Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
Keeping the blogging flame alive
Not too long ago, I wrote an entry titled “What is a blog (and blogging)?“, and I likened blogging to a conversation between myself and my readers (which I should clarify here include bloggers who blog about what I write).
I had a comment from Yun in one of my recent entries, and I’m going to quote something that he said.
So yes, the government could begin by listening and accepting others’ points of views. Keep blogging people!
As a blogger, it is encouraging to receive such comments. Frankly, blogging is not something that’s very easy to do, especially for socio-political bloggers (sploggers). Perhaps I cannot speak for other sploggers, but I find myself thinking hard about socio-political issues before I write about them. There are some considerations that I think about, such as whether I’ll be sued, whether I’ll be arrested, and whether people will be willing to accept my opinion (especially if it deviates from mainstream opinion or official government positions). I’m fine with people disagreeing with my stand because hey, I’m not an all-knowing genius.
Therefore, I’m very appreciative of comments such as Yun’s. It helps keep the blogging flame alive. It gives me a reason to continue writing. It makes me soldier on to accomplish what I think is important for the future of Singapore society, which Dr Huang describes aptly:
This is our only Home. We want to engage society actively and constructively. Only by asking the right questions can we arrive at the correct answers. There is no need for fear as we are only doing what we must. To be apathetic is to be selfish and derelict in our duty to our children and our children’s children!
If you ever read a blog entry by a blogger/splogger that you value or appreciate, please give him/her a comment. Encourage the person to continue adding his/her voice to the debate. If possible, add your own voice in as well. A more inclusive society cannot be built by the words of the prime minister. It has to be built by the people. Help keep this flame alive.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Aaron Ng on 09/03/2007 at 1:14 pm, and is filed under Ramblings. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 4 years ago
“To be apathetic is to be selfish and derelict in our duty to our children and our children’s children”
Well said. As the commandoes say, ” If not you then who? If not now then when?”
about 4 years ago
i was just thinking, not to be apathetic is only conditional on the fact that doing so won’t bring about too high a cost or too much of a liability towards one, or even worse, one’s children.
about 4 years ago
Aaron,
Do you know…this is my first comment on your blog, ever?? Hahahaha.
Sorry ah, I think too much when commenting on Ben’s blog mah, so now i come to your blog and talk stupid stuff. Hahahaha.
You’re not an all-knowing genius?? Die liao lah. What about those netizens who treat your words as the gospel truth?? What about all your fans?? =P
Anyways to add. Commenting is very encouraging. But other ways of encouraging would to be to actually get in contact with the bloggers and get to know the person. We all human mah. Then if very arh with the blogger, can meet up and drink coffee make new friend mah. Like me and Aaron. See we so friendly. =P
Anybody wants to play board games with me and Aaron??
about 4 years ago
FO,
ur point about getting bloggers to meet is a rather good one.
Neutral bystander,
Sometimes suffering some costs now can bring benefits in the future. If one is willing to just let things go by, true he may be comfortable for a time but who can say for sure? One day everything could go haywire and by then it would be too late for preventive action cuz damage is oreddy done…
about 4 years ago
Lol FO,
Do I need to welcome you with a big banner??
Ned, you free to meet next week?
about 4 years ago
Aaron,
Perhaps during the later half of the week, after wed?
about 4 years ago
i always thought blogging was like writing a (open) diary. you talk and gossip about your day and experiences, no-holds-barred.
i mean, are people more likely to write political sentiments and potentially defaming statements in their private diaries? there’s something inherent in blogging that’s not in diary writing.
given the nature of open-diaries, easily accessible online, people change the way they write. “mr hyde” seems to appear rather easily.
blogs are not blogs but forums if one invites remarks and debate by enabling the comment function, right? diaries with the purpose of engaging people shouldn’t be considered blogs. i think blogs are web-logs that people like xiaxue (in her 1st couple of years in blogging) write – talking about their day and taking the mickey out of their experiences. it’s people who take a side, a political slant, who actually break ranks from my definition of blogging.
hrrmmmm? (makes the yoda sound)
about 4 years ago
sam,
I find it puzzling that taking sides (and political slants) will make a blog not a blog anymore. Could such activities not constitute “talking about the day”?
about 4 years ago
blogs are not blogs but forums if one invites remarks and debate by enabling the comment function, right? diaries with the purpose of engaging people shouldn’t be considered blogs.
All these people will be very surprised to hear that they are not bloggers.
If you think people who use blogs as platforms for discussion are an anomaly, you really should get about more.
about 4 years ago
haha. sometimes talking about the day/experience causes one to be self-reflexive, spurring the sociological imagination, linking his/her private troubles with the larger part of society. (i’m touting social sciences here, am i?)
this is where i differentiate this from a person who starts off not talking about private troubles, but that of the public. and i feel that this person is not blogger, by my sheer sentimental definition of what a blogger is, which is someone who talks about his/her day.
some blogs are made to influence and rally people, with persuasive (mis-)information and style. i don’t think they should be called blogs. i mean, how many diaries have/desire the same effect, besides ‘mein kampf’? the desire itself takes away the essence of blogging, which is a derivate of logging. in this case, we’ve to look at intention.
but of course, it’s a very very fine thin line and i happen to be on one side.