Comments on: Self-regulation of Singapore Blogosphere- Whatever for?? http://theonlinecitizen.com/2006/12/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/ Singapore's #1 Socio-Political Site Thu, 24 May 2012 15:26:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: BL http://theonlinecitizen.com/2006/12/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/comment-page-1/#comment-62 BL Thu, 21 Dec 2006 06:05:26 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2006/12/18/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/#comment-62 Hi there, I have written <a href="http://bleongcw.typepad.com/simple_is_the_reason_of_m/2006/12/free_to_choose.html#more" rel="nofollow">a followup</a> on this article to explain my position clearer on the self-regulation. Actually, self-regulation (or the correct word is moderation) has begun in the blogs. A code of conduct won't change much. Hi there,

I have written a followup on this article to explain my position clearer on the self-regulation.

Actually, self-regulation (or the correct word is moderation) has begun in the blogs. A code of conduct won’t change much.

]]> By: Jewel Jade http://theonlinecitizen.com/2006/12/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Jewel Jade Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:39:29 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2006/12/18/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/#comment-61 Totally against any form of regualtions, whether self or external interference by govt or interest groups. This last bit of total freedom of expression derived from the Internet should not be taken away by hidden agendas of individuals or organisations. Totally against any form of regualtions, whether self or external interference by govt or interest groups. This last bit of total freedom of expression derived from the Internet should not be taken away by hidden agendas of individuals or organisations.

]]> By: Dr.Huang http://theonlinecitizen.com/2006/12/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Dr.Huang Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:31:47 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2006/12/18/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/#comment-60 Hi The Latest H, The PAP is changing ( or they are so good that they give the illusion that they are). It seems so obvious to people like you and I, that things cannot and should not go on the same way it has. The people have been dulled into a stupor and have lost ( or never learnt) the ability to initiate change. We are the most docile people in the Universe. With 4 million people, you would think that we would have more than 1 opinion. Wrong! Dr.Huang Hi The Latest H,
The PAP is changing ( or they are so good that they give the illusion that they are).
It seems so obvious to people like you and I, that things cannot and should not go on the same way it has.
The people have been dulled into a stupor and have lost ( or never learnt) the ability to initiate change.
We are the most docile people in the Universe. With 4 million people, you would think that we would have more than 1 opinion. Wrong!
Dr.Huang

]]> By: The_Latest_H http://theonlinecitizen.com/2006/12/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/comment-page-1/#comment-59 The_Latest_H Wed, 20 Dec 2006 10:01:10 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2006/12/18/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/#comment-59 Well, cheers. Thanks Doctor. In any case, the PAP wouldn't change because most of the leaders there, and the most senior one(you know whom I speak of) have all their heads in the sand; they are not coming out anytime soon. So, even if they don't change, it doesn't mean we don't change either. We have to change; there isn't much of a choice. But even as we want to start the change, we also have to persuade people on why change is needed, and why it's important. At least if we can persuade, and listen to people, its a marked difference from the PAP, who usually change policies almost suddenly, and without consultation. Well, cheers. Thanks Doctor.

In any case, the PAP wouldn’t change because most of the leaders there, and the most senior one(you know whom I speak of) have all their heads in the sand; they are not coming out anytime soon.

So, even if they don’t change, it doesn’t mean we don’t change either. We have to change; there isn’t much of a choice.

But even as we want to start the change, we also have to persuade people on why change is needed, and why it’s important. At least if we can persuade, and listen to people, its a marked difference from the PAP, who usually change policies almost suddenly, and without consultation.

]]> By: Dr.Huang http://theonlinecitizen.com/2006/12/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Dr.Huang Wed, 20 Dec 2006 07:23:43 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2006/12/18/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/#comment-58 Hi The_Latest_H, My sentiments exactly. It is not just about the PAP. We should speak freely from the heart without fear or favour. Whether the PAP or the Monster-raving loony Party is in power, we should not hold back. Self-regulation does no one any good. Not even the PAP. They will think everything is hunkydorry when it ain't. Dr.Huang I have pasted your comments onto my blog comments section as there is an active thread already Hi The_Latest_H,

My sentiments exactly.
It is not just about the PAP. We should speak freely from the heart without fear or favour.
Whether the PAP or the Monster-raving loony Party is in power, we should not hold back.
Self-regulation does no one any good. Not even the PAP. They will think everything is hunkydorry when it ain’t.

Dr.Huang
I have pasted your comments onto my blog comments section as there is an active thread already

]]> By: The_Latest_H http://theonlinecitizen.com/2006/12/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/comment-page-1/#comment-57 The_Latest_H Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:13:44 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.wordpress.com/2006/12/18/self-regulation-of-singapore-blogosphere-whatever-for/#comment-57 The thing is this: do we want the government to set the agenda, and allow them to walk over us- as they always do- or do we want to be bold and speak up? The fact remains that we cannot remain red carpets for them to thread us upon. As citizens of this country, we should have every right in voicing our concerns on where this country is heading. Its not a privilege granted only to the top people in this government. Its an entitlement. Now even as the government tries to impose its will on the online community, and force some people to "moderate" their own views, the more the larger community show that they ain't pushovers. In the US, in the recent November Senate/Congressional and gubernational(sp) elections, the Republicans and even the Democrats were up for intense checks. They were all YouTubed in a sense; caught in videos and re-played to massive audiences until these politicians were so ashamed. One only had to look at now ex-Senator George Allen, who lost his Senate seat to Jim Webb in a tight election because of the fallout that arose when Senator Allen called an American-born Indian(a real Indian, not a native American) a macaca. It was captured on video by that Indian himself- and uploaded onto YouTube. The rest...well we know the rest. So this example points out how Net 2.0 has democratise the political landscape and the journalist landscape in the US. Its power to the people, again- and that's why the PAP fears this. It has had always feared that when people have power, they lose. To try and clamp down on free speech online is a manifestion of that fear. That's why we have to maintain free speech and freedom from fear online. If people in the US can use YouTube to check on their politicians, then in time, here in Singapore, we should do the same. Regardless whether the PAP likes it or not. The thing is this: do we want the government to set the agenda, and allow them to walk over us- as they always do- or do we want to be bold and speak up?

The fact remains that we cannot remain red carpets for them to thread us upon. As citizens of this country, we should have every right in voicing our concerns on where this country is heading. Its not a privilege granted only to the top people in this government.

Its an entitlement.

Now even as the government tries to impose its will on the online community, and force some people to “moderate” their own views, the more the larger community show that they ain’t pushovers.

In the US, in the recent November Senate/Congressional and gubernational(sp) elections, the Republicans and even the Democrats were up for intense checks. They were all YouTubed in a sense; caught in videos and re-played to massive audiences until these politicians were so ashamed. One only had to look at now ex-Senator George Allen, who lost his Senate seat to Jim Webb in a tight election because of the fallout that arose when Senator Allen called an American-born Indian(a real Indian, not a native American) a macaca. It was captured on video by that Indian himself- and uploaded onto YouTube. The rest…well we know the rest.

So this example points out how Net 2.0 has democratise the political landscape and the journalist landscape in the US. Its power to the people, again- and that’s why the PAP fears this. It has had always feared that when people have power, they lose. To try and clamp down on free speech online is a manifestion of that fear.

That’s why we have to maintain free speech and freedom from fear online. If people in the US can use YouTube to check on their politicians, then in time, here in Singapore, we should do the same. Regardless whether the PAP likes it or not.

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