In the tabloid-cum-citizen journalism part of the web, Wayang Party had its own wayang by exposing govt trolling. Or so they claimed. Wayang Party did not go the extra step and state which troll belonged to which govt agency, and for all we know, they could be just visitors to that site, watching but not bitching. Nevertheless, it isn’t surprising that the sneaky web brigade is out there, somewhere, amongst us, trolling and …OMG sock puppeting. Having a go at Wayang Party is a dubious badge of honour from the govt. Heh. So oi, WTF is the fuss?

100% Sock Puppet

Our space opera brethren Brudderhood wove into their usual wall of text, privacy, as a matter of concern. Something like if we violated the privacy of the govt trolls by exposing their IPs, we are no better then them, amongst other arguments. Sorry dudes, I’m not buying that snake oil. Bring it to them! Expose the trolls if they do what trolls do, stirring up trouble and crapping on people without good reason. Heh. However, once there is a good reason to bitch, lo and behold, that “troll” is actually not a troll but a valid patron of the site, mutherfraking obnoxious even, but kosher if he contributes to the argument intelligibly. Still, one man’s troll is another man’s freedom of speech fighter.

There is trolling, and there is sock puppeting, which is really what Wayang Party is bitching about. Sock puppeting is more sophisticated and loads more Machiavellian in making black seem like white. Bet this is what the politiking web brigades from all stripes and colours are doing quietly. Heh. The schizomancer and its dreaded army of sock puppets is the unspoken plot twist in web debates since the usenet days. In the forums, the clone wars become hilarious story arcs by themselves, insider jokes among the incumbents even. How do we tell sock puppets apart from the real guy? Does it frakking matter? As long as we understand the crux of the argument in the debate, rather than how many people are parroting a particular argument, it’s all good. Quality, not quantity, dudes. Anyway, don’t feed the trolls. LOL

The govt’s information ministry reiterated that it is a light touch in the web. Whatever. Just don’t touch my ass. Actually if we want to be pedantic about it, it is from “light touch” to “lighter touch” during Lee Boon Yang’s term and now back to “light touch” under Lui Tuck Yew’s watch. OMG the semantics is telling! The new head honcho has reversed the web liberalisation and revealed that it is no longer “lighter” touch. Oh-oh the klaxon is sounding and let’s rush into the bomb shelter in the middle of our flats. What is the “light touch” anyway? Besides the tired pervy molest innuendos *Snigger* Well, Mr Brown’s public flogging at the stockade was during the govt’s “light touch” regime.

OK, time to take the Red Pill again. It has been 10 years already. Woot. Zzzzzt. I’m in.