Irrational behaviour in the Jakarta Expats forum on Facebook

[LRB]

Hi I'm relatively new to Jakarta and have only been living here for a few months. I've posted here intermittently but haven't posted anything for a while. I also stumbled across the Jakarta Expats page on Facebook recently and thought that I'd have a look at the discussion board there.

This morning I wrote a few responses to a post in that Facebook group that was ranting about the soaring pollution levels in Jakarta during the holidays and essentially blaming it on the burning of waste. I asked the author, who is also the moderator, to verify his claim with some tangible data or reference to a measurement tool that suggests that his position is correct. After about an hour of posts that did nothing but attempt to avoid supporting his perspective he banned me from the group and then according to a friend who is still a member of the group proceeded to question the right I had to challenge him on this topic. I thought that this was a bit odd, especially considering that I didn't get personal or even go so far as to disagree with him. I merely required that he use evidence to support his assertion. I did say that he engaged in lazy thinking though...

Anyway, I was just wondering if anybody else has encountered or been subjected to similar irrational behaviour...

Best wishes,

Lee

Mod Note:

It turns out Lee Bale identified the wrong group. See post #35 which is copied below:

Hi Gemima,

I think I have made a boo boo and linked to a different 'Jakarta Expats' group. The one that I was booted from seems to be much closer to the behaviour that you have described. Sorry to any of the mods in the group that I linked to earlier, I think I've made a genuine mistake there.

The group I was booted from seemed to have a group of about 4-5 hardcore posters who all agreed with it and seem to prefer an echo chamber to a discussion forum. Shame really, the mod in question seems to have taken control of the conversation and re-purposed it for his own ends.

 

[Euc-]

Many times. Plenty of figures in those groups who have been here a while and think they know everything best. God forbid if you dare to ask questions or talk back, they are the know-it-alls from their years of experience, and the city they live in is still exactly the same "shithole" they decided to live in 20 years ago.

I've actually had a "discussion" with that exact same admin a few weeks ago, didn't get kicked out though, perhaps he was in a good mood back then?

 

[Fabius77]

I don't know the people involved, but I know that rational behavior is a scarce commodity online.

And the remaining jakartans would have to burn an awful lot of waste to make up for the reduced pollution from vehicular traffic (and cooking fumes).

 

[LRB]

Many times. Plenty of figures in those groups who have been here a while and think they know everything best. God forbid if you dare to ask questions or talk back, they are the know-it-alls from their years of experience, and the city they live in is still exactly the same "shithole" they decided to live in 20 years ago.

I've actually had a "discussion" with that exact same admin a few weeks ago, didn't get kicked out though, perhaps he was in a good mood back then?

It shouldn't be seen as 'talking back' though. And I think that you have clearly identified the flaw in their logic. I'm sure some of them could have added a bit more substance to their ideas than they did. Instead, I was seen as an interloper and the questions that I asked were cast aside as nonsense. I thought it was a group designed to share ideas and discuss topics. I guess I was wrong!!!

 

[snpark]

One could argue that during the "quiet" period that everyone decides to burn all their trash but still that would hardly make up for the missing road traffic since all that rubbish would be burnt anyway?

Fred - you are needed on FB to wind up the admin there

 

[vocalneal]

Stay away from FarceBook until it cannot be avoided It is caustic and time wasting.

 

[El_Goretto]

Facebook dumbs down everything, even the admins so it seems.

 

[Anglian]

As I was browsing around this morning on the Internet I read that since there is less traffic, jakarta air is cleaner, during Eid we have in the area I live less fires than usual , in fact we’ve had no fires as everyone has buggered off to were they all go at Eid, so in my opinion Lee you asked a good question

 

[LRB]

As I was browsing around this morning on the Internet I read that since there is less traffic, jakarta air is cleaner, during Eid we have in the area I live less fires than usual , in fact we’ve had no fires as everyone has buggered off to were they all go at Eid, so in my opinion Lee you asked a good question

Thanks Anglian. It's just a shame that these guys essentially devalue the contributions of others and trump up the value of their own assertions due to the 'facts' as they describe them. Yet, they never seem to actually define what the facts are or elucidate an actual position based on any substantive evidence lolz. Their own anecdotes based on their subjective opinions is gold apparently.

 

[Teabag]

Thanks Anglian. It's just a shame that these guys essentially devalue the contributions of others and trump up the value of their own assertions due to the 'facts' as they describe them. Yet, they never seem to actually define what the facts are or elucidate an actual position based on any substantive evidence lolz. Their own anecdotes based on their subjective opinions is gold apparently.

Unfortunately, this is a very common behavior on the net. And also a human attribute, that one only believes what one thinks is right, whether it is true or not. This has a lot to do with self-reflection and probably a bit with intelligence ...

 

[LRB]

Unfortunately, this is a very common behavior on the net. And also a human attribute, that one only believes what one thinks is right, whether it is true or not. This has a lot to do with self-reflection and probably a bit with intelligence ...

Well, during my meager 33 years on the planet, I think I've come to the realisation that a lot of people often reject outright what they don't like to hear. But eventually that some people can come to see that they were perhaps wrong about something when given time to think abut it. I think this is down to agreeableness more than directly linked to intelligence. However, I'm not entirely sure haha and admittedly it's just an assertion based on my own ideas.

 

[Bad_azz]

When idiots post unsubstantiated rubbish, and make a fight out of it, they merely make themselves look foolish and pathetic. Don't let it get to you.
No idea what the page is that you are on about but seen same old same old in many Indonesian expat pages.
If someone is trying to pull you down, then they are already beneath you.

 

[vocalneal]

that one only believes what one thinks is right,

I'm happy to be wrong if it's factual. I can't possible be expected to know everything.

 

[snpark]

If I wanted your opinion I would give it to you

 

[William King]

I know the facebook group, I do think that admin tends to be very loose with facts and runs risk of libel, in many of his posts. Tough man online, I guess.

 

[El_Goretto]

Is there a link to the group? I know a Jakarta Expat FB group but the admins are both women, so maybe not the same?

 

[LRB]

Is there a link to the group? I know a Jakarta Expat FB group but the admins are both women, so maybe not the same?

This is the group that I'm talking about: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4895993539/?ref=bookmarks

 

[El_Goretto]

This is the group that I'm talking about: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4895993539/?ref=bookmarks

OK, same group but it shows the mods as being women. Maybe the male moderators have a privacy setting to hide this information? Don't care that much to find out haha.

 

[Felicity]

Apparently the group is private. I guess, that behaviour is common, whether online or real life. In a country with high conformity, people expect us to conform to the majority even it's not right. Less conformity will possibly get us bullied - like being banned or blocked unreasonably.

 

[atlantis]

This is the group that I'm talking about: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4895993539/?ref=bookmarks

Hahaha.. They should thank us for sending them good people. in the few hours after you posted the link twoe of our respected members joined them.

Anyway, I am a member myself apparently. Can't remember when and why (probably to post a link to our forum ) I joined.