Fascinating forum letter today, 'Why didn't the authorities detect racist remarks?'
This is a reaction to the sentencing of the two 'racist bloggers'. 'Racist bloggers' in inverted commas because, as has been pointed out by many a blogger, only ONE put his comments in a blog; the other had them in an online forum. The sub-heading for letters on the subject still says 'racist bloggers'.
Fascinating point 1: Woman who reported racist bloggers is a 'brave, concerned citizen. We need more people like her.' Yes, sure, she is brave and concerned but I'm not sure if we want to encourage people to report on each other. Sounds like a spying-on-your-neighbour, reporting-your-brothers-and-sisters kind of idea.
Fascinating point 2: 3 paras of the letter were about the dog in the taxi. The writer made the points that the 'whole outrageous saga' began because of the dog in the taxi and since pets aren't allowed on public transport, 'why was the taxi driver not traced? He is the culprit who started the chain of events.' Poor cabby, now he got dragged into this too. Actually, he's not the one who started it. It was the dog owner. Why was he taking the dog out in a taxi? Why did he buy a dog in the first place? Was the owner a he? etc etc... We could go on and on with this...
Fascinating point 3: 'The authorities were also not vigilant enough to detect the bloggers' racist remarks.' Aiyoh... think the authorities have their hands full already doing their own work. Where got time to trawl through blog after blog? It's like having to listen to everyone's conversations or read everyone's text messages. Though I do agree that blogs, by their nature, are potentially much more 'powerful', being online and all.
In the meantime, elsewhere, blogs have had their status elevated by Yahoo! -- the search engine is kindly looking upon blogs on the same level as other news media. Ooh... I'm a 'grassroots journalist'.
I think the authorities could start blogs of their own. It can be done without compromising security. It would be really fascinating to read their blogs. We won't have to wait till they publish a book or something.
This is a reaction to the sentencing of the two 'racist bloggers'. 'Racist bloggers' in inverted commas because, as has been pointed out by many a blogger, only ONE put his comments in a blog; the other had them in an online forum. The sub-heading for letters on the subject still says 'racist bloggers'.
Fascinating point 1: Woman who reported racist bloggers is a 'brave, concerned citizen. We need more people like her.' Yes, sure, she is brave and concerned but I'm not sure if we want to encourage people to report on each other. Sounds like a spying-on-your-neighbour, reporting-your-brothers-and-sisters kind of idea.
Fascinating point 2: 3 paras of the letter were about the dog in the taxi. The writer made the points that the 'whole outrageous saga' began because of the dog in the taxi and since pets aren't allowed on public transport, 'why was the taxi driver not traced? He is the culprit who started the chain of events.' Poor cabby, now he got dragged into this too. Actually, he's not the one who started it. It was the dog owner. Why was he taking the dog out in a taxi? Why did he buy a dog in the first place? Was the owner a he? etc etc... We could go on and on with this...
Fascinating point 3: 'The authorities were also not vigilant enough to detect the bloggers' racist remarks.' Aiyoh... think the authorities have their hands full already doing their own work. Where got time to trawl through blog after blog? It's like having to listen to everyone's conversations or read everyone's text messages. Though I do agree that blogs, by their nature, are potentially much more 'powerful', being online and all.
In the meantime, elsewhere, blogs have had their status elevated by Yahoo! -- the search engine is kindly looking upon blogs on the same level as other news media. Ooh... I'm a 'grassroots journalist'.
I think the authorities could start blogs of their own. It can be done without compromising security. It would be really fascinating to read their blogs. We won't have to wait till they publish a book or something.
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