Aug 6th, 2008
The sad state of blogosphere
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I hate to say this but the local blogosphere is in a sad state from the perspective of blogosphere as an avenue for serious discussion of socio-political issues.
There are many bloggers making use of blogs as a platform to discuss issues of importance to society. However, I think the readership of all these ’serious’ bloggers combined cannot even match that of Xiaxue. She claims to have 50,000 readers a day after having an online spat with another high profile blogger.
I have nothing against blogs that style themselves along the lines of tabloids. I just find it sad that people are actually more interested in gossip about celebrity bloggers than in serious issues. In the past, one could make the argument that Singaporeans do not engage in active socio-political discussions because of high barriers to entry to publishing. However, blogs changed that but still, celebrity gossip trumps socio-political discussions in terms of popularity.
If most people reading blogs are more interested in Xiaxue versus Dawn Yang, then the establishment isn’t going to take comments from socio-political bloggers too seriously since they aren’t really much of a threat. This just means that discussing socio-political issues online isn’t really worth doing because the impact isn’t there; the establishment doesn’t take the socio-political blogosphere seriously.
I guess perhaps the best thing that the PAP has done to make the average Singapore apathetic is to give a roof over the head and a full stomach. I think the average Singaporean will only become interested in socio-political issues if they are starving or they have to sleep on the streets. This is also the reason why I think Singapore will never experience the kind of political tsunami that Malaysia recently experienced.
Poverty and hunger drives people to desperation. And desperate people will have a greater propensity to do anything that appears remotely capable of making their situation better. As long as Singaporeans are kept generally well-fed and sheltered, Xiaxue versus Dawn Yang will always be more interesting than politics and social issues.
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Hi,
I totally agree. Singaporeans are not desperate enough to want a change. This is what our beloved PAP is doing, squeezing the people as much as they can but still leave an inch or so such that people are not desparate enough to push back.
Hi,
I totally agree. Singaporeans are not desperate enough to want a change. This is what our beloved PAP is doing, squeezing the people as much as they can but still leave an inch or so such that people are not desparate enough to push back.
True true…
And it doesn’t help that the local mainstream media, in effect, provides free publicity for the Dawn Yang vs Xiaxue dispute…
Yet, as some may argue, it is a good thing that things are so peaceful and stable, thus allowing people to have time and energy to care about tabloid-ish stuff than about socio-political issues…
But then again, if everyone is not interested in socio-political issues, who’s going to run the country in the future?
No offence to them but I doubt Miss Yang and Miss Cheng will be the ones running the country in the future…
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LCC,
Divide and rule, mah.
Hi Aaron,
Nice blog. I don’t think its fair to blame our gahmen. They had no hand in this lamentable state of affairs. If the truth be known. We did it all to ourselves as a community.
That is how I see it. There were two groups, one believed in “deregulating the net” like Bernard Leong, Cherian George, Alex Au et al.
The other believed no one should mess with the net, it should be left alone, not even bloggers should have this right. Instead they saw the formation of the IC3 as an attempt to unionize and control the net. They insisted on it being a democratically elected body.
I am referring to Darkness, Scholarboy, Astroboy, Aurora et al. It’s all here, http://magnezium.blogspot.com/2008/06/internet-deregulation.html
I don’t understand for the life of me, why both parties didn’t just not sit down and talk things through in a civilized way. This is the part that really confounds me no end out.
The “deregulate the net” camp rightly or wrongly adopted a strategy of non engagement with this other group, silence, marginalization and selective publication of material was what they did. Note they did NOT even publish a single one of Darkness articles along side what they advanced. You can go through the archive in The Online Citizen, not even a single article which questioned the merit of deregulation. You have to ask yourself how believable it is, if they claimed they did not see it.
This was when many in the writers guild in the brotherhood began to enable their personal self destruction sequence. They reasoned rightly or wrongly. They were not dealing irrational people. I guess they reasoned in writers, if this people are like this even before the IC3 comes into effect. Then what will actually happen when it comes into power?
One of the key writers in true drama mama fashion. Darkness put a revolver in his mouth and pulled the trigger. This was rapidly followed by the others Scholarboy, Astroboy, Trajan etc, then the readers, commentators and what we are seeing now is the ripple effect.
All this is very demoralizing. Not only for me, but also the new people who have joined us in the FILB and perhaps even many netizens who have been watching.
We did it all to ourselves Aaron, don’t blame our gahmen, it has nothing to do with them. That at least is how I am going to write it as a historian.
Y2K Director of the Free Internet Library Board based in Primus Aldentes Prime
I am sorry, correction addendum: I meant to say the writers in the brotherhood reasoned they were dealing with irrational people.
rightly or wrongly
There will be the last kamikaze squad headed by Harphoon and the remainder of the ASDF.
They are ready. They will try to slap down AIMS. Trust me they will do a good job of it.
Guess what, I have decided the FILB and everyone in my office will be joining them as well.
The odds dont look good. We all know it. But I cant think of a better way to leave blogosphere with a bang.
It’s over. They played the game and we all lost. Pyongyang here we come
LCC,
Actually, Ms Cheng and Ms Yang are damn smart. If they were not, you think they can make so many people interested in their blogs meh? They are experts in human psychology! It’s just that they choose to exercise their intelligence to gain attention (and hopefully money as well).
what’s more, deregulation is again based on whose standards? A group of bloggers online? Granted we have representation now, but they are sure not gonna put up what they don’t like. If deregulation means free discourse, it should be seen as it is, FREE DISCOURSE, not discourse according to what we think is relevant.
Those who write very voluminously (like some members of the brotherhood) or polemically tend to not be featured? Why? Is it all about peace and stability in the net? Then what different is the Net from the MSM? If someone is crazy, fine, the readers will know that he is crazy. But what about people who state their views, rigorously explain and ground them, etc?
Social political blogs are not meant to attract droves of people like circuses. The entry level is high. However, this does not mean it does not have the capacity to effect real and meaningful change. Magna Carta was credited to only 4 people. It affected millions. The Bill of rights was the combined effort of only 52 people. Again it affected millions. The French revolution only 13 and it changed the entire course of European history affecting billions. Das Kapital was the work of only 5 people. Yet it split the world in two and again affected billions for nearly a century. I can really go on for twenty pages and still not scratch the surface. If you want to play the numbers game then go and sign on for Singapore Idol. Or go and start a lottery. Numbers don’t equate to capacity change anymore than we should all grow gills because ¾ of the world is made up of water. It never has and never will. If it did the BP will be writing love stories 24-7, but I know for a fact they are not doing that. If you really want to compare, that segment of their readership it is maybe triple combined what XX and DY are scoring right now. So why do you think Darkness, Astroboy, Scholarboy etc write the things they do? I have always wondered why Darkness deliberately chose to fight ALONE against the blogger 13 and their friends. He was offered help, he said no at least 20 times, now I know. He was trying to tell us all, the power of the mind is greater than the sum of all its parts. Lets ready ourselves for AIMS, there is much work to do. But one thing is for sure, they were never here to play the numbers game. These ppl I realize were professionals. They knew the score all along.
Y2K
i think blogs serve many purposes.
they not only reflect views and stuff, but are sites for interests and hobbies too.
as for readers/audiences, everyone has a preference as to what kind of information they would like to expose themselves to, as well as what forms of entertainment they’d like to watch.
it’s true that the catfights, bickering and occasional triviality of the websites and online personalities/communities have prevented more people from taking blogs seriously. then again, the ones who blog have a computer and an internet connection, so their agendas are different, while for those who are in need of computers/internet/voice, we are less likely to find them online.
Sorry earlier posted on wrong thread, too kun jiong
Darkness is no fool. Anyone who has ever followed the history of this chap in the net, will notice two things time and again. Firstly, he never plays it safe. He is prepared to take calculated risk, a Von Manstein and Guderian type. A genius who pioneered new methods of gaming in the virtual. I have studied every single one of his battles not once but at least a dozen times. And on every single occasion, he doesnt just shy away from taking on a larger force. He even runs circles around them. So it is very odd, he should now see fit to chuck in the towel.
He must have calculated it is impossible to win this one.
If anyone knows how this wayang kulit is going to be played out it is him. I tell you.
He has already given us all the rough outline of the story. He mentioned this whole idea of community moderation and the setting up of the IC3 is like religion, it badly needs miracles, people need to feel edified. They need to be able to see it work before they can even believe it is useful. This is a big clue. It means,
(A) concessions will be given. I am very certain some old defunct laws will even be repealed and the those bloggers will even be credited for it. They will make heroes of them. When this is done everyone will say, “Waaaaaaaah. It works. We did it.” It will have the desired shock and awe response.
(B) The second clue he gives us is. He says the net will be gradually unionized. That means a oligarchy will first have to be set up. If you notice now there is nothing in the net. That is why it is so difficult to control. Maybe he is referring to the IC3.
At first I am very sure it will be run by bloggers proper, but as time goes by, they will be kicked out one by one and filled up with YES mans and NATO’s. Till it is nothing more than a poddle or rubber stamp.This is what he means by back door unionization of the net.
(C) The third clue is he even gives us their motivation for all this wayang. He has calculated the government can no longer attempt to control the net by way of legislation. Even those in government know this only too well. Too leceh.
So by pursuing this strategy, they will get to cut the cake and eat it at the same time. If bloggers are the one’s who propose this whole idea. If it fails we all get all the blame. If it goes well the bureaucrats get the credit. Either way the govt gets to wash their hands free from any further responsibility. Darkness calls this the perfect “get out of jail card.” Or con job of the century.
I figure he wants them to take responsibility. That is something he knows they will never ever do.
One thing abt him is he doesnt think very highly of bureaucrats. He even considers the most senior of them to be nothing more than food court managers. This guy is very arrogant and contemptous of them so he will talk down to them. Not only does he consider them risk adverse. He also believes, they lack imagination. You can see the proof here even in the latest FILB essay
http://dotseng.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/can-the-crescent-and-stars-really-mean-the-good-life-%e2%80%93-a-study-in-the-national-search-for-the-meaning-of-life/
However I still believe he should have worked with the other bloggers and even AIMS. Even if he didnt want to sit down with this people, it was very shortsighted of him to prevent many like Harphoon, Vollaraine and others from doing so. They could have added immeasurably to generating solutions as BP has alot of expertize in this area. But time and again Darkness not only stopped it. He even sabotaged the whole effort. And instead institutes a protest boycot. Then he walks right out of blogosphere like a drunkard singing a tune that only he and he alone understands.
Very odd.
Sorry for the long rant. I have been keeping this in my heart for a long time.
YY
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Yup, I guess perhaps they both studied Taoism before and know about ???????
Yup, I guess perhaps they both studied Taoism before and know about ???????
hahahahahah
This is more than just a good natured gag. This was a conscious effort by a few urination experts to marginalize and misrepresent the brotherhood.
IMHO Darkness asked valid and legitimate questions that deserve answers here
http://magnezium.blogspot.com/2008/06/internet-deregulation.html.
Instead what do we get? One site that keeps on back slapping themselves they are the Singaporekini which incidently also happens to take money from the establishment. Please sue me, we have proof.
Instead Darkness is represented as a rouge interloper. But read for yourself, is he talking sense or rubbish? They represent us as ppl who have no right to ask questions. I want to ask why? I know it is fashionable to hate the brotherhood, but I say to you that we have a right to ask these questions. As what they are proposing will affect us, if it didnt then we would just leave it as that.
Lets test out the system and see how open and all inclusive it is, will they answer this question from this poster:
http://www.themediaslut.com/2008/08/1103#comment-48997
Lets see how it goes. All of you have to ask how these urination experts will respond, whatever it is I say, why dont you sue us and we will take it from there, fuck you!
The internet belongs to producers, not to ppl who write one article one month or only has a readership of one or even to people who keep telling us every five minutes they are Singaporekini, when all they do is give us side A and keep us in the dark on side B. I say keep taking money and if you dont like it please sue us. We are not Jasper, if you fuck with us, we will fuck with you.
What did I say - fuck you is my response!
Darkness was right this is just a cheap power grab by a handful of people - the internet should be left alone.
We will fight you to the very end and if I fall another will rise and another and another and so and so forth.
Nacramanga.
Good afternoon
The sad state of blogosphere can be resolved very easily. All that is required is for any of the bloggers who propose community moderation to issue out a statement stating categorically, what we are proposing in NO way affects, applies or even covers the brotherhood or anyone who does not wish to sign up for the plan. I believe if there is a provision to sign in and opt out, this will do the trick. My take is simple. The main problem that led to this sorry state where there are protest, boycotts and blockades galore is mainly due to the fact what is proposed WILL AFFECT THEM BY DEFAULT AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A WAY TO OPT OUT OF IT. NEITHER IS THERE A DEMOCRATIC WAY FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THEIR RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
It is very simple to understand, no need to call Darkness a drunkard and say all sort of unkind things about him singing a song and not wanting to help them, just issue out a communique and I am sure this misunderstanding will be settled in a flash. It is a very reasonable request.
But I do not think that will happen. You see those people who propose community regulation and the setting of this committee WANT it to APPLY directly to the brotherhood and EVERYONE else. If that is the case then I say make it as democratic as possible. Start by polling it. Start by having an all inclusive online debate. Start by getting more ppl involved. Do keep giving lame excuses it is not practical, pragmatic or even workable, go and do it first and even if you fail ppl will still give you points for trying.
See what I mean. I dont claim to know very much abt BP, but one thing is clear to me there will never ever be any peace. If Darkness and the rest did not walk out maybe YES, but these ppl have sacrificed too much already, they have already gone past the point of no return. It is like the movie 300.
All the brotherhood want is to be left alone. I don’t think they are against community moderation per se.
Only I feel everyone has a right to their space. If these ppl want community moderation no one is stopping them. Only there should be a provision where one can say, “I don’t want it. It doesn’t apply to me.”
Let;s not complicate matters, its as simple as that.
Just provision an option, where ordinary bloggers can say, “we don’t see a need for it. we want out.”
That I feel is more than enough. But if you notice, even that is too much to ask.
I wonder when will this people really walk the talk.
It is easy to write an article in ST and spin doctor it to come across as an enlightened being, but when it comes to walking the talk, you notice it is a different issue all together.
Walk the talk. If you want freedom, diversity and people to take an interest, then don;t impose your values on them.
It’s really very simple. Start there.
Talk is cheap.
But if you dont leave them alone, you cant blame them, if they decide to bring the fight directly to their doorstep.
That incidentally just happens to be part and parcel of diversity.
You cant pick and choose your politics just bc it suits you. Where is the consistency there, what will ppl say? They will call you a hypocrite.
Y2K
OK. What would it take for Darkness and the others to come to the table? I am not referring to Alex Au, Dr C.George, Gerald Ghiam and friends. I can fully understand if that bridge is burnt beyond repair. I am referring to setting up a new steering com and making a separate and independent proposal to MiCa. What would it take for Darkness to come to the table?
You have your work cut out for you…i don’t think it is that easy to make Darkness return. But, granted that he does, the proposal is something which you will have a hard time convincing him to do…MiCa wants regulation, remember?
Hello Permsec,
I believe you may have the wrong end of the stick here.There is no doubt, some of us may or may not have better ideas how to deal with the challenges facing our net, but that is not the issue here.
Every single one of us believes the Internet is like Antarctica, NO ONE HAS A RIGHT OVER IT, IT BELONG TO NO ONE not governments, not blogger, not civil society, not even to a revered soul like the Dalai Lama and certainly least of all any of us. Doesn’t even matter whether he happens to be the most well intentioned soul or even the best strategic planner in the brotherhood, the independence of the internet is sacrosanct. It will be defended by every man here. We do not see any scope for compromise on this point. This is religion. It’s not even open for negotiations. That is why we do NOT believe in the formation of any oligarchy, hegemony and representative body to represent the interest of the internet. If some clever people want to go and muck around with the net. I say, please go ahead, but as far as we are concerned we reserve the right not to recognize its legitimacy. Neither do we want anything to do with it. I am sorry we cannot help you. This discussion is over. There will be no meeting of minds.
The leader of the brotherhood
Harphoon
Dear Aaron,
I find your lament on the state of the blogosphere interesting. One that I believe has a relation to the discussions in the comments section of an earlier entry you wrote — http://aaron-ng.info/blog/small-kid-to-rebellious-teenager.html.
I’m inclined to say that we have ourselves to blame for this state of the blogosphere. In fact, I’d further that argument by pointing fingers to those bloggers who have put their fingers on the pie on “blogging” about socio-political issues.
Haven’t I mentioned earlier that everything is but hot air? So with this “blogging” thing having been around since 2000 and having tons of bloggers out there eager to share their thoughts on socio-political issues pertaining to Singapore, how much of an impression have they made on the general cyber-populace?
What about coming together to brainstorm ideas on how to promote awareness – especially among the followers of the Dawn Yang – Xiaxue sage – on socio-political issues? Has there nothing been done to enlarge this little – and I am inclined to add – exclusive circle of “armchair” socio-political pundits?
A thousand entries floating around the local blogging scene later, we have a lament on this sad state of it. Hasn’t anyone wondered even why the populace is flocking to read a spat between two bloggers while the greater issues of life (which includes the socio-political aspect) are largely ignored or at least, read? And we have the marginally more enlightened ones laughing (and sadly, nothing more) to Mr Brown’s silly ditty to commemorate National Day?
So what have you bright sparks done anything about it after so much discourse? Or are we content to have a generation of Singaporeans growing up with scant knowledge about the real issues they should really care about? Can I even extend this argument to how even the taxi drivers, the coffeeshop uncles and aunties (who arguably do not have the academic credentials compared to the Generation Y Singaporeans) have at least an opinion on issues (even if they may be misinformed)?
What have you – bloggers who are of the same age as these Generation Y-ers; bloggers who are more educated and more well-read – done to bring some awareness that a silly spat is for entertainment and that there are really more important things out there they should pay attention to?
Should we even push the blame to the PAP for this apathy if we aren’t making at least a miniscule effort ourselves?
I am not begrudging your intelligence or wisdom (and at such a young age). In fact, I admire the fact that you have an opinion and you are not afraid of making them heard. I am saddened by how there is still inaction and at the end of the day, when something bigger than blogging lands on us, all of your words, laments and opinions will be but simply binary codes floating in a fast-dissipating part of the cyber-space.
Sincerely
IrCTP
Dear Harphoon,
Perhaps I am but an inconsequential entity in the cyberspace.
However, I plead with the Brotherhood to consider the significant event in 1966 involving a political party in Singapore.
That is all.
Sincerely
IrCTP
Harpoon
I would just like to say, most of us are very disappointed with your reply. I doesnt give us very much to work on. It seems to me nothing has really changed principally abt the brotherhood. Even after the sudden departure of Darkness. I would like to say while no one denies Darkness was perhaps one of the most brilliant people who has ever written in our Singapore blogosphere. He was also one of the most self absorbed and self destructive personalities I have ever come across.
I had sincerely hoped with you Harpoon. We could at least finally lay the ghost of Darkness to rest and begin the long process of reconciliation and healing, but evidently judging from your latest reply. We were mistaken. I am sorry to have wasted your time.
I do however hope some of you will use your influence to persuade the rest of the writers in the BP to write. I really dont know what will happen if this continues on for another month. I am sorry to have wasted your time. A reply is not necessary since you have made your position crystal clear.
Good day Sirs.
Just remember this young man, if anything significant is going to happen, then it all happens n Parliament. Here, you can even write the most sterling articles such as the one I saw recently in
http://dotseng.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/the-fine-art-of-standing-proudly-naked-before-the-world-%e2%80%93-a-study-in-the-mufflement-of-the-humanities/
I must say very well said. But you are all wasting your time, life and opportunity cost here. Think about that young man. Then perhaps you will really know how the world works.
Dear Permsec,
The Parliament is a bridge too far. Granted it is the State apparatus that can effect change for the greater good of Singapore, but for the next 50 years at least, it will be simply a romantic idealist’s utopian dream.
Sincerely
IrCTP
IrCTP,
How are you? Long time no see since the Brown vs Mica saga. I don’t believe that is how things really work in real life. In the battle of Thermopylae only 300 Spartans held out against the mighty Persian invaders which numbered nearly half a million strong. Yes, you can say when the last arrow was loosed, they all perished, but what they did echoed across the eternity of time to give hope to many who had to battle against impossible odds. Many years from now when our bones have turned into dust, historians will sieve through what we once wrote. They will say here once stood a people who saw right through the apparatus of assimilation. It will inspire many to think deeper about life and even question it to make this world a better place.
The politicians like Permsec know this only too well, that is why, they are trying to contort the whole meaning of deregulating the net by giving it only the spin and hype treatment. As for the press, all they seem to do is promote the cult of Mr Brown and Xiaxue no end, they too are very much part of the machinery of psychological warfare – whatever it is many of them find it difficult to sleep with everything going around them, they may say publicly it doesn’t bother them or Singapore is so different from Malaysia, but trust me it is very difficult to sleep these days. That is good very good indeed.
Do take the trouble to read up on the latest developments to deregulate our net
http://magnezium.blogspot.com/2008/06/internet-deregulation.html
Cheers
Harphoon
Permsec
Let’s cut to the chase. I believe you main concern is how we would respond to the recommendations made by AIMS who is chaired by Mr Cheong? I will be very candid and honest with you, if AIMS does a good job of appraising the situation objectively and deciding accordingly. Then I believe none of us here or anywhere else can find fault. By this I mean, THEY DO NOT EVEN NEED TO SUPPORT OUR POV. I WANT BE VERY CLEAR HERE. All we ask is for AIMS to discharge its role professionally, diligently and with regard to some of the many issues we have raised which we consider to be JUGULAR to the whole debate. It is all in the link on the above post. There are really too many concerns to enumerate here. Pls go and do the homework. You may even learn something about what it means to think like a entrepreneur instead of a die die iron rice bowl salaryman. An opportunity to use your brand new brain.
If AIMS discharge their duties professionally, then I do not think any of us can even say anything, but if they leave even so much as a hole in their logic, a wafer of inconsistency or mistakenly think they can spin, hype, gloss or even whitewash wholesale, then I think we have every right to show them the “error of their ways” by demolishing their position point by point. After that if they feel their reputation has dragged through the mud. I am very sure they can go and set the accounts straight in the courts by suing us for defamation etc. At least that is what I will do to anyone who impinges on my reputation falsely. As it is a serious charge to call someone an incompetent. As it is bound to impact their sphere of influence and even earning power. But one thing is clear, we will demolish first, then and after that we will go to the UN and talk shop.
That will be all. I may be young, but I believe, I know this subject very well. As I invested hundreds of man hours studying it with some of our best planners and strategist, Permsec, you should know this, but evidently you don’t, so let me share with you the first lesson of war; never ever underestimate your enemy; respect him> sleep well Permsec.
Harphoon
Hello all
I just want to say, I cant help but find this exchange between Harphyboy and Perm Sec quite comical. Let me share with you why? If it was Darkness, he would just say, OK, this is what I am going to do, put you all into a nice lemon smelling pine box. Then like a gunfighter he will just go bang bang bang bang & bang. With harphy boy I guess its more ’suh bun’, polished and more gentlemanly. He even goes through the whole trouble to explain the steps like a school teacher. I have nothing to add really. I am just contrasting the style in leadership that is all. Have a very nice day.
From what I see they are definitely two different styles of leadership. This no one can deny. Have to understand. Note: no one just joins the brotherhood these days. That may have happened during the time of Darkness, but in Harphoon’s time, they all realized, every new guy had to be tied to an older brother for at least 2 years. This is how they perpetuate their class politics these days. Darkness from what I have read came from rough and tumble military stock, he rose through the ranks because of his skill of arms in the battlefield. Harphoon on the other hand was trained as a diplomat and a trade negotiator for the mercantile guild, so the path he took was very different. But I believe where Darkness may have relied implicitly on brinkmanship and gun boat diplomacy to bear down on his adversaries. In the case of Harphoon, he is a better leader, as he always explores the possibility for peace first. While in the case of Darkness, war was simply another means furthering politics. Just my view. Y2K
“All we ask is for AIMS to discharge its role professionally, diligently and with regard to some of the many issues we have raised which we consider to be JUGULAR to the whole debate.”
Harpoon. I am just a by stander observing this trade. An impartial party. Can I just say firstly what you mentioned in passing is certainly a very valid point. I will add this. I am certain the people at both AIMS and MiCa have both studied in considerable detail some of the points raised not only by Darkness 2008, but also from other quarters who may have voiced such similar concerns.
I would however wish to add. It would be great, if some of you could get together and submit a counter proposal to MiCa. Even you have said, you have spent hundreds of man hours with your “best planners and Strategist.”
May I ask why not then share this information with the others to make our blogosphere a more exciting place? Do send my warmest greetings to Darkness and the others.
CS first you claim to be a casual observer. Then you say “I am certain the people at both AIMS and MiCa blah blah blah.” Then you end it all with a measure of confidence that a counter proposal will certainly round things off nicely. Tell me, who is trying to fool who here?
I am very sorry there will be no counter proposal. You see, what we know, we intend to keep to ourselves. Call it a trade secret or whatever. Since you ppl are so clever to fly the flag, you go and figure out what will work, if you u screw it up Pyongyang here we come - you will not get one molecule of help from us.
No help
Dear Harphoon.
Indeed. I am also very surprise that you have decided to take this counter productive attitude. What’s the harm of sitting down and exploring issues for the greater good of blogosphere? Why are you treating Permsec as if he’s an enemy? Where is the harm there?
Indeed this is not only a surprise it’s an eye opener. You shall see tonite. Many of your views concerning the net is unfounded. I shall leave it at that, but rest assure, you shall see.
I am surprised that the Brotherhood are expected to submit proposals when they aren’t the ones who stirred up the mess in the first place. The ones who started the nonsense should be the ones to clean up after themselves.
The BH has no obligation to get their feet wet and I am glad they aren’t biting the bait.
Please don’t speak to me in as if I am a child. It’s very clear to me. This is a concerted effort to paint me and probably the remainder of what’s left of the brotherhood as a group of unreasonable people. Contraire we have been very reasonable to explain every single one of our views concerning the proposal to deregulate our net. It’s all here, in the above post @ 13 Aug 2008 at 6:49 pm in the enclosed link. Pls do your homework gentlemen. On the contrary, its people like you Perm sec and 5 foot way CS who have been unreasonable. Have any of you ever considered what reasonable people will say when you appoint someone who was formerly the Editor-in-Chief of the English and Malay Newspaper to head a committee of review like AIMS? Do you even have the slightest idea what sort of message you may be broadcasting Sirs? Bear in mind this is the same newspaper who on record allows articles like this to be published,
http://ramblinglibrarian.blogspot.com/2007/09/i-have-never-nor-will-i-ever-read-blogs.html
So please don’t keep on saying I am unreasonable or you are surprised by my reaction; all we ask is for sportsmanship and a level and fair playing field and professionalism, that is not too much to ask. I pay my taxes, I believe, I have a right to question your approach when you give me so many reasons to do so: and begin to appoint Count Dracula as the chief consultant to help you revamp the blood bank? What did you expect gentlemen? What’s even more incredulous is how you all feign surprise when I say you give me no basis to take any of you seriously. When you people are really serious about managing real change in our blogosphere, you know where to find me. And I assure you, you will get the full cooperation of our best planners, strategist and technocrats along with our gaming simulation know how and even access to our ASDF consultants. I give you my word. As it is, we have nothing further to discuss. We are all working people. We cannot be wasting time chasing our own tails on your account. Good day Sirs.
Head of the Brotherhood
Harphoon
Please don’t speak to me in as if I am a child. It’s very clear to me. This is a concerted effort to paint me and probably the remainder of what’s left of the brotherhood as a group of unreasonable people. Contraire we have been very reasonable to explain every single one of our views concerning the proposal to deregulate our net. It’s all here, in the above post @ 13 Aug 2008 at 6:49 pm in the enclosed link. Pls do your homework gentlemen. On the contrary, its people like you Perm sec and 5 foot way CS who have been unreasonable. Have any of you ever considered what reasonable people will say when you appoint someone who was formerly the Editor-in-Chief of the English and Malay Newspaper to head a committee of review like AIMS? Do you even have the slightest idea what sort of message you may be broadcasting Sirs?
Bear in mind this is the same newspaper who on record allows articles like this to be published, “I have never, nor will I ever, read blogs” by Miss Ong Sor Fern.
Bear in mind I can get sued for this, but I feel, I have a good case.
So please don’t keep on saying I am unreasonable or you are surprised by my reaction; all we ask is for sportsmanship and a level and fair playing field and professionalism, that is not too much to ask. I pay my taxes, I believe, I have a right to question your approach when you give me so many reasons to do so: by appoining Count Dracula as the chief consultant to help you revamp the blood bank? And what’s even more incredulous is how you feign surprise when I say you give me no basis to take you seriously. When you people are really serious about managing real change, you know where to find me. And I assure you, you will get our full cooperation of our best planners, strategist and technocrats along with our gaming simulation know how and even access to our ASDF consultants, till then, we have nothing further to discuss. We are all working people. We cannot be wasting time chasing our own tails on your account. Good day Sirs.
The new leader of the brotherhood
Harphoon.
We will fight you to the very end. Yesterday, I told my mother, I may not be the son she expected me to be. I told about 20 more people to say the same thing to their mothers
We will fight you to the very end and after the 20, there will be another 20 and another 20 and another 20 and so on and so forth.
Haprhoon.
Dear Harpoon
Hold on to your horses…wow! Let’s not run wild on a slew of unsubstantiate allegations. This serves no useful purpose. I can see where you are coming from. I even agree with you and I too felt the composition of AIMS could certainly have been improved in some areas. Nevertheless, let’s not nit pick on the credentials of just one person. Neither is one article or the view of a single individual in ST representative of the entire outlook of a person. Besides one man cannot possibly make up an entire decision body. I am certain the others who form the com will not only be able to mitigate whatever short comings you have alluded us all too, but there is also scope for exploration. Of that I am very certain. I cannot speak authoritatively, but I can certainly assure you, many of the others who form the com are eminently qualified to make very good recommendations.
Look here. Lets be reasonable. My intention here is not to fight, but to try to understand and if possible seek common ground on a few issues. I believe there are maybe 7 or 8 of you people and that’s all there really is to the whole song and dance that makes up the brotherhood press. If I did not feel any of you could contribute proactively to making our blogosphere a livelier place. I wouldn’t even be wasting my time here. I will fold my arms, play it safe and take a back seat.To tell you the truth, we have all read every single one of Darkness’s comments VERY CAREFULLY concerning the proposal to deregulate the net. And I can honestly tell you, if one takes away the mirth & levity quotient, it certainly packs a punch for serious planners. Only I felt he may be holding back. There were certain parts of the interview where the suggested solutions were censored. I dont believe someone who has the capacity to generate such a detailed critical analysis would also necessarily omit the solution. Lets leave that aside for the time being.
Let’s take stock of the current situation. Where is the brotherhood Press now? Firstly, it has been systematically marginalized, sidelined and sent to the basement. All of you may write thought provoking articles, but it matters not a bit in the scheme of things. They will continued to ignore you. And so will the mainstream etc.
Think! Do you call that progress? Do you even call that making any headway? Tell me if you can, in what way can this further your design to influence the outcome of future events?
Let me just say once again. It was never my intention to provoke any of you. If that was the effect. I am truly sorry. I genuinely felt, many of you simply needed a guiding hand to lead you out from the cold to the light. I could have facilitate such an opening. As I can see no possible way out for any of you by pursuing this senseless strategy of slash and burn.
I firmly believe, if some of you submitted a proposal and even came forward to drive it will certainly be met very encouragingly by all. Of that, I have no doubt! There are many of us here who support the Brotherhood Press, but when a golden opportunity such as this arises. Many of us remain thoroughly confounded why some of you may be still hidding in Darkness.
Come out, make a proposal and I promise you, things will really take off. Regards TC2.
Harphoon:
I am well. Thank you very much.
More often than not, history is written by victors.
Many great civilisations have perished from the face of the earth and no matter how much work archeologists put in, they will never be able to uncover the full extent of the literature, the languages and the stories.
I wish the Brotherhood well, even during these uncertain times.
Harphy boy best wise up. Look what happens when you play ball? You even get to rub shoulders with the big boys. Did you read the papers today. Guess who had an article published in the mainstream? Hate to say it,but what TC said is spot on.
“Let’s take stock of the current situation. Where is the brotherhood Press now? Firstly, it has been systematically marginalized, sidelined and sent to the basement. All of you may write thought provoking articles, but it matters not a bit in the scheme of things. They will continued to ignore you. And so will the mainstream etc.
Think! Do you call that progress? Do you even call that making any headway? Tell me if you can, in what way can this further your design to influence the outcome of future events?”
[...] http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-sad-state-of-blogosphere.html#comment-18044 [...]
Every single one of us will fight you to the end of the world
And after that, we will still fight you!
I have informed the others. We are all ready. Lets join the good fight. We are with you brotherhood!
No, no Darkness, the father of the game did a very good job, there is no likelihood of community moderation. That’s a dead duck. As for Mr Cheong and his associates. I think the best thing to do is to let them be. These people IMHO to do not have any experience beyond just being seat warmers and if we criticize them. We are just offering them free consultancy. Tell the rest to keep quiet. Be silent that way they will have to put everything on the line. Boycott the whole the thing. Spread the word. They will get no knowledge from us. I think this is what Darkness would have done. Harphoon.
That’s what I like about the Brotherhood. They are united despite differences and do not stab each other on the back for individual glory.
Long live the Brotherhood!
Problem with Harphy Boy is he is very green to leadership. If Darkness says form up, everyone will form up nicely into a neat line like toy soldiers. Problem with Harphy Boy is 50% will still be quibbling, what is he up too? Has he read the situation correctly? Another 25% will pretend not to hear it and maybe only less than an quarter will fall in line.
However, I still believe they will all hold the line. One thing about brotherhood is when they are faced with a common enemy. They set aside their differences. After dealing with it, then they will go back to fighting themselves.
The line will hold. It will be an air tight boycott.
It’s an open secret, I don’t like Harphoon. I don’t for one moment believe, he even cut his bones like Darkness with the boys in the trenches, but the father of the game saw it fit to give him the mandate. That is enough for me.For that reason and that alone the 130th, the Totenkopft and Germania units will give him our full support. He is our leader. We will back his leadership. I will give him all the support that he needs to do the job and God be my strenght.
Long live the brotherhood!
Nacramanga
Darkness is a ladies man. His marketing is second to none. A poseur, an unabashed peacock, one is never really sure whether he can really pull it off successfully. Often he bites off more than he can chew. If good wins over bad, it’s always by the slimmest of margins. That’s the magic. The odds are always stacked firmly against him, that’s how he thunderbolts and makes the ladies swoon no end at his antics. Harphoon on the other has a school teacher’s assurance of reliability, down to earth, prudent and predictable. In the long run it makes more sense to go with Harphoon, ones life may not be a roller coaster or even exciting, but in the long haul, it’s makes for pleasant and uneventful journey. At least you are guaranteed to reach your destination safely with peace of mind. With Darkness it’s anyone’s guess.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3FchLQaGT4
He will come back to play. He first needs to run out of road first in that world. Where is he going to go?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs1XPLI5OTU&feature=related
Well, I really have to give it to the guy, he really took Dr Cherian George, Bernard Leong, Gerald Giam etc a few times around town with loads to spare.
Let’s face it. After the wall of arrows he put up. No scholar in their right mind would ever stick their neck out. It would have been professional suicide, better to say, let this go.
I am neutral. But I know a professional hit when I see one.
IMO, it was a serious omission on the part of Dr Cherian George, Bernard Leong, Gerald Giam, Alex Au etc not to have engaged Darkness & gang.
I think they may have even harbored the delusion. If we ignore this guy hard enough, we would just discredit him and render him insignificant. The problem is when you read some of what he writes here and 10 more places elsewhere and god knows where else.
http://dotseng.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/find-out-whether-aims-is-screwing-the-right-hole/
Its not only robust point by point rebuttal, but it would literally take a freight train to shift some of those assumptions. They were well reasoned, well thought out and exceptionally pin point. If you notice, he didnt even spend a single sentence talking about S.33. In his mind, its a lost cause, not worth defending. so he cuts and burns. And focusses instead on the cogent i.e the formation of the IC3
I can only say his knowledge is intensive, first hand and very impressive.
So when that sort of resistance it put up. Why didnt the blogger 13 respond accordingly? They have no one to blame but their own complacency and high horse mentality.
There is an old barn yard American saying, if you dont even bother to fence your land, dont be surprise if someone just comes along and settles on it only to eventually call it theirs.
Stop being so vain. Fucking indian-like kids.
To Dear Harphoon poster above.
Sorry, but I really think those space boys have all gone for good.
You will probably find them in Hong Kong. So I was told. 
Actually…… it may be a good idea now to bring back the whole idea of community moderation. I believe it will work very well now. Barred wire, search lights, guard dogs and the Spanish Inquisition usually works best in places where no one wants to visit.
Go for it!
He’s doing pretty well I’d say, by trying to stir up a ruckus with that race-tainted comment. Have fun with those dogs! Or is he safely perched on an ivory tower?
Hahahahahaha..how are you shoestring? No I don’t take that racist comment personally. That’s because I understand precisely why it was made.
I once asked Darkness, “how does one go about selling the idea of a very expensive gold plated fire truck?”
He said, “simple…start a very big fire.”
When you understand the hidden agenda of these knaves. Then everything is clear as day. You are cool. As you are always in control. How should I put it? Their goal is to perpetuate the myth anonymity is bad and something has to be done about it. Since 99.9% of anon netizens are generally law abiding and good. That throws a spanner into their plans of advancing such a crooked idea.
So what do they resort too? Trickery and manipulation. They start the fires themselves.
Well it doesn’t work. A plan can only work if it has the element of surprise. This was not only foreseeable. It’s darn unimaginative and predictable.
Expect things to get worse Shoestring. Much worse. Not only here, but I expect also in the Singapore Daily and probably a few more sites as well.
When people are desperate and stupid. It is usually a good recipe for disaster.
We should all remain silent and keep a low profile.
And what did they get from all their efforts Shoestring? Well, as of today, it is MANDATORY for all brotherhood writers to write anonymously.
Cheers
Harphoon
Hi Harphoon,
I am enjoying the drama actually. You guys have foresight and it’s a pity that some are clowns are making their rounds with all sorts of tricks and confusing conspiracy theories just to smear the name of the Brotherhood. SingaporeDaily is already infested in my opinion. TOC, no hope already.
But you’ll be fine I know.
Take care and have a great weekend!
Regards,
Shoestring
I think this comments box is a great commentary on the sad state of the blogosphere.
We are looking for Darkness. Does anyone know how we can establish a link with them?
Adomaco
Adomaco
I dont believe that is possible. All their links have been destroyed for some strange reason. Even their bulletin board channels are not working. Maybe a good place to check them out is the Intelligent Singaporean or the Singapore Daily. We are all searching for them as well. 3 days ago we received a emergency action message.
They need people to help them with research or something. I will look again.
Good Luck
OXO