Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
Self-regulation by the blogging community: why not?
In reading Dhamendra Yadav and Bernard Leong’s thoughts on self-regulation by bloggers, I find myself agreeing with the principle of self-regulation.
The reason is simple enough. I don’t wish to see a blogger get into trouble over something posted on his/her blog out of ignorance. I don’t think that any blogger would intentionally seek trouble; the problem is more of a lack of knowledge of the environment governing communication.
Of course, why should bloggers self-regulate instead of leaving it up to the authorities? BL postulated blogger aversion to anything official as one reason. My perspective is that self-regulation may postpone an overly strict set of guidelines by official bodies that can restrict the relatively free space of expression enjoyed now by Singaporean bloggers.
The changes in the Penal Code might be a sign of things to come if things continue in their current trajectory. As the government begins to have greater experience with blogging, they will eventually figure out how best to control blogosphere. A self-regulating community may not prevent legislation, but it can help delay legislation or offer recommendations for any new legislation governing blogosphere such that it will not stifle the fledgling blogging community.
An association representing bloggers will cut more ice with authorities rather than individual bloggers voicing their opinions. This is a way of life everywhere, so it should not be a surprise. The question is whether such an association will have the support of the blogging community in general. For the association to work, it must be able to command enough support, or else it will just be a paper tiger.
I believe that such an association will actually command support if it can be a comprehensive source of information on blogging in Singapore, and that it actually can do some behind the scene negotiation if any member happen to transgress. Topics such as libel/defamation laws, copyright laws, ethics, good writing, nature of computer-mediated communication etc should be of considerable interest to most bloggers, whom I suspect are probably rather ignorant about all these right now. The closest website I’ve seen providing such information is on WWLegal but I think more can be done.
Ultimately, I hope that bloggers will come round to seeing the merit in having an association. To cut to the chase, its really for their own protection. In Singapore, our constitution gurantees freedom of expression but with restrictions. If we do not pre-empt the officials, it’s only a matter of time before the restrictions come in, which may very well kill the Singaporean blogging community. And, an association will raise the credibility of blogging. Members will be deemed ‘accredited’, and this will remove claims of blogs being unreliable by our government leaders. If bloggers can uphold a certain set of code of conduct, they can write with greater confidence and their words be taken with greater credibility.
Of course, as BL rightly pointed out, when people get together, there is bound to be politicking. However, should this even deter the formation of an association, given the benefits of having one? Singaporeans from all walks of life are blogging, and we can harness the collective expertise of this group, such as lawyers, academics, PR practitioners, writers etc to take the Singapore blogosphere to another level. Even if one does not wish for his/her blog to be a credible alternative to mainstream media, being a member of the association signifies that the content can be read with confidence because it is written in accordance with a set of guidelines.
On whether blogosphere is ready for such an association, I think that is a pointless debate. Maybe it’s just my perception, but I think that people will never agree on whether blogosphere is ready for such an association. I would just say that some bloggers should just get the ball rolling and see how things go from there. I’m willing to give this a shot. Anyone else willing to join?
| Print article | This entry was posted by Aaron Ng on 06/12/2006 at 1:52 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 5 years ago
good point on a self-regulatory organisation. But sooner or later when the Gahmen decides to implement these laws, no one can stop them anyway.
Remember how the Gahmen looks upon citizen activism? They will point out one or two cases of black sheep and they will implement the law. They are so used to mothering us that they will probably look upon any organisation with loads of suspicion anyway.
Better faster talk before the laws get implemented. Jail got no blogger hor.
about 5 years ago
And how about joining up with BL and Dhamendra Yadav and then… actively solicit support?
observer-from-afar,
kh
about 5 years ago
Association? This is complicated, is it not? A charter, manifesto or code of conduct, yes. This can be accomplished very easily even by yourself. Yes?
But I sense fear – do you know WHY they fear? Do you really know why?
Destiny being placed in the palm of ones hands. Is a responsibility.
All I can say is this – when you are ready, you know where to find us.
Remember this, if you do not bother to write your own history, someone else will write it for you!
Do not fear, fear is the mind killer!
about 5 years ago
The Litany of Fear.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
By Brother F.Herbert (who happens to be a very good friend of darkness – the father of the game)The book of ages. Pg 2484.
about 5 years ago
An assembly of like-minded people is dangerous to the whiter Singaporeans. While it is a good idea, I think that the time is not yet arrived. The mindsets of most people are ready for this. The minds need to break the chains of MIW before we are really put this together. It will need time but we hope that we will get there.
about 5 years ago
Hi darkness, I agree that a code of conduct is very easy to come up with. However, an association confers the benefit of representation, which can be quite useful. It will allow the government a definite point to engage the blogging community, and it certainly helps to have a centralised point of contact somewhere. It’s like you don’t know when you will need it, but might as well have it just in case.
I’m not reading you too clearly on the fear part. I think I need a more direct explanation.
about 5 years ago
Yes, you have a point, but it also means we will be like fish in a bucket. Consider this.
Right now we are a moving target, that is a strategic. In the enterprise of war, there is wisdom in being a shadow warrior – consider this my friend.
Once you are association you are a sitting duck.
You will go down in Singapore history my friend – few have the balls to bring this topic up – I personally have great admiration for you – consider this very carefully.
Chronicler, they do NOT understand our ways, stop!
about 5 years ago
The PAP wants to control bloggers, and to the extent that is possible (within jurisdiction), it would be easier to have an organisation and a leader they can fight and nail (think Al Queda). Even better, if they could influence or even directly appoint the leadership of such an association (think NTUC). A loose association that has no teeth is purely symbolic as everyone will still continue to choose how they blog. A strong association is unrealistic. Why should bloggers join? What is the association going to offer them for giving up their freedom?
about 5 years ago
Hi darkness,
I think it’s only a matter of time before the landscape is changed such that you won’t even be able to play shadow warrior. Such is the nature of Singapore, where the play field can be tilted one way or another in the blink of an eye. I would rather not have an association be formed, but unless we have First Amendment protection in Singapore, the only place to seek protection is to do it NTUC style.
about 5 years ago
Hi geroge,
I think the key issue here is not giving up of freedom with joining an assocation. The idea here for an association is to help negotiate the boundaries of freedom in a place where the heavy hand of the law is supreme. Whatever freedom we have now is not a given; my opinion is that sooner or later, legislation will come in, although in what form I do not know. What I think we can do is to at ready something that can help chart the direction of legislation so as to minimise the amount of damage. It’s a negative view of things indeed, but I think anyone would hold this view after studying the legal history of the press in Singapore.
about 5 years ago
Aaron
Bambi darkness boy has a very bad habit of racing to the end of the point without explaining. This is very typical of him.
I think what he actually meant was this, if I am not wrong that is. An association would imply a formal system of data collection on bloggers in Singapore.
This in effect it is as good as being a proxy for the garmen in facilitating their control of the net. What you are proposing Aaron, believe it or not is exactly what repressive regimes all round the world are endeavoring to accomplish, inorder to regulate the internet!
I think this was what he meant when, he said “fish in a bucket.”
As for the shadow warrior part, I don’t know what he means, but I do know this. The brotherhood has always had many enemies, so they are very accustommed to functioning in a very harsh and hostile environment. As a result, like nomads who live in the desert, they learn unusual tricks such as walking in single file to hide their numbers or navigating only by the stars.
More importantly they see danger where we see none.
about 5 years ago
The problem with blogging is that anyone can be a blogger.
Chee Soon Juan, if he wanted, could be a blogger too, and if the laws for self-regulation by blogging community were to be set up, he would be the first to take advantage of it to spread his propaganda.
From a biological perspective, there are many kinds of regulation — and the best of all is negative feedback.
What negative feedback means, when applied to blogging, is that whenever a blogger crosses the line, the Government, or other bloggers, will give him some sort of “negative feedback” as a warning, If he/she does not heed it, then action is taken.
By the way, I am curious how the government tracked down errant bloggers. By IP address? Or because those bloggers were ignorant enough to put their address on their blog?
about 5 years ago
“What negative feedback means, when applied to blogging, is that whenever a blogger crosses the line, the Government, or other bloggers, will give him some sort of “negative feedback†as a warning, If he/she does not heed it, then action is taken.”
So what r u saying mob rule lah? That means if 9 out 10 ppl say lets lynch him, then you all go ahead and do it? And it is right? Think!
ALL of you are missing the point here – self regulation does NOT mean rule by majority, it is based on the assumption ALL humans are fallible and susceptible to greed, corruption and even the possibility of abusing their power – so implicit within this recognition is a need to subscribe to a higher ideal which may hopefully serve as a terms of reference to guide them- this may take the form of a code of conduct or even a constitution, but the objective remains very clear – no man is above the law.
about 5 years ago
This suggestion of association creates the means to regulate (or control). The trick (by MIW) is let the bloggers start the association and blame the association if bloggers crossed the line. They will say “see, you said you can self-regulate but you did not, so we will create laws to ensure it does not happen again”. They want the bloggers to start this and wait for the bloggers to shoot their own feet first. I think it is a no-no to go this direction. The suggestion is an area that MIW wanted to plug. They are trying to step from behind. Please remember that someone wants to “fix” opposition members. Why put ourselves in a position to be “fixed”? It is testing water time. Let’s see what happen next…
about 5 years ago
Hi Aaron,
I fully agree with you views. Count me in!!
cheers,
Gerald
about 5 years ago
Layman,
yes that was what i was trying to put across from the start. LEt’s face it. MIW doesn’t trust us. Not a single bit. They place economic advancement above everything, they think money can still every hunger. It’s no wonder why we are apathetic.
about 5 years ago
Actually, I am not for a formal data collection on bloggers. I am fine with them registering an email and their blog with the association. It’s just so that if a problem arises, the association as a legal entity can be ordered to disband, but the people it represents are safe. It’s akin to bankrupting a company for some illegal practice, but the individual is not affected. Of course, given Singapore’s precedent of going after individuals, this might not exactly work either.
about 5 years ago
Hi Gerald,
Given the lack of support on a legal entity, I think I’ll just draft up a preliminary blog-tiquette and invite comments for fine-tuning as a start.
about 5 years ago
I too don’t think it should be a legal entity yet. It’ll be too complicated and intimidating. But we shouldn’t rule out the possibility of one in the future.
Given your journalism training, I think you’ll be an appropriate person to draft something like the journalists’ code of ethics. Perhaps you could also work with Dhamendra Yadav on the legal aspects. Or maybe even Mr Wang Says So (dunno if he agrees with this idea though).
Once the “code” is agreed upon, we can give it a name and logo which all of us who subscribe to it can place on our blogs.
Thanks for doing this!
about 5 years ago
Hi,
This is a great debate! I just want to say an association is not a very good idea.
But a code of ethics as mentioned by Gerald or Bambi boy is a very good start.
For one it is less complicated and easier to formulate and develop.
Secondly like the Geneva Conventions, it can evolve through time, but for it to be really credible. I personally think it is important to include not only bloggers but everyone that makes up the virtual community. This includes readers etc. Even the boys in the brotherhood.
Only please make sure no rocket ships, planets, stars, galaxies on this logo!
about 5 years ago
Dory,
LOL, but what kind of logo would that be, if it didn’t have at least a star?
Can you imagine a Xmass tree without a star at the very top? The Singapore flag without stars? Now girl that would be like having coffee without your creamer. Yes?
Trust me girl, you always need a star to shine the way.
about 5 years ago
ERR s
about 5 years ago
I always enjoy healthy discussions on the future of blogging, especially since I belong to both the journalism and blogging worlds.
This is one of such discussions.
Being a proponent of self-regulation in the media, and pursuant to a better Black blogging terrain, I have developed what I call “The Black Blogging Manifesto” which is available free of charge at http://Blackvertiser.com/blog.
Paschal
http://blackvertiser.com
about 5 years ago
Firstly, when an association is formed, who can guarantee that the President or Chairman of that association won’t again be another PAP man or Govt man?
Secondly, what about those primary five or six students writing their blogs? Are you going to include them under the umbrella of the association?
Thirdly, when you regulate, you are again going
to stiffle creavity and instill fear into the people,
especially those who tries to think out of the box.
Fourthly, where in the world, at present is there such an association for bloggers?
Lastly which country in the world is there such a govt that regulates blogging? If the Spore Govt
wants to regulate, just let it be. It has to shoulder the consequences and the backlashes, not the bloggers.
about 4 years ago
Hey there, interesting debate going on around here but am not going to meddle.
I was just wondering if you could help clear my doubts.
Qn: Is it possible for another blogger, who claims his blog is copyrighted,to sue another blogger who ripped off a small part of his ‘work’.
I find it amusing that some people are threatening legal actions against other bloggers just because they saw similar/ or same words used. How many different ways can we express ourselves anyway?
about 3 months ago
A big wide variety of domain name exts (generic & country-code TLDs). Well-rounded DNS/Whois management, ID protection, EPP transfer key, lock/unlock status, and so forth.
about 2 months ago
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