Comments on: Netizens failed to “self-regulate”

By: Parka

Parka — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:40:07 +0000

And here’s my cartoon and text response to that.

By: gemami

gemami — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:36:49 +0000

As much as I can feel for the pain SHT suffered and is suffering, I still think this Lui guy is one cunning SOB.

Using the online poll to accuse Netizens of being unjust is like declaring SHT to be faultless. Why does he not see the reasons behind the sympathies shown to the flame thrower Mr Ong?

I agree with bacterium that there are different kinds of pain and with SHT, we are more inclined to feel for him because we can see and therefore feel his pain. What about Mr Ong? Does it mean he is not in pain because there are no physical scars on him?

It will be a squandered opportunity for the government, not Netizens, if it continues to be blind to the underlying reasons for such show of outrage. There are more to come, I expect. Examples are the Harry Lee guy and the recent threat to that self-glorifying woman MP (can’t bear to mention her name, sorry).

By: Dumb and Deaf but not Mute

Dumb and Deaf but not Mute — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:19:25 +0000

To Kokachichu
Well u said some valid points, just as others have done.
I am no epxert [in fac some experts are bogus and self-proclaimed], but I have this to say, which I think not quite dissimilar to others – we dont need to rationalise and rationalise (or justify) that much until we become paralysed.
In other words, there are too much (just too much I emphasised) studies into this studies into that, collecting statistics to prove this to prove that, all these at times merely is to prove nothing, and come out with noithing in the end, its merely to justify the studies itself, that is to justify the means and not the ends.
And when it comes to positive conclusion, it just vindicate the source not the objectives.
To conclude, I am no longer young now, I no longer trust the current rulers when I had previously trusted for last few decades. I have and am strongly evcouraging people to migrate.
Does anyone want to rationalise my thoughts and actions or trust and accept them at face value??? My advice, no need to confirm what i said with impartial statistics available.
Sorry guys, actually this does not relate to the subject here, but I hope u can see it as a background of scheme of things why Mr Seng is hurt, and why our Mr Lui said what he said.

By: bacterium

bacterium — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:00:16 +0000

Sure, only Seng can feel pain while others whom he failed to help have no sense of pain. What the emphasis on physical and visible pain while nothing considered over emotional and non-tangible pain? Emphatize my foot!

By: To kokachichu

To kokachichu — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:51:12 +0000

“I am only expressing my personal sympathy for Mr Seng for getting himself hurt while taking his time out to serve the community. Yes, some may feel that he deserve it, but that is their personal opinion and expressions. We may see clearer why they are reacting in this manner if we are able to see it from their point of views. I am not perfect hence I am not able to do that, hence, unable to understand why there is no empathy shown for a fellow human being who was hurt while serving others.”

Sad that Mr. Seng is at the painful receiving end of this dangerous act.

Once conditions are present / fertile for this kind of act to happen, it will just happen (Murphy’s Law). It may well be another culprit and another innocent MP.

Count ourselves lucky if we are not sitting under the conditions of being in the shoes of either any of the potential dangerous culprit or any innocent MP who may pose as some potential target.

Disenfranchised or greiving parties for whatever reason will just manifest their unhappiness in sometimes unusual ways onto someone representing their source of unhappiness, whether we like it or not or whether we agree or not.

By: kokachichu

kokachichu — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:24:16 +0000

To Dumb & Deaf but not Mute:
Your comments makes you a positive and mature person to corresponse with in TOC, which is good. Yes, I do concur with you there are definitely causes and effects in everything one does. I am only expressing my personal sympathy for Mr Seng for getting himself hurt while taking his time out to serve the community. Yes, some may feel that he deserve it, but that is their personal opinion and expressions. We may see clearer why they are reacting in this manner if we are able to see it from their point of views. I am not perfect hence I am not able to do that, hence, unable to understand why there is no empathy shown for a fellow human being who was hurt while serving others.
Coming to the elitist, yes there are those elitist who feels that they are The Elite and some are out of touch with the grassroot level. They do have to come down from the ladder to engage with the people below then they will be able to view upwards together with the grassroot people in order to understand better instead of just talking down. There is my MP whom I have wrote email to but did not get any response from except an email from his staff that he will be looking into the matter that I brought up. Till date, I have not heard from him at all. I wonder if it is a norm for an MP to behave in this manner when the election is over. I have saved the email so that I will be able to show him when he come to my home for his election walk-about.
I still believes that there are kindness in us deep down below. We can truely show empathy to those in need or in pain, if we want to. Thanks everyone who have responded to my comments.

By: Dumb and Deaf but not Mute

Dumb and Deaf but not Mute — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:35:11 +0000

To kokachichu:
Thank you for your comments which are welcomed here for debating.
In nature, theres cause and effect broadly speaking of course the details are subjected to merits and demerits which I think is not the discourse here in TOC for this subject post.
I beseech you to see the larger picture – see the forest, not tree by tree which only monkies climb and swing from one to another. Forestry is another subject for professionals, maybe geologists or agriculturists sorry me is no expert to name.
Like what Lui remarks is, myopic, elitist-uncaring and only resemble his paymasters. Of course, I believe by and large many in TOC probably understood long long ago this principle, dont bite the hand the gives ang paos.
I speculate thats the reaosn for TOC, hehe I speak for myself.

By: alky

alky — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:08:20 +0000

#39) kokachichu on February 6th, 2009 10.02 am

With the kind of policies our elites dish out towards its citizens, what do you expect? The elites are just reaping what they have sown.

Like what Mr Brown said, in Singapore, it is “you die your business”. So please uncaring elites, get out of the peasants’ faces as well. Don’t expect any sympathy when there is none deserved.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:20:59 +0000

“i read the printed version of the ST on the same story. one female MP was disappointed that some websites purposely block out pro-government comments by some of her friends, and she said that this should not be the case.”

Why ? MP must be special ? Must receive preferential treatment in the internet ? Still think like kangaroo ?

The gahmen say that Singaporean love to complain but now how come turn out that it is the gahmen that love to complain too ?

When thing by them force down the throat of citizen, they say the citizen love complaining, but when thing out of control for them, it is okay for them to complain. How ironic.

By: bacterium

bacterium — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:05:57 +0000

eh kokachichu; too late lah, the Lui guy already passed judgement on netizens. still trying to score points meh?

By: kokachichu

kokachichu — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:02:28 +0000

It is really wrong to hurt a person especially one who was out there handing Hong Pow to serve the community. To those who have passed unkind remarks about Mr Seng, please try to think that if the person who got burnt is your own father. How would you feel that someone had poured petrol and burn him? And after that, rubbed salt into the wound by making unkind remarks.
On the other hand, yes, Minister, leaders must continue to be sensitive to the people’s feeling when communicating with the people. Most of them are, I am not saying that they are all not.
There is really something wrong, try taking a look at the people taking the public transport. People who gives their seat away, there was no appreciation shown. While people who really need the seat are not given by those who amazingly falls into a deep coma the moment their butt touches the seat.
It’s really sad, to see people passing unkind remarks on the person who had been seriously hurt.

By: leaders low on EQ

leaders low on EQ — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:08:32 +0000

It is absolutely wrong to cause physical hurt to another person
except for obvious reasons like protecting self, family, etc.

The compelling question we should ask is : “why so little outpouring
of empathy in cyberspace for the unfortunate PAP MP ? ”

It is long overdue for those in the ruling party to understand
that empathy cut both ways.

System of governance and policies that cause endless frustration
can suppress or dampen empathy in ordinary people / lesser mortals.

Low EQ leaders please take note that “empathy begets empathy”.

By: Lesser Mortal

Lesser Mortal — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:34:17 +0000

I guess netizens are just giving their views. Whether it is right or not is another issue. I have written to ask for restrain from netizens against the bad comments about the burned MP; so it is not true that no one rebutted the comments. Many times I disagree with the views of fellow netizens but it is ultimately their personal views.

It is still much more ethical than regulating the mainstream News to whatever the political party wants you to hear. When what you read is so different from real life, that is when you get confused and frustrated. Like the recent Rich and Poor divide gap closing study, really frustrates the Netizens as everyone in real life know this is not true. I remember another report many years back on a survey showing that majority of the people being surveyed think that raising minister’s pay is agreeable.

By: Lim Ak

Lim Ak — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:47:09 +0000

Lui is living in the one party rule world where everything must be according to their ideas and this one party rule is always right.

Never check themselves. Why are there so many unhappy people on the streets today compare to 10 or 20 years ago.

By: duoergun

duoergun — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:36:03 +0000

i read the printed version of the ST on the same story. one female MP was disappointed that some websites purposely block out pro-government comments by some of her friends, and she said that this should not be the case.

I was like, WTH!!!

So it is ok for the printed media like the State’s Times to block out anti-govt remarks, but not ok for online websites to block out pro-govt comments??? this is obviously a very glaring case of double standards!!!

By: sicktothebones

sicktothebones — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:29:57 +0000

the pap is of the delusory opinion that the strident views of the netizens do not reflect the majority’s placid pro-govt views and therefore can be safely ignored as the vociferous rantings of the minority of no consequence and threat.
perhaps it should re-examine this premise and change.
I fear the dark clouds of regulations are looming fast over cyberspace.

the rat citizens (yes,rats) go amid their placid lives until the cat arrives. since no-one has the guts to bell the cat which is surprising in our multi-talented upper echelons, only up-skiling and re-skiling to force rats to bark like dogs will we be able to chase cat away. yes this great LSS nugget of wisdom was met with great mirth in parliament.

By: john tay

john tay — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:55:21 +0000

He should do more to surf the net where the true feelings of the people can be heard iso of listening to his running dog RC, CCC or MSM or whatever have they. I guess all this people from the establishment operate only on 1 mode, ie only hearing praise and apple-polishing from their sycophants.

By: radlife66

radlife66 — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:49:49 +0000

I give Mr Lui the benefit of doubt that he was only lamenting that not enough “right people” (i.e., ppl on PAP side) came in to defend. And that “regulating” the blogs/forums are last thing on his mind. I believe TOC is not averse and even welcome a healthy debate.

Perhaps “right” civil servants whom feel so strongly about defending PAP can come in here and post and just like the rest of us using Pseudonym, thereby keeping your identity confidential. So that we can have a robust and balance net culture since in real life, the situation is so overwhelmingly “one” sided.

i do feel sad that some netizens feel such strong hatred for the establishment and as a result took it out on mr seng. I think it’s wrong. But that is just my personal belief and i find it hard to want to impose my personal beliefs on other netizens.

The net is open, you will “find” all kinds of ppl. Maybe its a bit like Geylang. If you really care about the plight of the “lost” then go in and set up a church or soup kitchen or whatever right in the thick of action. But not to ostracise, ban or persecute them, for these netizens are your citizens too.

By: Confidence Level

Confidence Level — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:22:17 +0000

the way he speaks…..I bet he is a scholar!
:)

By: Small Time Businessman

Small Time Businessman — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:11:17 +0000

Mr Liu, first the real world is not your father’s army. Second, we the people, are the empoyers of the public service, and therefore, we have the right to ‘discuss’ about civil servants’ performance.