthy.

Although some people will probably then try to spin this into "Bu Susi backing down from this argument". But the reality might be that Bu Susi is actually busy with her work as a Minister, so she probably has other important stuff to do than to answer some people's dumb rant.

[^fn-1]: To be honest, I didn't even check on his Twitter page that much the past month or so, and this was actually the first time that I found out that I've been blocked. Still hilarious though.
[^fn-2]: Real talk, who even heard of Peka News? None of the people I asked for knew of this questionable source before.
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