Blogosphere under Threat by counter-insurgency
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PAP MP Mr Baey Yam Keng once expressed his shock and disbelief in the papers at the extreme incongruity between what was reported in the mainstream media and sentiments expressed freely without inhibition by ordinary citizens in cyberspace and he felt that “the truth is somewhere in between.”
He is wrong. Truth and reality can only be found in a completely natural and unfettered environment in which free speech can exist, flourished and even be promoted without the confines of censorship. Blogosphere is the last bastion of free speech in Singapore not in the clutches of the massive imposing government machinery.
With its encompassing pervasive stranglehold in controlling the flow and dissemination of news media in Singapore, the government, imbibed with a control-freak psyche, will not allow criticisms and attacks on it in blogosphere to go on forever indiscriminately.
It has already signaled its intent to gain a foothold in this new media by admitting rather sheepishly the existence of an “internet management team” to “moderate” comments critical of it in cyberspace and the setting up of an online network portal for citizen journalism - STOMP through its proxy SPH.
While STOMP is largely a light, trivial and non-political “complaint channel” for netizens to give them a “voice” in the mainstream media, there seems to be a dearth of serious, credible political blogs to challenge the anti-government propaganda that has been spewing out daily from independent blogs such as Yawning Bread, Mr Brown, Mr Wang, SDP homepage, Singapore Dissident, Singapore Rebel, Sg_Review, Diary of a Singapore Mind etc which obviously has been a thorn in its flesh for a long time - it must be incredibly peeved by some of the stinging remarks made on these blogs and yet it is not in a position to counter them directly.
Click above link to read rest of article.
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yes, because we all know information in the internets are always accurate.
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Yes, we should always trust our local government-controlled propaganda-free presses for truthful and ubias reporting.
Only hear the good stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRR3gEHLH8M&feature=related
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Dear Thinkpeople,
The problem I see with the internet is that there are as many stupid, half formed, ill informed opinions as there are well formed ones.
Mixing them all together and then looking at the result gives you a very poor education.
However if you can pick out the well formed ones, you can get a very meaningful education.
When I say pick out, I mean learn to recognize well formed opinions because while they may be very different from your own but they tend to bear certain characteristics.
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Choo Zheng Xi has admitted to being paid by PAP MP Ho Geok Choo to write her parliamentary speeches on TOC:
“Choo Zheng Xi assists Mdm Ho Geok Choo, MP of Boon Lay Constituency, West Coast GRC, in gathering material for Parliamentary speeches and helps to write for the constituency newsletter, Boon Lay Diary. For his efforts in the past 5 months, he receives an honorarium of $500 monthly.”
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One already caught being paid to write for TOC. You can read about it here. Apparently the person was is being paid $500 every month. Not bad wor. Where do I sign up?
Edit* alamak he post faster then me..
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It appears that Remy Choo has a great "PAP" future ahead of him.
Better show more respect for him. He may become your MP later !
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thinkpeople - aka thinknothing - is the famous owner of the Wayang Party Club of Singapore blog which is dedicated to attacking the Workers' Party and TOC.
He also owns the following nicknames in Sammyboy forum, most of which has been banned by the forum host for personal attacks, spamming, harassment, vulgarities, etc.
He was caught by a Sammyboy forummer like this:
One nickname not enough, must register so many nick.
Wayang Party now want make record hold many many nicks:
Wayangpartyking (banned)
Wayangguru (banned)
Wayangpartyclubsg
Wayangparty (banned)
thinknothing (banned)
thinkpeople (banned)
axehale
GH2788WHY (banned)
Andrewloh985 (banned)
Callcab111 (banned)
Zarp Jig Kar (banned)
deankohh (banned)
samster (banned)
samster005 (banned)How come got people so free har? PAP got this type run dog wah lau very sad.
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Recently, there have been many allegations made against the editors of the popular web portal, the Online Citizen (TOC): http://theonlinecitizen.com/
The TOC editors have been accused of being either funded by the PAP, or at the very least, closely associated with the PAP. In addition, TOC is alleged to have threatened legal action on at least one blogger. Just a couple of days back, TOC wrote a lengthy blog post fervently denying these allegations. Many readers also weighed in on the subject and expressed their support for TOC.
I too would like to express my support for the Online Citizen. TOC provides a wide diversity of views and opinions on what is happening in Singapore, some pro-establishment, and some anti-establishment. This curious blend of neutral reporting and the ability to look at each issue from many sides without ever taking an unwavering stand is seldom found in cyberspace.
Although the PAP is confident that its policies are sound, will benefit Singaporeans over the long run, and will definitely stand the test of time, the PAP also recognizes that people must be free to air their views, provided that they do so responsibly and moderately. TOC is one good example of responsible and moderate reporting that the PAP would certainly approve of.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew (praise and blessings be upon him!) and the Old Guard singlehandedly brought Singapore from 3rd World to 1st, and built a nation of peace and prosperity, security, racial and religious harmony, and social progress. It is entirely due to their incredible dedication, hard work, and monumental sacrifices that Singaporeans today have a nation that they can be very proud to call their home. We and our families owe a lifelong debt of honest gratitude to these courageous men and women who put their lives on the line to build a modern and prosperous Singapore.
The PAP government (may the PAP progress!) has created a social environment that fosters intelligent questioning and debate of social and political issues, and encourages Singaporeans to play an active role in shaping the future of our society. It is out of this vibrant and thriving culture created by the PAP that TOC was born. TOC's articles are balanced and well-written, and always based on the facts, although there have been many occasion when those facts presented were incomplete and did not portray an accurate picture of reality.
Although many TOC articles are critical of PAP policies, their arguments are presented in way that is thoughtful and measured, even if those arguments are often flawed.
Indeed, the PAP does not expect that everyone will agree with all its policies. Not everyone has access to all the facts and information, and certainly TOC does not. As time goes by however, the PAP hopes that eventually most Singaporeans will come to see the wisdom and strength of its policies.
In the meanwhile, TOC still plays an excellent role by offering an alternative platform and alternative set of views that encourages mature debate and logical thinking. That is what the PAP would like to see as well, as these qualities of logical thinking and mature debate will eventually lead people to see the goodness of its policies, and lead them back to the PAP.
All in all, TOC plays a vital role in shaping the kind of society the PAP would like. Let us thus put aside our petty differences and squabbles, and focus on the greater tasks ahead. Let us join in the Great and Noble Cause of Nation Building. Together with the PAP, we can reach for the Pot Of Gold!
Majulah PAP! Majulah Singapura!
Goh Bock Seng
