Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
A real grassroots initiative by bloggers
I just read the online media release of a proposal by a group of 15 bloggers recommending sweeping changes to the way the Internet is regulated. The media release can be found on The Online Citizen.
I’m not part of the group (I am going to dub them G15 from now), although I was aware of the initiative. I commend the G15 for investing their personal time and effort into putting together the document. It looks like it’s going to be a great piece of work, although I don’t think that the recommendations will offer anything groundbreaking but rather, the recommendations are likely to sum up all the key thoughts and arguments in the Singaporean socio-political blogosphere on Internet regulation.
The next step is, of course, so what? Can we truly expect the government to implement most of the proposals? Wearing my pragmatic hat, I would imagine that the government will, at most, acknowledge the paper but say that it is too early to implement these proposals. Of course, this is a vast improvement compared to the past. If this initiative happened 30-40 years ago, the G15 would have to do prison break, Mas Selamat style. 
While I don’t think there’s much chance of a major shift in policy as a result of the document, I do think that it would help bolster the G15′s case if the proposal is endorsed by as many netizens as possible. As it stands now, if I were the government, I would contend that the G15 is hardly representative of the online population and then proceed to ignore it. It would be much harder to question the legitimacy of the proposal if there were some 50,000 to 100,000 Singaporean netizens endorsing it.
Of course, it is going to be difficult to even get 1,000 netizens to endorse the proposal, let alone 100,000. I think that majority of the blogs in Singapore fall into the personal journaling category and these folks, having little opportunities to run afoul of any regulations, are unlikely to lend their support to the proposal. However, I think every single endorsement counts. I will read the full proposal when it is released and it is very likely that I will endorse that proposal.
The heartening thing about this proposal is that it is a genuine grassroots initiative and not the result of some committee mandated by the government. Of course, there are going to be some people who are sore at not being “invited” to give their opinions and they will claim that the G15 is an elitist group. In fact, reading the comments thread on the media release on The Online Citizen, it looks like these folks are going to start questioning the legitimacy of the proposal.
To these folks, please, get out of my elite uncaring face. Stop being so damn full of yourselves.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Aaron Ng on 19/04/2008 at 9:30 am, and is filed under Perspective. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 2 years ago
“This is where I will draw the line with my sword and stick it in the ground. I will not go further as I have no intention to win at the expense of the internet.”
I just hope he is sincere this time. If he is sincere, I believe the online community can learn from this entire episode.
My take is like this. I happen to know some of those bloggers who supported the proposal personally. I know they may have missed out some points and even possibly opened up themselves and even the wider community to possible attack, but I dont want to go after them if you know what I mean? I dont want the survey or poll. I dont think it serves any purpose other than to soothe the ego of one man and to prove him as king of the hill. What is the point of letting the truth out if it kills 15 people for one?
However, I also believe darkness did highlight many thought provoking points and some of them are really very good in my opinion, they cannot just be brushed aside. Some of them are too detailed, so probably a team was assembled and we are seeing a very professional analysis.
I believe the G15 bloggers have to tackle these issues if they want remain a credible and representative.
I dont believe its possible to ignore it, this is not a matter of I dont like them so I will not engage them and treat them as dead. Some of the issues they have raised will simply not go away so easily.
thx
about 2 years ago
I am glad somebody brought up the issue of sincerity. What I would do if I were the G15, is to get the group to do what they have expected of the government whenever the latter made a blunder. It would at least be killing two birds with one stone.
Unless they still do not think they have made a mistake or are indifferent to what people think of them or what they did. In that case, I am afraid it is more serious than an imaginary ego problem. Continuing to ignore it and hoping it would go away is no different from the act some of them have claimed the government to be guilty of.
They need to walk the talk.
about 2 years ago
Good Evening all,
I think it will serve all quarters if I furnished a full translation; “This is where I will draw the line with my sword and stick it in the ground.” In the brotherhood when we believe a protracted campaign no longer serves our interest to prosecute on the long term. It’s a face saving way out we offer to those who chose to fortify themselves and fight to the bitter end. The custom originates all the way back to Roman times. We adopted it during the early days in our game bfr the age of the machine, some 800 years ago during the VIII Republic (space time) – the symbolism is pertinent only because the brotherhood has one of the most discipline armies in the virtual which is commonly known as the Roman army or fist of God http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=1v6AHksIXn8; here the translation of the act is this. You have my word, my armies will keep to this line; it doesn’t mean; its over, only I will hold here and await your answer; usually a messenger in a white horse is sent to the walled city to discuss terms / I know this sounds like Sesame street, but trust me, we take our game very seriously. This is not a joke.
Allow me to clarify another point. Darkness has been ordered to stand down by the ASDF – choice does not feature here as much as the chain of command. The ASDF believe it’s important for us to come across as reasonable to the rest of blogosphere. They believe if others see that we are astute in attempting to explore all possible means of seeking a diplomatic resolution to this impasse. Perhaps this will prompt others to begin asking why these people choose to remain stoically silent in the face of such pressing matters which they have raised through Darkness.
I believe, we have presented valid points which deserve to be considered very seriously. But as you can see for yourself, till today, they have not even so much as acknowledged them, yet alone offer any indication that they are even considering it. This remains very disturbing to all of us and we cannot understand why. Despite their overriding importance to the rest of the netizens in blogosphere.
One thing will be clear after this; there can be no doubt about our sincerity. Even mica never bothered to do all this for Mr Brown. They hantamed him. We did all this because the ASDF in their wisdom felt we should move away from that sort of one way street real world politics – these men believe, rightly or wrongly, if blogosphere is to be a progressive and better place, then it can only be so through the setting of good examples and not just talk alone.
For us history is our witness. Not the NLB type script history, but our own history. Our account here must be clear in her eyes. If they do not even bother to address our points after all this; then I really do not know what else to say. I can only shudder at prospects one day. If any of you find yourself in the same place before this community moderator. You will have to decide how important that is to you and what’s the cost to you, if you decide to take a back seat.
You see, in life it’s very easy to point out the mistakes of other people when we all write article pointing to the bad here there and everywhere. But when it comes to your own life where it could be said, you have all the power over good and bad, as you can all see for yourself. They are not so different from even those who they choose to pick faults with no end with. We all live under one sun it seems.
Harphoon
about 2 years ago
The motivation to go thru with it, is too strong. Darkness may be right, there could be a hidden agenda
about 2 years ago
“You see, in life it’s very easy to point out the mistakes of other people when we all write article pointing to the bad here there and everywhere. But when it comes to your own life where it could be said, you have all the power over good and bad, as you can all see for yourself. They are not so different from even those who they choose to pick faults with no end with. We all live under one sun it seems.”
You know what Gandhi said dont you?
“First, they will ignore you and hope that you will just go away. If then doesnt work, then they will just build walls around you and claim that you asked them to do it”
about 2 years ago
Hello,
I am new here. I just wish to enquire. From anyone. Does anyone know how I get in touch with this character called Darkness? We want to conduct an interview. And we are willing to pay real money. If anyone has any information on how to establish contact with them please leave it here. Much appreciated. Many Thanks.
Deb