terryjohaldotcom

The Interweb is so mean

"Oh why oh why is the Interweb against us? Surely, we deserve better treatment. The Interweeb is so negative. Its unhealthy, unreliable and dangerous discourse, flush with rumours and distortions to mislead and confuse the public."

Oh no! The poor hegemons are under attack. Will no one help the poor defenceless souls?

NetVocates is here to rescue you.

They will help you the hegemon to deal with those unruly blogging types who are out there sullying your good name. They say that,

"blogs represent an uncomfortable topic ... blogs frequently impact an organization and its products and image in uncontrolled and often unexpected ways... inattentive organizations and their brands at risk ... blogs also represent a significant opportunity for organizations ... a well-planned communication strategy, blogs can serve as an effective communications tool to promote key messages to targeted audiences." [ref]

So, what this means is that the good folks ar NetVocates will hire trolls people to leave spam comments to bug the hell out of the bloggers and their ill speaking ways,

"...reinforce those key messages on targeted blogs – and rebut misinformation when appropriate." [ref]

Thats only because there could be no reason that someone is blogging negatively about you.

Culture Warrior?

This is a very depressing thing to read early in the morning.

Keith Windschuttle has been appointed to the board of the ABC. This is just another step to the Howard neutering of a what I believe makes Australian culture great - tolerance and diversity.

Communications Minister Helen Coonan said Mr Hurley's business and management experience would be an asset to the ABC, as would Mr Windschuttle's background in media, journalism and publishing.

"Mr Windschuttle has 20 years' experience lecturing in Australian history, journalism and social policy at a number of Australian universities. He has also been a visiting or guest lecturer at a number of universities in the United States," she said. [ref]

Well, if that was the case, then perhaps Stuart Macintyre should have been considered as well. If only it were about a fair go.

Online Documentary on Singapore Blogosphere

One of my former students has just done an online documentary on the Singaporean Blogosphere. I had an interview with her which I understand appears in parts. I have not yet had the time to go through the documentary so I have no idea what clips she used. I do have the entire interview which I might put online in the future

"... it remains unknown whether blogs in Singapore will persistently serve as alternative sites to diversity the political discourse in Singapore. Rather than heralding the democratic potential of blogs, I would argue that blogs are by nature more of a self-serving means of expression than a representation of popular will. Hence, it remains to be seen whether in a closely monitored Police State, a centralising structure such as Tomorrow and the emergence of celebrity bloggers may serve to amalgamate the collective intelligence rather than privilege the voice of a dominant collective in the Singapore blogosphere." [ref]

Link: ALL THE REDS.

new celebrity colonialism

This type of behaviour would more often than not get severe reactions. A whole slew of people would be screaming out 'anti-democratic, dictatorial, sanctions'.

• a Western security force effectively took over the small African nation
• sealed off with security cordons, and
• armed security personnel kept both local residents and visiting foreigners at
  bay.
• A no-fly zone was enforced over part of the country
• severely restrict the movement of journalists into and out of African nation.
• The Government agreed and, in a move described by one human rights organisation as heavy-handed and brutal, banned certain reporters from crossing its borders. [ref]

Unless its for the birth of the chosen one.

Party over here

S$18 million and this still happens?