Tech Credited With Reducing Nigerian Election Death Toll

jfruh writes: Dozens died in the runup to Nigeria's most recent election — a shocking statistic to many Westerners, but a relief in comparison to the much more serious violence that plagued earlier elections. Observers are crediting technology with making the election safer: the use of biometric IDs gave voters more confidence in the results, and social media gave people a chance to blow of anger that might've otherwise results in street brawls.

Comments

You do not discharge anger from engaging in it

[quietwalker]

This is a common misconception. You cannot "get your anger out" by indulging in it. Hitting a pillow or screaming until you're hoarse, or verbally thrashing someone on the internet does not make you act like a gentle person the rest of the day.

If that was the case, you'd see most of our professional athletes; especially hockey players, football players, and boxers, as some of the most gentle, even-keeled people that ever existed.

If anything, this makes us more used to binge angry, as we acclimate to it physiologically and psychologically. Perhaps this is why it seems those above atheletes are prone to excessive and often illegal violence on and off the field.

Re:You do not discharge anger from engaging in it

[naasking]

You don't prove your point by mentioning people who have steroid rage. Normal people can absolutely get their anger out by spending some time with a punching bag.

Wrong.

Re:You do not discharge anger from engaging in it

[UncleGizmo]

Perhaps more accurately, the article could hypothesize that using social media to vent removes the people from venting in the streets - not reducing the anger, per se, but rather creating distance which could reduce actual violence.

Re:Uhuh.

[Anonymous Coward]

How about... they're finally shaking off the shackles of dependency from a legacy of colonialism and learning that self-determination, rule of law and free trade actually make for a better society?

Nigeria stopped being a British colony 55 years ago, in 1960. The majority of present-day Nigerians were not yet born when Nigeria was last under British rule. They've had many, many changes of government since then.

I'm not trying to start a flame war, I'm genuinely curious. What makes you feel that Nigeria's problems are a result of British colonization? What are the specific ways in which the "legacy of colonialism" has affected their recent history?

Re:Voter IDs gave them confidence in the results?

[DaHat]

but you can't argue that voter-ID laws don't skew elections away from Democrats and toward Republicans

That tends to be what happens when you make it harder to commit voter fraud.