There are a lot of people out there that considers blogging as an 'ummph' injector to journalism. There are no written rules when it comes to blogging, almost anything that can be technically uploaded and presented for mass consumption makes the list.
Having said that, the rules I have personally lived by in the blogosphere:
1. If I'm brave enough to say it, I should be brave enough to take the consequences.
2. If I'm not brave enough to accept the consequences, I should say it anonymously, or not at all.
3. If I want to say it anonymously, I have to work hard at writing in obscurities and generalisations AND be prepared to not be taken seriously (that's IF I had something important to say).
Granted that these rules come hand-in-hand with the sociopolitical system that you exist in. As a Malaysian blogger, I am very much aware of the Sedition Act (or better known by the even scarier name: "Akta Hasutan") - having been warned on at least one very traumatic occasion - and then there was that Malaysiakini incident. Being aware of the consequences perhaps makes my blog more Malaysian than just the bits about KLCC and Bangsar has been appearing very often in my posts.
Media attention will always be focused on the latest cool thing. In Malaysia, there are few. So the story of what it's like to blog will be run over and over again. There's one on Aiz in the Edge. There is one in a newsletter (although I wrote it, it should count anyway). There will be one soon in an English daily, but I won't spoil the fun for you kids.
Therefore, I read with great interest the story of the girl who got fired for her website. The interesting story isn't just the story of her dismissal, but rather the story behind that story that ran in the papers. Check out her picture too.
Posted by Najah Nasseri at 2003年05月27日 16:33you know, najah, you are one of the local bloggers whom I agree with most of the time. I don't agree much with Aiz esp his proper blogging rules.
You brought up a very pertinent issue here. I wonder if my remarks in my blog could lead me to the Akta Hasutan. But I believe in press freedom, esp in the net. But then again, if I really kena one day because of what I wrote,... my inexperience at handling such issues will be paralysing...
Fooji, all you need is conviction in what you say and a truly open mind. Then things like Akta Hasutan etc is meaningless, because you will speak enough truth for the masses to support you.
Posted by: najah at 2003年05月27日 23:52Mmm. Brave words, and I agree with them. Done it myself, at Malaysiakini. Who? Like *I'm* telling you :)
On the other hand:
I don't use the word ‘blogosphere’. It sounds pretentious — not as bad as including and excluding people from the “Real Blogging Community”, but still. Hell, is there such a thing as a ‘blogging community’? It all just rubs me the wrong way.
And I've never lived with the thought that what I say is particularly important. I don't think I ever will. If you fear opinions, then you are far weaker than you should be.
Posted by: T-Boy at 2003年05月28日 23:38