Saturday, September 17, 2005
This year marks a first for the Singapore Writer's Festival (SWF): Bloggers are invited to give talks at the event. This has raised some eyebrows. We all know that "blogging" language is considerably different from "writing" language.
Writing also used to be a rather "elitist activity". To earn the rank of "writer", is not easy, at the very least, you are expected to have perfect grammar, a sizable vocabulary and a strong command of the language.
I remember several years ago, when I first started blogging. I didn't bother about my language and grammatical articulations much, I used to get criticism from other grammatically-correct bloggers or English teachers, reprimanding that that wasn’t real writing.
Now, what constitutes good writing? Writing is a form of communication and good communication is when the message is brought across succinctly and accurately. The message that the author is trying to get across must also be insightful; we all know that the best writers are often brilliant thinkers.
Good writing engages you and traps you in the bubble within the author's world; good writing makes you learn, be it new perspectives, giving you knowledge or simple entertainment.
An English teacher during the SWF talk was concerned about the Singlish in most of our local blogs, especially among the youth.
Personally, I find it thoroughly refreshing that blogging is encouraging writing for the masses and is no longer considered a daunting and snobbish activity. Critics may argue that it mars the beauty of the English language, but variety can be a blessing as well.
That is not to say that bad grammar and spelling is to be condoned. It shouldn't, but what I am saying is that an inability to write perfect English should not stop one from expressing oneself.
As long as a reader exists, a writer will continue writing.
Still there is an evident case of blogging in Singapore that has shed much negative light on the subject recently, we have cases of the scholar being sued by A*STAR, we have the 2 youths being arrested for racist remarks in their blogs, we have controversal socialites and their glamourous blogs that have brought both glory and bane.
So why do we blog? I've answered this question some time ago but I fear my blogging will take a negative decline. But still sometimes cringing at the uncomfortable usage and destructive propensity of the English language in some blogs are inevitable.
I fear that this blog will be forced to close again in the near future and may never be ressurected again. For blogging has become a near-treacherous activity. It serves to undermine your integrity, cast shadows of doubt and raises eyebrows and more questions that we all wish to avoid.
I don't want to be leaking confidential infomation through blogging, which I have accidentally and unintentionally done so in the past and accidental or incidental defamation is unavoidable when comments, purgory and insults are personal and directional.
A blog is powerful, but with power, it becomes dangerous, and people have fallen.
A new era has been ushered, and it's time to see the light.
I will probablly stop blogging eventually when the time comes.
7:01 PM
