Like many (I think), I turned a lot to the 'alternative media' throughout the election period. Same reasons as other people's. Mainstream media reports need to be supplemented with additional reading about what was under- or un-reported. It's not that I'm all out to look for closet rebels or anything. I just like to get as complete a picture as I can of things, and to get different perspectives. So I really must thank all those (and there were many!) brave souls out there who gave faithful accounts of things that were not reported.
The mainstream journalists were getting whacked a lot in cyberspace during this period. Actually, I think they were just doing their job, lah, just following orders like the traffic policeman. Can't get the info you want, just go to another source lor.
I sensed, though, that there has been a little change starting from the last couple of days or so before Polling Day, when the yawning bread-type photo finally got printed. The Chinese paper on Polling Day had a shot of the huge WP rally at Serangoon Stadium. Pages were given to Chiam and LTK when they retained their seats. And then all of a sudden, letters with clearly non-mainstream views made it to today's (9 May) ST forum. Hey, what is happening?
Well, I'm just putting here some of the more memorable Internet 'readings' for my future reference, just in case I want to look at them again. I hope all these people don't mind me listing their posts here. If you haven't read them, maybe you want to take a look too.
1. Top spot goes to yawning bread's piece and famous pictures of the Hougang rally. Like some people who commented in cyberspace, I was rather teary towards the end of his article. Very moving.
On Hougang Field
Excerpt:
As an example of his command of political oratory, towards the end of his 20-minute speech, he mentioned the size of the crowd before him. He said he was heartened by it; it proved to him that what he was talking about was real to the people here.
2. Next, an NUS student waxing lyrical about Mr Chiam. Of course I'm biased! Quite a long post, interesting comparison of the 3 speakers at the NUS forum.
(It was heartening to read school students' views on the Internet, too. Obviously some parents and teachers are making sure these kids grow up interested. Good for them. )
NUS forum: On election 2006
Excerpt:
He spoke about the very real problems that have plagued Pontong Pasir residents, residents that have stuck by him despite being penalised over and over again for daring to be an opposition ward.
3. Another young citizen's views:
The Changing Face of My Politician?
Excerpt:
Did I just wake up or is something really changing? Glenda Han and Perry Tong seem like the face of the new Singaporean politician- someone whose life has more conviction, ideals and experiences beyond the Classic Singapore Success Story.
4. Former-mainstream-now-alternative-media man Cherian George:
Singapore Elections Post-mortem: The Blogsfear Factor
Excerpt:
Independent blogs appear to have survived the Singapore election campaign period unscathed. There have been no reports of blogs being asked by MDA to register as “political” sites, which would have had the effect of banning them from electioneering.
(There's also an article about the Internet during the election period in the ST today)
Singapore Elections: Two Positive Signs
Excerpt:
After an acrimonious campaign fought in above-average rain and thunder, I’m inclined to look for rays of sunshine peeking through the parting clouds. I found at least a couple.
The first was the sheer class with which the Workers’ Party wrapped up its campaign...
Light-hearted stuff
1. Mr Brown on that yawning bread and other photos:
Different cameras, different shots
Excerpt:
Maybe their camera lens spoil? Can Zoom cannot Wide Angle? Never fear, you press photographers! Can borrow from other people there what! There were tens of thousands of people there, sure can find one!
2. Mr Brown on movie titles:
Honey, I Blew Up the Matter
3. Pretty faces in the elections. Of course visual impact is important!
May Day special: babes of the election 2006
Excerpt:
Problem: Sometimes the parliament highlights on teevee can get real boring.
Solution: Having babes in the parliament can up the ratings and get the people more interested local politics.
4. And of course the inimitable Brown-Miyagi persistently non-political podcasts. I've only listened to #6 (the bak chor mee one) and #8 (amazing race). Hilarious. My friend AF recommends #1 and #7 too. Must find time to listen.
One of the nicest things I've read was in one of today's forum letters, 'Fix a more urgent need: Lifts in opposition wards':
I really don't mind not having a swimming pool, a sports stadium, a bicycle track or more covered walkways in Pasir Ris if the money could be used for more urgent and meaningful needs, like lift upgrading in Hougang and Potong Pasir.
Thank you, Mr Rahim Awang, for the reminder that there are generous and considerate Singaporeans out there.
The mainstream journalists were getting whacked a lot in cyberspace during this period. Actually, I think they were just doing their job, lah, just following orders like the traffic policeman. Can't get the info you want, just go to another source lor.
I sensed, though, that there has been a little change starting from the last couple of days or so before Polling Day, when the yawning bread-type photo finally got printed. The Chinese paper on Polling Day had a shot of the huge WP rally at Serangoon Stadium. Pages were given to Chiam and LTK when they retained their seats. And then all of a sudden, letters with clearly non-mainstream views made it to today's (9 May) ST forum. Hey, what is happening?
Well, I'm just putting here some of the more memorable Internet 'readings' for my future reference, just in case I want to look at them again. I hope all these people don't mind me listing their posts here. If you haven't read them, maybe you want to take a look too.
1. Top spot goes to yawning bread's piece and famous pictures of the Hougang rally. Like some people who commented in cyberspace, I was rather teary towards the end of his article. Very moving.
On Hougang Field
Excerpt:
As an example of his command of political oratory, towards the end of his 20-minute speech, he mentioned the size of the crowd before him. He said he was heartened by it; it proved to him that what he was talking about was real to the people here.
2. Next, an NUS student waxing lyrical about Mr Chiam. Of course I'm biased! Quite a long post, interesting comparison of the 3 speakers at the NUS forum.
(It was heartening to read school students' views on the Internet, too. Obviously some parents and teachers are making sure these kids grow up interested. Good for them. )
NUS forum: On election 2006
Excerpt:
He spoke about the very real problems that have plagued Pontong Pasir residents, residents that have stuck by him despite being penalised over and over again for daring to be an opposition ward.
3. Another young citizen's views:
The Changing Face of My Politician?
Excerpt:
Did I just wake up or is something really changing? Glenda Han and Perry Tong seem like the face of the new Singaporean politician- someone whose life has more conviction, ideals and experiences beyond the Classic Singapore Success Story.
4. Former-mainstream-now-alternative-media man Cherian George:
Singapore Elections Post-mortem: The Blogsfear Factor
Excerpt:
Independent blogs appear to have survived the Singapore election campaign period unscathed. There have been no reports of blogs being asked by MDA to register as “political” sites, which would have had the effect of banning them from electioneering.
(There's also an article about the Internet during the election period in the ST today)
Singapore Elections: Two Positive Signs
Excerpt:
After an acrimonious campaign fought in above-average rain and thunder, I’m inclined to look for rays of sunshine peeking through the parting clouds. I found at least a couple.
The first was the sheer class with which the Workers’ Party wrapped up its campaign...
Light-hearted stuff
1. Mr Brown on that yawning bread and other photos:
Different cameras, different shots
Excerpt:
Maybe their camera lens spoil? Can Zoom cannot Wide Angle? Never fear, you press photographers! Can borrow from other people there what! There were tens of thousands of people there, sure can find one!
2. Mr Brown on movie titles:
Honey, I Blew Up the Matter
3. Pretty faces in the elections. Of course visual impact is important!
May Day special: babes of the election 2006
Excerpt:
Problem: Sometimes the parliament highlights on teevee can get real boring.
Solution: Having babes in the parliament can up the ratings and get the people more interested local politics.
4. And of course the inimitable Brown-Miyagi persistently non-political podcasts. I've only listened to #6 (the bak chor mee one) and #8 (amazing race). Hilarious. My friend AF recommends #1 and #7 too. Must find time to listen.
One of the nicest things I've read was in one of today's forum letters, 'Fix a more urgent need: Lifts in opposition wards':
I really don't mind not having a swimming pool, a sports stadium, a bicycle track or more covered walkways in Pasir Ris if the money could be used for more urgent and meaningful needs, like lift upgrading in Hougang and Potong Pasir.
Thank you, Mr Rahim Awang, for the reminder that there are generous and considerate Singaporeans out there.
Comments
Yes i also noticed the nature of the letters in the forum page today. I think perhaps ST published those letters because that's what they want to say too but can't because they don't want to incurr the wrath of the men in white.
Anyway, there are more of such letters today (online).