Should the Singapore Government be engaging bloggers?

There are certainly merits for the Government to keep close tabs on what is being said in our local blogs. For one, it offers a limited view of the "coffeeshop talk" making its rounds and what a small segment of Singaporeans is thinking aloud. It is also interesting to read the comments, for these provide clues on the general acceptance or rejection of the arguments in question. While blogs are not the social pulse of the nation, they do offer, in some sense, a one-dimensional snapshot of insight or at least opinion.

But it is also important to keep things in perspective. Bloggers do not, can not and will never be the torch of social consciousness or the souls of the nation. With new blogs being created every day, it is impossible for any Government to read all posts so it will inevitably come down to monitoring what a dozen or two people are saying. Okay this was never intended to be a scientific approach but merely a measure of feedback and for this, keeping tabs on blogs has its merits.

I believe a good many bloggers write simply as a means of expressing themselves - to air an opinion just for the hell of it. Like me, they really care little who reads their posts. For some it's an intellectual exercise. Others, especially those who have an affinity for the written word, indulge in blogging as a means of keeping sharp a rare craft close to their hearts.

Then there are the attention seekers - those with larger-than-life egos who firmly believe that it is up to them to right the wrongs of the world, to keep the Government on its toes, to lash out at every perceived injustice inflicted upon them and their voiceless flock by a Government out of touch with reality or leaders who just don't care or don't care enough.

Having been in the media and communication field for many years I have come across way too many such individuals who simply love hearing the sound and fury of their own voices. For them everything is personal no matter now tenuous the link. In years gone by you'll see their names often enough in The Straits Times Forum Page. Realising that the idiots who run the paper publish only a fraction of their illuminating literary insights (the Government must be behind this move to muzzle public expression or so they believe), many have moved on to the world of blogs - the independent and unrestricted soapbox and a gateway to the world.

It's all part of social evolution following the path of technological development. So is it wrong for people to feel empowered by what the Net can offer? Certainly not. But when bloggers begin to lose touch with reality, when they assume a self-crafted crowns of invincibility and don the sash of "Champions of Social Consciousness" - when they tout themselves as citizen journalists (choke!!) ... that's when things begin to fall apart and what was once deemed as a constructive platform of social engagement degenerates into an US versus THEM confrontation for which few rules, if any, apply.

Should the Singapore Government then ignore bloggers realising (rightly) that this blogging phenomena in Singapore is still in its infancy and there are many kinks to be worked out and a lot of maturing still to come? That would probably not be a wise move. To allow social media to grow without any engagement on the part of the Government would probably lead to the widening of a gulf of mistrust. To stand back and wait to see if blogging dies out and reverts to a stage of fragmented communities self-absorbed in their own thoughts and grievances, will be a risky approach.

No the Singapore Government should be engaging bloggers. That's a given. The question is - how should this be done. Already we have seen the like of the Media Development Authority reaching out to bloggers and seeking their opinions on all things tech. Ditto the National Heritage Board which has hired a person to specialise in Social Media. The Ministry of Information, Communication and The Arts (MICA) also keep track of bloggers. This isn't some black project on a witch-hunt for dissidents but rather a move to keep track on random (and sometimes disjointed) public comment.

Now the question being raised is should the Government be engaging individual bloggers? Does the Government need to reply to every question raised? The answer has to be no. The intentions may be good but it will surely backfire.

A Government response to a private blog will initiate a never-ending public debate from which neither side can claim any victory in persuasion.
Some bloggers will inevitably feel aggrieved that their blogs are being monitored by Big Brother - and do we really need more ammunition in this area! Where does one draw the line when a response is needed and when should the Government let a comment, no mater how frivolous, dumb, stupid or unwarranted, go by unchallenged. What will be the public's reaction and what conclusions will they then draw - that the Government has backed down, that the statement must be right for their was no official rebuttal?

Bloggers can always hide behind a wall of anonymity granted by the Internet (hell any fool can sign up for a gmail account or wordpress blog with a name like dot sg wat!) while the Government stands alone.

Ministers (okay some of them) have blogs. Their (office) email addresses can be found online. So there is access to the top. How successful one can be in engaging our political leaders in a private or public discourse is anyone's guess. But the door is open for anyone who cares to step inside.

Bloggers here have much growing up to do. For all their chest-thumping and demands to be taken seriously, they are still babes in a brave new world in which respect has to be earned. Bloggers need to prove themselves as responsible individuals not out simply to vent frustrations but to offer workable solutions for the benefit of the masses and not just their pet peeves. The Internet has given the people a powerful means to express themselves. How well that power is used remains to be seen. Because only when that day finally dawns can Government engagement be truly productive and there will be benefits for all.