Bad Blogging

In the past few years, blogging has come into the limelight as a very efficient method of publishing one's opinions to the world. Previously, though the Internet allowed people to share information throughout the world, publishing was limited to the comparatively few owners of a website.
With the advent of blogging though, now everyone can have a website from which to publish his or her opinions to the world. This new phenomenon has become especially prevalent in Singapore, where people from all walks of life, whether young or old, are making use of this astonishing new technology to share their life, experiences, and views with others.

However, the other not so benign side of blogging has also been evident lately, with many bloggers receiving attention for all the wrong reasons. Whilst the ability for all to be able to publish and mass communicate with the outside world is an exciting new thought, what is dangerously missing from the equation is the responsibility and accountability that the media and other established form of publication holds. This has led to many vulnerabilities for blogging to be abused.

Three examples highlight the different areas in which this new technology is suspectible to abuse. Firstly, the recent case of twenty-five-year-old Nicholas Lim Yew and 27-year-old Benjamin Koh Song Huat, who were both charged under the Sedition act for the first time in 10 years for making racist comments in their blogs. Next, the public uproar, outrage, and outcry ensuing when blogger and ex- RJC student Wee Shu Min's elitist post was publicised. Finally, the Sarong Party Girl, who caused quite a debate about the morals of Singaporeans when she posted nude photos of herself online.

The problems that could result if such incidents continue to occur unchecked are no small issue. For one, racial tensions could be very easily inflamed by a careless remark or an individual with extreme views. A very simple example how one person can single handedly spark a massive response through this is the Prophet Muhammed cartoons, where a single drawing almost sparked racial bloodshed.

Though freedom of expression is an important element in any democratic society, responsibility must be exercised by those empowered with this new ability. To this end, rules put in place to ensure the harmony of Singapore have to be strictly enforced. However, it is inevitable that between the responsibility required and the freedom of blogging, some individuals will choose to abuse this priviledge. As such, the best response to prevent the boon of blogging from backfiring is to ensure that our society is able to coexist harmoniously, regardless of race, language or religion. To a further extent, wealth, education, morals, beliefs, and many other social faultlines will have to be included as well- only then can we get the best out of this powerful new technology.