Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
What does it mean to be a blogger?
I’ve been following cyberspace chatter about the newly minted Association of Bloggers Singapore (ABS) with great interest. The poor founding folks appears to be bashed left right up down centre by quite a few local bloggers. I think the negative responses to the organisation is not exactly opposition to the idea of an association but a case of differing assumptions of what it means to be a blogger.
To some people, blogs are like the internet version of a diary. These people view blogs as something personal and private (I think nothing on the internet is private, though) and therefore, there is no necessity for bloggers to get together to form an organization. If one holds such an assumption about blogs, forming a bloggers’ association is probably an idea as absurd as an association for people who pen paper diaries, although I contend that if there are enough people who are interested to do that, why not? As long as enough people want to come together to form an organization around a common interest, they should be allowed to without ridicule, regardless of how _______ (insert a negative adjective) the common interest might appear to others. I believe there is no absolute definition of what constitutes something as being a/an _______ (insert a negative adjective) notion.
For others, blogs are not private diaries but publications meant for public consumption. That being the case, it would make sense for people to want to come together to form an association. I have not had the chance to speak with the founding members of the ABS but from what I’ve read, the motivations for the association include self-regulation and possibly legal representation. Taken from this perspective, a bloggers’ association is not much different from a writers’ association. Self-regulation and legal representation are things that people who blog for public consumption would care about because of professionalism and litigation issues.
At the end of the day, at least for me, all the arguments primarily centre on the identity of a blogger. Is a blogger the online version of a person who writes a personal diary, or is a blogger no different from an author/journalist/columnist/writer who writes for public consumption? Depending on your assumption about what it means to be a blogger, you will either agree with or disagree with the need for having a bloggers’ association.
Personally, I think the association is a great idea per se, but somehow, the association has unfortunately started out on the wrong foot because of, again, assumptions. According to Eastcoastlife’s blog entry,
Singaporean bloggers were like loose sand, they were not united. They were easily manipulated and even banned for standing up against the foreign tyrant from self-proclaimed ‘community meta weblog for Singapore bloggers’. Small bloggers are just too isolated to be able to fight for their rights.
I don’t think anyone can say with confidence that the blogosphere is a homogenous entity. As an example, I am a very different type of blogger compared to Xiaxue or even Eastcoastlife herself. Bloggers are not homogenous grains of sand. I think bloggers are more like different types of fruits or species of animals. Also, it seems to be that there’s an implied assumption that being ‘not united’ is undesirable and the association is meant to ‘unite’ bloggers. I have to take issue with this implied assumption as well. The parts about being manipulated for standing up against ‘the foreign tyrant’ is frankly too much of a stretch. Finally, who constitutes a ‘small blogger’ and how do we know if these ‘small bloggers’ are ‘too isolated’ to fight for their rights? There is a whole boatload of assumptions about Singaporean bloggers and the blogosphere that are, in all honesty, unsubstantiated.
I think the ABS cannot (and for that matter, will never) be able to speak on behalf of the entire local blogging community. The most the ABS can be is an authority on issues related to blogging in Singapore but it cannot be a representative, unless each and every Singaporean blogger is willing to be a member. Bloggers are not medical doctors or lawyers. You don’t need a license to blog. Therefore, the ABS cannot function like the Singapore Medical Association or the Law Society.
So, what can the ABS do? In my opinion, ABS can perhaps to come up with a code of ethics or conduct to promote responsible blogging. Of course, the idea of what constitutes responsible blogging is a contentious one but I’m not going to go there. I think if the ABS eventually gets enough members, they can take the lead in advancing greater civility (I think the world can always do with more civility) and freedom of expression in the online space. The ABS is in a good position to take the lead in encouraging responsible blogging, starting with its own members.
Also, I do hope for the ABS to consider tiered membership with a tier not requiring membership fees. The reality is that not everyone can pay for membership, and if the ABS wants to be an authoritative voice in the local blogosphere, it needs clout and high membership fees will make the ABS an exclusive club with little teeth. At the very least, the ABS should have at least two types of memberships, namely ordinary and associate. Associate membership can be free of charge but of course, being free means that certain rights will have to be withdrawn, especially the right to vote.
It’s been a long while since I’ve typed such a long entry and I think I’m going to stop here. I think the idea of a bloggers’ association isn’t necessarily a bad one but I think there’s a bitter taste in the mouth now because of the way the association has pitched itself and how different people are having different assumptions about the identity of a blogger and the role of the association. I would give the association some time to develop before I decide whether it’s something that gets my stamp of approval but right now, to those who are quick to criticise the ABS, please hold your horses and don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Aaron Ng on 22/01/2009 at 3:43 pm, 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 1 year ago
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Wishing you and your family a prosperous New Year.
I enjoy reading your post, and the ideas you have. Not to speak on behalf of the association here, but rather as an individual blogger who is passionate over writing and sharing and am attracted to the association’s notion of “promote, protect, and educate”. Hence, I am happy to volunteer my time with this association and play a part.
To be honest, the vision and mission of the association is still evolving. What Jayne (EastCoastLife) has mentioned is her view and forms a fragment of what AB(S) is. But this association also has other members who may see things differently due to our background and ideals. But by and large, I think the followings are what I internalize the association is to be.
Our stakeholders are our members, then the blogosphere and our valued partners, and then Singapore.
Members are foremost important to us. Are we recruiting and uniting the entire blogosphere? Or are we uniting those who subscribe to our ideal of “promote, protect, and educate” our bloggers?
But what does that mean right? To me, promote is to raise the profile of our members, connect them to other associations, to valued partners such as government/commercial organiser, to give them opportunities to shine, based on the passion they have.
To protect is to potentially provide legal advise and assistance, to oblige to the Societies Act of Singapore does give us some traction as a legal entity as well. In time to come, when the blogosphere sees how transparent AB(S) is run – both in terms of AGM and budgeting and more – I personally hope that they see us as someone valuable to the blogosphere.
And to educate, we intend to line up with relevant educational workshops, that may be of interest to the bloggers.
I mean … lots of things can be done, for the good of the blogosphere. And before I sign off from this comment (sorry taking too much of your space here!), AB(S) is a special interest group. Our mandate is what we layout our objectives to our members, for our members. Like any association in Singapore or any country, you join if you subscribe to the values and vision. And besides, AB(S) is never meant to be an evil empire to harm the blogosphere or Singapore. If so, I am pretty sure that we will be shutdown by the government in no time
We shall meet. There is only that much I can type.
about 1 year ago
{I am sorry. I wrote this in the online citizen, but for some reason the host censored me by throwing out my long post, so may I write this here, as I dont have a blog and but I still want to write something about this abs?)
All I will say is this whole matter was very badly handled. Abs would have more credibility if they came clean and admitted that initially what caused the uproar in cyberspace was they tried to be the voice of all sg bloggers and even tried to appeal to nationalism by saying this is a local vs foreigner thingy. It turned out to be a really bad pr disaster, and now people like Endoh, Rachel and even Jayne Goh are all back pedalling, by saying Oh you misunderstood us all.
We didnt. They spoke clearly. We all understood loud and clear. It was they who mispresented things.
By this time there was fire all over not only Sg but also in some forums in mlysia.
Things only became better when the liaison officer came up with his sharp, shock and short 3 points clarification here and 15 other sites. I think, at first most of us panicked, as we didnt know how it suddenly involves them. No one could see the connection.I for one was very concerned as they began to parachute their diplomats into Mlysia and Sg anime and gaming sites to explain the golden 3 points,
“……does this association of bloggers attempt in anyway to represent the interest of the broader blogging society? Their president has stepped out and clarified their position very clearly – as an emphatic “no.” (They ONLY speak for their membership) Does it even attempt to impose a standard of “acceptable” or kosher blogging on those who may not wish to subscribe to it membership – again she has replied “no.” (that ONLY applies to their members) Does it stand in opposition to anonymous blogging – again “no.” (full disclosure ONLY applies to their members).”
This pretty much killed much of the speculation. Then they began identifying all the ring leaders in these forums and began to explain to them the specific details of the 3 golden points. I have a feeling they had been watching us for days as they even knew how many we were along with who are our friends. Right down to how logs on to our network, for how long etc. It was actually very scary and more like one of their invasions when they just come in like the japs to bomb pearl harbor. Gives me the creeps
I just think all these blunders could have been easily avoided, if Abs been alot more savvy and streetwise. They had no excuse. They had the manpower. They keep boasting about the connections. So why were they so cluelessness and the lack of savvy of the current team is really just the most amazing thing that stood out from this whole incident and if not for the liaison officer and his parachutist, I think the fire will still be raging today.
I do however believe the liaison should not have got involved. The fact he took such a prominent role in all this leads me to suspect very strongly they seem to want the association of bloggers for something. I dont know what it is. But no one goes through that amount of trouble for nothing. I dont have a relationship with darkness or even the liaison, so it is unlikely I will even get a reply if I ask direcly. Sorry for being so long winded but I have alot to get out of my chest and since I dont have a blog this is the only way to do it.
about 1 year ago
Sorry Aaron, I was directed to a particular comment here.
xyz2,
I don’t know what you are talking about. I have no idea about the liaison officer or his parachutist, nor the ringleaders and forum. I was told to keep off the blogosphere many days ago, since 24th Jan.
All members of ABS were told to rest and enjoy our CNY holidays.
Can you email me the details? This is serious allegations.
about 1 year ago
To Jayne goh aka eastcoastlife @ 28 Jan 2009 at 4:48 pm
I think you made many sweeping comments and xenophobic comments about having to protect singaporean bloggers against foreigners or something to that effect.
XYZ2 just happens to be part of the gaming network that got wind of this. I happen to know him personally, what he felt was common many people were very confused and some even very scared when ABS appeared out of nowhere and began barking that you are out to protect us bloggers from foreigners and right all the wrongs in our internet. Do you deny all this Jayne? You know what Jayne, no one knows what you meant or even where you even get your authority from to make all this big fat claims as representing the whole of the blogosphere.
All the liaison officer and his friends did was clarify your misrepresentation. That is his job we pay them 90 standard imperiums every 100 years to do that i.e that guy told us flatly, you do not have any authority in law or otherwise to represent broader blogosphere. All you are representing are your members. He went on to say you have no authority etc. You overstepped your boundry.
XYZ did not call to be invaded. They actually requested the Liaison to give his opinion on the matter. All of us go to them whenever we are blur. It has been that way since the game started in the age of stone. He calmed us all down. He told us all this not a government secret plan and all of us should not speculate too much about ABS as there is alot of rumors out there and most of it is not true. But the poor liaison waited and waited and waited and nothing came out from your mouth Jayne.
As for parachuting thing that is what the brotherhood regularly do when they jump out of the domain into class networks, this is how they shock and awe us i.e networks which they are not strictly memberse. That is a gaming term.
Where have you been ECL did you not know that the whole of blogosphere has been waiting for you to make your royal appearance? What did you expect when you did not even bother to do your job to clarify so many contentious points that should have been rightfully addressed by you. You are a negligent person, you allowed our whole blogosphere to burn while you went around town enjoying yourself with floats etc.
Now you come down here and tell us all it is a serious allegation to deflect the whole issue.
The Liaison and his people did a good job of filling in the blanks for all of us. What did you expect him to do when they are so many blanks and missing spaces that needed filling but wasnt filled? He explained what you should have done Jayne. Yes, you failed miserably in your duty to clear up the air and to make things clear for netizens. So dont come down here and act so surprised or try to threaten us with all your well connected friends. What did you expect? As you said, “All members of ABS were told to rest and enjoy our CNY holidays.”
Tell me Jayne isnt that supposed to be your job? Or maybe you want us to e-mail you personally as well?
about 1 year ago
To Jayne goh aka eastcoastlife @ 28 Jan 2009 at 4:48 pm
I think you made many sweeping comments and xenophobic comments about having to protect singaporean bloggers against foreigners or something to that effect.
XYZ2 just happens to be part of the gaming network that got wind of this. I happen to know him personally, what he felt was common many people were very confused and some even very scared when ABS appeared out of nowhere and began barking that you are out to protect us bloggers from foreigners and right all the wrongs in our internet. Do you deny all this Jayne? You know what Jayne, no one knows what you meant or even where you even get your authority from to make all this big fat claims as representing the whole of the blogosphere.
All the liaison officer and his friends did was clarify your misrepresentation. That is his job we pay them 90 standard imperiums every 100 years to do that i.e that guy told us flatly, you do not have any authority in law or otherwise to represent broader blogosphere. All you are representing are your members. He went on to say you have no authority etc. You overstepped your boundry.
XYZ did not call to be invaded. They actually requested the Liaison to give his opinion on the matter. All of us go to them whenever we are blur. It has been that way since the game started in the age of stone. He calmed us all down. He told us all this not a government secret plan and all of us should not speculate too much about ABS as there is alot of rumors out there and most of it is not true. But the poor liaison waited and waited and waited and nothing came out from your mouth Jayne.
As for parachuting thing that is what the brotherhood regularly do when they jump out of the domain into class networks, this is how they shock and awe us i.e networks which they are not strictly memberse. That is a gaming term.
Where have you been ECL did you not know that the whole of blogosphere has been waiting for you to make your royal appearance? What did you expect when you did not even bother to do your job to clarify so many contentious points that should have been rightfully addressed by you. You are a negligent person, you allowed our whole blogosphere to burn while you went around town enjoying yourself with floats etc.
Now you come down here and tell us all it is a serious allegation to deflect the whole issue.
The Liaison and his people did a good job of filling in the blanks for all of us. What did you expect him to do when they are so many blanks and missing spaces that needed filling but wasnt filled? He explained what you should have done Jayne. Yes, you failed miserably in your duty to clear up the air and to make things clear for netizens. So dont come down here and act so surprised or try to threaten us with all your well connected friends. What did you expect? As you said, “All members of ABS were told to rest and enjoy our CNY holidays.”
Tell me Jayne isnt that supposed to be your job? Or maybe you want us to e-mail you personally as well?
about 1 year ago
Another thing Jayne Goh aka Eastcoastlife. I scared off you. I read about how you lash out at people when you dont get your way. Or play dirty when you dont win prizes like what happened in Ping.SG.
Have you ever wondered why if you read your blog, no one ever writes anything nasty about ABS there?
We are all scared stiff of you. We dont fear the liaison and those who make up the order of purple. They are different from you. They teach us real things. We can always talk to the, They are never far away. And they certainly, unlike you do not switch off.
“All members of ABS were told to rest and enjoy our CNY holidays.”
Learn Jayne. Learn to earn the respect of people online. We are sick and tired of your endless threats and big talk. We are even sicker of how you,
“rest and enjoy our CNY holidays.”
after dropping the big bombshell on us about ABS.
Start Jayne to explain and win over the hearts and minds of netizens. That will be a good place to start.
about 1 year ago
Yes ECL because of your badly managed launch of ABS you caused alot of distress not only to blogosphere, but it also spilled over into the fringes of the gaming network and beyond as well.
XYZ2 is a motor mouth based in a virtual hub in one of busiest space stations in the Armodian system. He belongs to a cell known as the advent children. Please understand, this may just be a virtual domain to you, it may even sound like play, but the combined GDP of the Armodian system is roughly the size of Belize. So be very clear we are not talking peanuts here.
Brotherhood are interplanetary privateers. There are like legalized pirates. They seize territory, manage it thru taxation. So when you open your big mouth ECL and tell everyone we have to protect Singapore bloggers from foreign bloggers what do you think many of these foreign bloggers will begin to think? They will begin to ask of the brotherhood is your network going to be regulated like North Korea? Is someone coming after us with a big stick? What does this woman mean, when she says, she is going to make the internet a better place? What does she mean by this and that?
Do you even have any idea what the cost is man, material and mission? Do you have any idea how much of their gaming technology comes from foreign channel networks ECL? Do you even know how many agreements, treaties and protocals they may have with their foreign channel partners?
So naturally they have every right to be concerned. Dont think for one moment what you do in ABS just affects sites like Cowboy Caleb, Rockson, Ping.SG and maybe 50 other bloggers who write about you.
What you say with your mouth is like throwing a pebble into a pond. The effects ripple beyond your words to far places that you didnt even know exist. And it did not help matters when you consistently failed to clarify the mission and goal of ABS clearly. If you did such a good job. Then why do you think the whole of blogosphere is so worked up? Have you consider that ECL? This is not an isolated incident. This is right across the entire board. Look everyone is not talking about ABS. They are speculating about it. And when nothing comes, how can you blame people for filling up the blanks.
Those people had to choice. They had to come in and clear the air on your behalf will you were busy having a gala time as so many people were running around like headless chickens. You can even say, they owe us all an obligation to clarify what you once said. They got their act together. The got their top gun lawyers to go through every word, sentence and statement you made. Within 24 hours they found what an association can and cannot do and this was all communicated clearly to all of us to clear most of the doubt.
Do you know why blogosphere is so suddenly so calm like a peaceful pond today. Did you believe ECL all this is a sheer coincidence? Do you really believe it just came about by chance?
Someone had to clean up the mess you made!
You have to learn to take responsibly for your words ECL. You cannot shot your mouth off and just decide to log off and enjoy your CNY. Above all you need to behave like a real leader and get down to the business of acting like one!
Have a horrible day
about 1 year ago
“xyz2,
I don’t know what you are talking about. I have no idea about the liaison officer or his parachutist, nor the ringleaders and forum. I was told to keep off the blogosphere many days ago, since 24th Jan.
All members of ABS were told to rest and enjoy our CNY holidays.
Can you email me the details? This is serious allegations.”
XYZ2 is afraid of you ECL, he doesn’t dare you talk to you bc we have all heard about your famous spat with Unzy and his gang. You also have a reputation of lashing out at people and from what is posted in the internet, you dont seem like a very approachable and nice person.
Why do you think his cell kept on hassling the Liaison officer? The liaison is like the friendly neighborhood policeman, magistrate, shaman and wiseman all rolled up into one neat package.
He is not strictly one of us, but we all go to him whenever there is trouble. When warlords bully us. He is the defender of the village and since he represents the entire might of the brotherhood. All that is required for him to do is to wave his seal of authority. They will run away never to return again.
When the game master fashions floods and famine to make our life difficult. The liaison will tell our village elders what crops to farm so that we will prosper and beat the game. He has a big bag. Inside it there are all types of magical tools. Only he knows how to read the stars for the signs.
In battles. The liaison will teach us all how to organize our hamlets. He knows the weirding ways, so he is a good general.
When there are local disputes, the liaison will wear a strange hat with 3 rings. That means he a magistrate. And since only he knows the law. We all know he can be trusted not to take sides and be fair. So we trust them.
Even when all fails. The liaison will ask us all to build a big radar dish and make a landing strip. In the evenings, he will use the talking stones and communicate in tongues with his tribe in distant corners of the galaxy. By morning as if by magic, the entire sky will be filled with so many wonderful space ships, it will blot out the sun. And he will vanquish all our enemies and no weapon formed against us will prosper.
Why should we even go to you ECL? Why? Can you even give me one reason, Why?
about 1 year ago
btw Aaron pls dont remove any these post from XYZ admin, quickjuss aka observer. We stand by what we have said here. This is not a case of online defamation. And we expect the Internet Liaison officer to back us up by getting the lovely missy dotty and her friends to defend us in court for what we have said here (otherwise we will all organize another round of protest online to embarass the internet liason officer of the brotherhood, trust me we will do it. Even if he invades us all again!).
The truth must be told. I will fight this to the end Aaron. This person has bullied so many people for so long and she has had her way like some two bit soap queen. Its high time, someone stood up to her and put an end to her reign of terror and we dont even give a flying fuck who she happens to be connected too.
Bring it on!
about 1 year ago
I think we have all heard enough here. let us wait and c what will happen next.
Pls try to remain calm. All Eastcoastlife did was ask for clarification. She was merely concerned. That is understandable.
Pls understand, many of these people dont even know head or tail abt what all of you are ranting about. They are not member of the IGF. Many of them are not even gamers!
Aaron maybe this is a good place to close the thread. This thread has already been posted to maybe 50 sites and things may even get out of control.
Pls close it. That will be all. We will control the traffic on our side.
Allow me to restate as the Liaison officer of the Internet in Singapore aka SD has stated,
We retain the right to remain neutral in this matter.We take no sides in this matter.
Harphoon 2009
about 1 year ago
Let me tell you something else. Who will be the new rep of blogosphere?
Its going to be her.
http://dotseng.wordpress.com/
Take a long and good look at her. She is pedigree. She even has all the paper qualifications to go with it. The best thing about her is she can be controlled by the brohood. Her brain is empty!
Guess what no one cares! Everyone so far has only seen her in her red cheong sam. And everyone is dying to see her move and say something. They r even prepared to vote her in, if she blows them all a kiss and moves – can you imagine that. It just happened 2 hours ago in a pbk site with nearly 3,000 forummers. She was voted!
This is the new face of change. It is coming and no one can stop it.
Have a nice life. As for you harphoon pls go and die lah!
about 1 year ago
WHAT ARE THE 3 GOLDEN POINTS (KINDLY PASS IT AROUND IN BLOGOLAND)
(1) Does the association of bloggers (ABS) attempt in anyway to represent the interest of the broader blogging society? Their president has stepped out and clarified their position very clearly – as an emphatic “no.” (They ONLY speak for their membership and no other. They have absolutely NO authority under law to infer, ascribe or assign any powers of representation on your behalf as a free blogger i.e if you are not a member)
(2) Can ABS impose a standard of “acceptable” or kosher blogging on those who may not wish to subscribe to it membership – again she (president) has replied “no.” (ABS has no authority to tell you how to blog. Neither can it propose to do so under ANY legal mandate, instrument or directive. As a free blogger you are NOT subject to their code of conduct and free to do as you so please / with regards to the civil and criminal laws of Singapore – this does not in any way prejudice your statutory rights)
(3) Can ABS stand in opposition to anonymous blogging – again “no.” (full disclosure ONLY applies to their members. Providing you remain a free blogger (non-member of ABS) you do NOT need to disclose any information. You have every right to non disclosure and enjoy your elemental rights to personal privacy. Again this does not in any way prejudice your statutory rights.
[This has been prepared by Missy Dotty and members in the Siglap read club for the benefit of the all old and recent readers of the Brotherhood Press -2009]
about 1 year ago
Jayne, you asked for clarification and you are still keeping dumb. It’s been almost 20 hours already.
You owe the laison officer big time for quelling the storm. The rest is up to you now. Even your fellow protem committee members have distanced themselves away from you.
You do have a lot of explaining to do.
No; better still, step down and retreat to your cocoon and stay there. Perhaps ABS will then be able to start flapping its wings and soar.
about 1 year ago
Guys,
I really cannot make head or tail of these comments. I’m trying to find out what’s happening? Even my committee members don’t know what’s happening?
Can we meet and talk? I’m really clueless.
about 1 year ago
Wilfrid,
I agree that Jayne does not speak for the group but it is undeniable that anything the figurehead utters carry more weight than everyone else. I think the lesson here is to be more careful when saying things. By this, I don’t mean to censor but rather to find a way to phrase things so that it doesn’t rub most people the wrong way. I was a little miffed by what Jayne wrote as well, which was fortunately tempered by me actually having interacted with her in real life. Those who haven’t talked to Jayne before are obvious way more pissed off because they are basing their impressions on alot of inferences.
Anyway, let’s catch up over a cuppa sometime.
about 1 year ago
Hi Harphoon,
Happy new year to you! Regarding comments on this thread, I’m maintaining my policy of free expression (sans spam of course). I believe that people have their right to speak their minds and I intend to follow it through. I’ve exercised this policy even for people who write nasty things about me in my own blog, and I don’t intend to change course.
I believe that most people these days are educated enough to decide what is the right thing to believe in. I don’t think anyone should be too concerned about the more nasty comments coming through. In my opinion, positions on the extreme tend to get less overall support. This is a subtle hint meant for whoever it is meant for.
about 1 year ago
ECL, You mean, you dont know what is happening?
Or you dont want to know? 
I dont mean to be rude or even come across as sarcastic, but I think, it is not an excuse to say, you dont know what is happening. The case here is, you are expected to know. But just let me fill you in on the tip of the iceberg, maybe 20% of the articles published recently.
http://tomorrow.sg/tag/blogging
- tinkertailor: 10 reasons why I’m joining the Association of Bloggers (Singapore)
- Sex sells, so does Politics: Start some association of bloggers to monitor those rebels
- The Lycan Times: Current Affairs: Association of Bloggers Singapore
- eastcoastlife Twitter: Ecl is recruiting bloggers to form strong ties and allegiances
- Deadpris: My Thoughts of Association of Bloggers Singapore
- Holly Jean: The Association Of Bloggers. What’s In It For ME?
- eastcoastlife Plurk: paying may not get you into Association of Bloggers (Singapore)
- 5 Top Reasons of Not Joining Association of Bloggers (Singapore)
- of association of bloggers (singapore)
- Jaywalk: Association Of Bloggers (Singapore)
- Singularity Industries: Whose side are you on?
- Daphnemaia.sg: Xenophobic President of Association of Bloggers (Singapore) attacks bystanders
- AcidFlask: Now announcing the AcidFlask Fan Club!
- Cowboy Caleb: Twitter of the day
- Digital Terrorist – Singapore Blogger Association?!
So now you dont have any excuse, not to know,
Gemami is 100% right you owe the Internet Liaison of the brotherhood a big favor for closing the hatches down when the storm hit.
They did a great job of filling up the blanks. When so little information was forthcoming from Abs. From the way I c it. Those guys did not even have any CNY. As most of the International Gaming channel doesnt recognize this as a public holiday like Xmass or Thanks Giving, they have to be fully mobilized. 3 rotating shifts. every single day. What a shitty way to spend CNY and to cap it all off they have to be called bacteria in the new paper yesterday!
about 1 year ago
I will be frank with you ECL @ 12:47 pm. Those spacemen will never ever just meet up with you. Do you really want to know why? I know it is very easy to dismiss what some have written here as just lalaland ruminations which all add up to ziltch. But look again. What lies at the bottom of their motivation. Money. May not be real money. But theirs is a topsy turvy world, where you may even get people paying real money to buy fake money so that they can buy things that dont exist in the real world. But let us be clear, you are not dealing with kiddies here. Kids play you shoot me, I shoot you, world of warcraft. Thats like riding a tricycle. These people play real RPG customed platformed games, thats like driving a formula 1 thoroughbred. These are men in their thirties and late twenties. Its a game of cerebral fitness. Something like chess only a zillion times more complicated.
And one reason why I am so certain they will never ever meet you is given when the liaison keeps saying, they are neutral. In brotherhood parlance, neutral doesnt mean neutral. When they say we are neutral, it basically means you may still be useful to them but they are keeping their options to switch sides open. It means nothing. That is why they are not taking any sides if you notice. Thats good, but it may be bad also.
Now you got to bear in mind, one reason why it is so quiet now in blogosphere is because they probably used a tremendous amount of their guanxi with block bloggers (this are bloggers who have a large readership and they regularly touch base with them in facebook or IRC.) to keep their communities in line. This is standard brotherhood tactic, if they want you to do something, they will not talk directly to you, the mr nobody blogger. They will get someone who has a relationship with you, to influence you, they will not even appear.
Now you think about it, if they are doing all this, that means a lot of people must be giving them face or good will or just sick and tired of their nagging or their long postings zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. But for others to follow them, they must either believe they are really neutral and dont have any vested interest.
So what do you think will happen when they meet you up and talk? Trust me when I tell you this ECL, they want nothing to do with you or your association. They cannot even have any ties with you.
If you are smart. You will take this lull in the storm as Aaron and SD said, to come up with some way for Abs to communicate the game plan to the rest of the onliners.
If you dont know how to do it. You can ask me. I will make sure it is delivered directly to darkness. Darkness is a good friend of mine, he is an easy going guy, he will help you, but I dont think even he can admit that publicly.
about 1 year ago
Good Evening Aaron,
How are you Aaron? I heard many good things about you from Darkness. He conveys his warmest regards to you and Pei Ying.
Good Evening Jayne,
Yes, I understand how may you be clueless (I would probably be in the same disposition, if I were in your shoes); that’s to be expected; the internet is after all a very big real estate; and its certainly a challenge to squeeze such a geography into ones skull to try to understand everything.
Yes, nothing would give us keenest pleasure that to met up with you; we have heard so much about the marvelous job you and your team have been doing with ABS. However, due to certain reasons which are best left aside for the moment; that may not be such a good idea Jayne.
Before I begin allow me to state clearly that we want ABS to succeed. Now we all know neither you or the rest of the team started this just to chase glory on the cheap; we understand all of you are working towards a noble ideal (to make our internet a better place) because every single one of you understand the enormity of the task ahead. Jayne, I understand – there are real challenges in blogosphere; such as the terminal cynicism, doubtfulness and even fear that is so often reflected in its many forms – so may I just say, what all of you are trying to achieve here is a noble goal; one that is extraordinary and historical in every sense.
The problem Jayne is I don’t believe many people know this; that’s to say I don’t believe they even understand how ABS is going to drive out the bad currency in our internet and replace it something better. And its even conceivable in the absence of an explanation that effectively fleshes out the vision, mission and goal of ABS; they may even remain doubtful, cynical and full of fear – and this prompts us all to consider whether this may be one of the reasons why ABS seems to be getting a cold reception?
I understand Jayne, profiling a mission or vision is not so simple; many will not be able to agree completely with many of the terms and conditions ABS forwards; but if the imperative is to seek common ground and bridge understanding; so that the online community can eventually come to see ABS as a friend rather than a foe.
Then we believe that its jugular for ABS to constructively engage its detractors on these hard points; this as I said, will not be easy; there will be disagreements; they may even be derisive and contentious; but providing the reasons forwarded are clear, principled and honest, I am certain we can work towards a happy consensus.
I am very confident Jayne; ABS will one day be able to play a meaningful role in our blogosphere to enhance the blogging experience to renewed heights.
I don’t really know how to say this without coming across as slightly presumptuous and a tad arrogant Jayne; really, I am in a fix; allow me to say; if you need any assistance on how to accomplish this task of communicating the vision, mission and goal of ABS clearly and effectively to the online community; it would be our pleasure to assist by coming up with a draft proposal.
In fact, our diplomats have already come up with a preliminary draft after extensively discussing their concerns with various stakeholders who make up the online community.
I can give you my guarantee that providing the substantive content of the draft is ratified by ABS; it will certainly go a long way to bridge understanding between ABS and the online community (if you desire such a draft to be submitted to you privately, pls inform Aaron. I will make the necessary arrangements to take it off line. Or if you prefer it, I can post it here).
Rest assured Jayne, we will endeavor to work in every capacity to make sure that ABS is a success for the benefit of the all netizens. And please allow me to reiterate our position of neutrality once again.
Meanwhile I remain
Yours Faithfully
Long live the brotherhood!
SD
2nd Class Prescience officer of the ASDF aka Internet Liaison officer of the Brotherhood.
EP 23489659-Doberman – 2009
about 1 year ago
Guys,
Sorry if I have caused you all so much inconvenience.
I set up ABS just to help bloggers like myself, whom some called nobody. We teach and mentor older folks and school children to start a blog, promote Singapore, promote the free courses by various organisations, try to get official media invite so can go behind the scene for events like River Hongbao.
These are community projects which no money will be made from it but to benefit the community. I need bloggers to help.
Why do so many people think I have so much power to eliminate other stakeholders? All I want is to have my own pool where my fishes can swim. I don’t want an ocean. I will drown. All of you look me so up. Thank you.
I am nobody, have no power to control or regulate the blogosphere. I am not calling for clamp down of anonymous blogging or commenting. I do not agree with the bacteria comment too.
I’m surprised that the gaming sites are even involved. I’ve never played any gaming. lau aunty mah.
Aaron has met me and he might be able to describe me as the typical aunty. What makes me so power to all you guys, I don’t know.
Singapore Daddy, your English so powerful, I would appreciate a copy of the draft.
Aaron, can I trouble you to assist? We will have tea when I meet you to collect the draft.
Guys, nice meeting you. I could need your help in the future.
about 1 year ago
Good Evening Jayne,
You have made a wise decision Jayne. Please do not fret. I sense pain, regret and even confusion in your tone. This is not necessary Jayne. Let me assure you.
We are very confident that the tide can go the other way; you must be assured and please communicate this to the rest of your team as well. we know this domain very well; and the true genius of blogosphere is not that it can hold ONLY to one thought (like a political party or newspaper); but it that it can also shift very much like the wind to consider many thoughts as well.
I understand, things may appear bleak, but trust me when I say the internet despite its vagaries and capricious nature – remains a domain where even stone headed people can even be the most pleasant and agreeable of sorts. I have made many friends here to testify to this as a matter of fact. Nothing is written in stone here.
One must never fear this chaos Jayne, that I feel is one reason why our leaders are so flustered; they don’t really understand its make up; so is it such a wonder they seek no end to impose structure and symmetry to corset it further into a understandable form that accords to their sense and sensibililities.
My feel Jayne is we must never fear this :eye of the storm and instead seek to understand and harness it in the way a good captain learns to tame the restless wind to help him make gainful progress. We understand what you may see now is ONLY anger; but trust me when I tell you; we are not dealing with stupid and irrational or even destructive people; most netizens know anger is not always productive; indeed, all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems; it keeps us as a community from squarely facing our own complicity that accounts for our condition, and prevents from reaching higher; I am certain with constructive engagement we will be able to forge lasting alliances needed to bring about real change.
We need sometime to tie up the loose ends; there are some quarters who are difficult to deal with; we need to be more patient with them to influence them into our way of thinking; meanwhile let me say once again, you have decided wisely Jayne.
As for the bacteria barbed repartee not to worry; that only affirms we are indeed cultured and multiplying to take over the world. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Sleep well Jayne.
SD
about 1 year ago
Hi Jayne,
I am glad that you are beginning to open up your channel of communication. This is a step in the right direction and all credit to you, SD, for the trouble you have taken to calm things down and to lend a helping hand to Jayne and ABS.
I am saddened that one of your protem members, Rachel a.k.a. xtralicious, has decided to step down. You too owe her a fair bit for helping to put things in their proper perspectives over at her personal blogsite. Her PR is fantastic and people do listen to her explanations on the ABS issue.
My advice to you Jayne (if it means anything to you at all, that is), is to be careful with your choice of words. You must begin to realise that you have an association to represent and you can no longer speak in the free-wheeling way that you do over at your own blog.
Overstating yourself with comments like; ” Why do so many people think I have so much power to eliminate other stakeholders? …. All of you look me so up. Thank you.” will do you no good when people are calling for you to step down. They actually see you no up.
I do hope you allow SD and the brotherhood to guide you along and I am willing to shift my position from apprehension to neutral, at least. We’ll see what happens next. It all up to you, Jayne.
about 1 year ago
Gemami,
You know Gemami, we can cut the cake in two ways here; one way is we all start the blame game and play who said what and caused what etc – the problem with that approach is it really doesn’t get you anywhere except maybe digging a bigger hole.
Look I am not saying for one moment, there are no lessons to be learnt here or that some decision could not have made better; though I am strictly an outsider, observing events unfold from a NEUTRAL, I am certain there will always be room for improvement. Only the way I see it; it makes far more sense for us to invest in the solutions business right now, rather than wasting our time on finger pointing and figuring out who should go to the guillotine.
Besides we have plenty of time for that later.
Yes, we have heard, some people have decided to say bye bye to ABS; we also know some people will continue to insist ABS is good for nothing; others may even wish for it to fade away – but the question remains: what does all this really bring to the table? In what way does the closure of ABS bring good to our blogosphere? How does it even benefit the ordinary one man show blogger?
The short answer is it brings no fucking good at all, unless you believe staring at pig entrails in a cave is some great way to make progress; or doing nothing constitutes some remarkable form of progress. Fact remains despite its many faults which are PERSONAL in nature: the basic model of ABS is a very creative and innovative idea; nowhere does such a platform currently exist to effectively handshake the real and virtual realm; its like a space station that sits in the no man’s land that divides the blogosphere from the real world; and IF managed wisely, it can even be a reliable producer of good for both netizens and those who may choose to work with those in the virtual.
My feel is netizens themselves must choose where they want to go with this idea and not ABS; we now stand on a crossroads; unless we sharpen our understanding that what we may have here is a great way to move forward to write our respective stories; then I think, its useless to continue further. We cannot give blood transfusion if Count Dracula is sucking what we intend to revive on the other side. Who do you take us for? We are not stupid people! If netizens themselves CANNOT even hold to common hopes; and CANNOT even agree on the same page that ABS as a model should be given a fair chance to run as an idea – how then can ABS possibly survive? Pls dont blame Jayne – she is not even in the equation here – you are! And let me tell you all another thing – It will fail, as it will not be so different from a self fulfilling prophecy – How can we even move in the same direction? Let alone work towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren; if we are not even prepared to take full responsibility for own lives — by demanding more of what we can achieve here in blogosphere? – this is something we should all do well to reflect upon as netizens when we stand before this crossroad.
As I said, it all boils down to you – its all in your hands. We can help but we cannot walk on water or transmute base metal into gold. We cannot.
SD
about 1 year ago
“I do hope you allow SD and the brotherhood to guide you along.”
gemami you are famous for spouting gibberish in TOC and now here. None of us really doubt that SD & Co will deliver the goods. No one especially their trek record. But that is not the main issue.
There are other issues. Like the fact these people are famous for muscling their way in and taking control of everything. As I said, no one denies they will do a top drawer job.
Do you notice wherever those chaps go, they set up a puppet monarchy? And declare it a protectorate? Next thing you know, they will station a garrison there. And put someone like Pontious Pilate to oversee their colonies. Go and figure that out gemami. Did you know they are supposed to be nomads! And they happen to occupy the largst tracks of land in the gaming network. How did that happen? Were they very polite people who people just like doing business with? Hello!!!!!!As I said, no one disputes they can do a very good job, but that is only half the story.
Otherwise how can only a handful of people control the confederation and even manage to get the power of veto.
But I think, if they want the rest of us to the blogging community and most netizens to support them. They should not keep on saying. We are neutral. We are neutral. Everytime, they say, we are neutral, that just means the are planning a full scale invasion. I am sorry, that is how I see it. I will be honest. As there is a pattern here that is seen in the way they regularly play their games.
I am not saying they cannot be trusted. Only when they use words like neutrality. It doesnt mean alot. SD should step forward and give us all a verbal commitment they are doing this for the benefit of us and not them. If they come out in the open and say, we will abstain from ABS membership and have nothing to do with the board for lets say 3 or 5 years. Then I am sure, this whole idea will fly. And most people will take and run with it.
The second thing I want to highlight is there is something very wrong with the way the assoc of bloggers Sg is managed. I mean four more people have resigned leaving now only the remaining six and we dont even know why they all threw in the towel.
about 1 year ago
One thing u may do well to always remember gemami is the brotherhood does not equal SD. If it did it would not be a problem. The brotherhood = Darkness and his motley crew. The same one that used to hang out in the IS.
I am not saying for one moment they will kick out Jane etc. No they will not, infact, they will be very nice, polite, helpful, hardworking etc etc etc. They will even treat her like royalty. And if she visits them in the virtual, they will even give a reception befitting the Queen of England.
Only make no bones, they will be calling all the shots from behind. Very much like they always do in virtual like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSV9S2Ol3bc
Or what do you think? Please be careful how you answer me, you have a reputation in TOC for shooting your mouth before it passes through your brain.
about 1 year ago
Hi SD & Passerby,
If you guys could see the position I have shifted to from when I first heard the news of ABS’s creation, you will realise that I am giving it better accord than my first reaction.
We all know that ABS came along with a big bang and then all things else went hollow and empty. Now we have Jayne coming out to show herself and try to understand what the fuss is all about and I think this is a good step for her to take, even though she might feign ignorance; still she is responding to the storm.
Passerby, I know some of you guys have problem with me not seeing things the way you do regards to SD and the Brotherhood. Hey, too bad, man. I don’t care too much about gaming and what you guys may think the guys from the Brotherhood are. All I know is that when sd or Darkness speaks, they make sense to me. That’s all that matters to me and I am sure many others in cyberspace feel the same way too.
I am sure you know about Lazarus, Mr White and so on. They have tried to engage sd but when I was ready to learn more about what they were harping about, they all left in a huff. What can I say?
Call me whatever names you like. This is not new to me.
For me, I am ready to listen to Jayne and I am ready to give ABS a chance to prove itself; and yes; it is all up to me.
about 1 year ago
Catch up with you guys after the weekend. Going to enjoy it while I still can. Thanks Aaron for putting up with me.
about 1 year ago
We remain firmly neutral. Nothing will ever change that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7w6UcP3H8w
Just remember, death is a state of mind; I’ve be meeting up with the ASDF & Darkness to update them all during our regular cycling meets; we will have a better idea where we are going after that.
SD
about 1 year ago
I dont understand why the President of ABS made such a disparaging comment regarding foreigners. I believe that sparked a mini uproar in Mlysia irc. I was told that Darkness himself will personally come down to met some of us who are interested to collaborate with Singaporeans on some local food fair. He was supposed to met up with a few ladies in a local read club based in Petaling Jaya. I hope this is not a ruse.
Whatever it is. I wish ABS good luck. I think, its a fab way to connect to the world
about 1 year ago
I am new to all this:
- All I know is most of the assoc members have resigned! The reasons are still unknown.
-Second, there is alot of chatter in that Miss Dotty will be running! Can we have a confirmation here please!!
- Thirdly, most of the people in the gaming network have decided to toe the line. They are now moving into the cookery forums to get further support. And most of them happen to be Malaysian sites. For some reason the interaction between Singaporeans and Malaysian is strongest in these sites. That could be why Darkness is nowadays pretending to be a chef. This is such an incredibly bad lie, but why can he get away with it all the time?
about 1 year ago
I am one of those who believe that blogosphere definitely needs representation. But I am not very comfortable with the idea of Darkness and his lads coming in.
I know they played a big part in quelling the fire and setting the record straight for the ABS etc. I also happen to know. It is currently the talk now of many networks. They used alot of their know how which they gained from having studied the Malaysians from the last general elections.
Gamers now have even a name for it, RAPID INFORMATION POSITIONING (RIP)
They come into a network, suppress, move, block and flood it with their version of the information.
I do also want to ask, if they mobilized such a rapid response for ABS why did they not see fit to do the same for the case of the permanent secretary who decided to go off for 5 weeks to Paris to learn how to cook?
The Chinese will buy RIP from you boys, no doubt about it