Yay, Stephen lost his scissors and glue and had to write something!

he had one other, when too many accused him of not having an opinion.

Many people think I'm too serious and don't have a sense of humour... if only they knew the non-political me!

I think Steve has a one-track mind. Blogs perform a multitude of functions, and entertainment, humour, satire and parody are no less valuable than direct social and political commentary.

More mr browns and Mr Miyagis please. We need them to balance out the boring people like Wannabe Lawyer. lol ;)

Han
- For Justice and Freedom!

I agree that blogs perform a multitude of functions. Also, sometimes the most effective way to get your message across to the masses is through the use of something that they can identify with, relate to, or merely something that'll hold their attention. So, in fact, entertainment, humour, satire and parody (HESP) may actually be more powerful as a tool to inform the masses.

Just my two cents =)

-Maro

P.S. I once read somewhere that Singaporeans have a love for acronyms and abbreviations. I'm beginning to think that's true.

Well Singabloodypore can't mean me, because he tells me he reads my infantile prattlings. Maybe I escape because I don't claim to be so Singapore focussed with my infantality...

However, be that as it may, the issues he promotes are crucially important ones and ones which have enlightened me and a lot of others about the realities of this hope-abandoned place, so more power to the man for standing up and letting us know what he believes in. I feel shamed that I missed that anti-death penalty meeting, for example.

OK, some people can lose sense their sense of humour when they are focussed and angry... it is the nature of the beast. But angry is valid.

There are not the number/ratio of political blogs about Singapore like those are exploding throughout the US, so Steve just happens to stand out. Which is probably because political lobbying BY IDEAS actually can work in the US - the hearts and minds stuff - whereas here it's: " ideas (ideals - dissent - new opinion - alternative approach) -- what're they? quick get a bucket of water to drown them in!"

Speaking of silly faces, every blogger in the US is "doing a Schiavo" at the moment.

E@L

p.s. your homepage entry square only allows 41 characters... not enough.

Oh and the section title Editors At Large is sailing pretty close to the "creative borrowing" wind ;-)

E@L

steve needs a british sense of humour.

Steve is Steve. What appeals to him may not appeal to others and vice versa. On some days you just need to be a child.

I have a rather too British sense of humour for an Irishman. Favourites include Father Ted, Monty Python, PCK, and Little Britain. And yes I realise that it is sometimes better to laugh than get angry or cry.

But when everyone is laughing and there is no end in sight for the laughter it freaks me out and my mind remembers a theme ride in Disneyland called "Its a small world after all'. I enjoy Rollercoasters and death defying rides but the kiddie themed, "Small world After all' is a ride that triggers the stuff of nightmares.

I have been blogging now for a few years now and I am aware of the variable nature of blogs in the global blogosphere. Look at the Links to other blogs at the side of the site. What I am also aware of is that in Singapore the 'infantile' blogs dominate and are read by the majority of blog readers.

My question is, does this truely reflect the mindset of Sg blog readers?

Yes MrBrown is funny and sometimes a little controversial. He also works for the TODAY Newspaper. And still mamnges to work there. Is it a sign that the TODAY newspaper is OK with the controversial aspect of the blog, or the blog isn't controversial?

Xiaxue is clearly aimed at an audience that enjoys a little titilation and there are often pictures of 'fashion events'. The blog fills a very large niche and I am surprised that she hasn't been snapped up by a magazine or advertising company by now.

The question remains. The word 'infantile' maybe a little harsh. But it managed to get your attention.

Has Singapore changed since the article , Happy-Faced Fascism, was written in the mid 1990's?

WE need to look at Singapore from various angles. At the macro level all is as it has ever been, the Lee's in power, lack of freedom in the press, PAP dominates, homo economicus, in its truest sense.

At the micro level, of the Singaporean mindset, what do Singaporeans think about, desire, want, need? If the majority of blogs, and blogs with the biggest readership are indicative of a trend...

Its all good homespun, Happy-Faced Facsism.

One way the Singapore Government has tried to address its people's unhappiness has been, in the best fascist tradition, to impose happiness on them. A shiny Disneyland atmosphere abounds spotless fast-food and entertainment franchises (McDonalds, KFC, Hard Rock Café); theme parks (one of which is in a building that until recently housed a political prisoner for 26 years surely one of the most creative 'cruel and unusual punishments' ever devised); mini-rainforest eco-parks (next to weapons-testing ranges); controlled areas for stalls of traditional Chinese, Malay and Indian food; and shops, boutiques and shopping malls galore. Happiness is making money, spending it and helping Singapore flourish.

Now go look at the Sg Blogoshere, see any resemblance to the above article.

Unhappy-Face Facisim

"One way the UK Government has tried to address its people happiness has been, in the best fascist tradition, to impose unhappiness on them. A screw-up economy who once was the center of finance, once proud triving harolds now also fallen from disgrace, went into war based on false pretense (or another screw-up intelligence - er, what happen to James Bond MI5?), ramppage of vandalism across the city. Unhappiness is not good enough - you got to screw yourself further."

Hey, fix your own problem first can?

Steven,

If this is some kind of shock tactic to spread your brand of 'social awareness', I'm not amused.

I've always had respect for Singabloodypore. Your previous posts were unique voices urging us to take charge our fate.

But name-calling and judging others are in my book, activities best left to people whom I've lost all respect for.

regards,
C. Caleb

P.S: Be kind. It reflects on your reputation greatly.

Stevie M, no shock-and-awe tactics, pls. they don't work here. in your context, blogs like these are infantile to you, but i'm surprised that an arts honours student like you cannot understand the satirical atmosphere that is being portrayed in their commentaries and the powerful effect they result in. in fact, you don't seem to appreciate the versatile nature of blogs. anyway, i would appreciate that you go sit in a corner. you certainly don't belong to part of this unique s'pore blogosphere.

p.s. do you have a life? if you don't, hurry up and get one, you boring and immature expat.if you need to be more mature, pls, if necessary, go back to sch and get a masters in arts if that shld help you understand what's the meaning of 'satire' and 'parody'. and publish a thesis abt it on your blog as well. many thanks.

yi fan:

p.s. do you have a life? if you don't, hurry up and get one, you boring and immature expat.if you need to be more mature, pls, if necessary, go back to sch and get a masters in arts if that shld help you understand what's the meaning of 'satire' and 'parody'. and publish a thesis abt it on your blog as well. many thanks.

Please refrain from personal attacks. You are behaving like a child and proving him right.

Han
- For Justice and Freedom!

To add to what's already been said, the majority of blogs in any country will be "infantile" as Steve M put it. Human nature is such.

Moreover, just because a blog deals with politics or economics doesn't automatically make it less "infantile" than others. The key element here is quality of content, not type.

But to Steve M: go ahead and try to draw a link between what you see as a "fascist" state of affairs here, and some statistic about subjective online content.

"I have a rather too British sense of humour for an Irishman. Favourites include Father Ted, Monty Python, PCK, and Little Britain. And yes I realise that it is sometimes better to laugh than get angry or cry."

Haha.

You do have a sense of humour! Now any doubts we have are squashed.

no... someone needs a singapore sense of humour. ;p

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