Online Store and Papuan Community (1): We Believe Political News Online Rather than Online Store

New Guinea has first contacts with foreigners only in the late 20th century. That is why New Guinea is commonly referred to as the "ends of the world", or "the lost world".

The modern world and modern society began to emerge into our society just recently, some in my generation and some since one generation ago. For my community I am the first generation that have influence from modern society. I want to share some views and perspectives, as well as experiences based on my interactions with the world.


This first note is on Papuan's reaction to Online News and Online Store. Most Papuans believe Online News more than News on televisions or on paper, but at the same time Papuans are hesitant to believe offers and sales Online (Online store).

When someone talks about a news item, and related to television channel that broadcasted the news, then most Papuans will ask, "Did you ask Mr. Internet about the TV broadcast?" Or "What did Mr. Internet say about the news?" Even a Papuan villager, who does not know anything about computer, let alone about Internet, will ask, "Just trust Mr. Internet, don't trust television". That is what we Papuan say in common when we hear any news. Very opposite response we will get when we talk to the same person who said, "Did you ask Mr. Internet about the news?" about a product being sold Online. For example, if a Papuan badly in need for a Solar Panel for his/ her house in remote village in the highlands of West Papua and asked me to find one out there on sale, and then when told him/her "There is one online, the cheapest one, but those offline in the store are very expensive," then the most probable reply will be, "It is OK, just get me the one in the store, I do not want the one sold online". If we then ask them, "Don't you believe Mr. Internet more than Mr. Television? I am telling you, Mr. Internet is selling cheaper than the one in the store." The most probable reply is still, "I want the most expensive one, but the one that is in the store, not the online one."

 From here, we need to ask, "What is wrong" with this Papuan villager, who in one side fully trusts Mr. Internet, but on the other side totally refuse to buy things that Mr. Internet sells?

 I know the answer, because I am one of those Papuan highlander and/ or Papuan villager, but can you guess?

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