A few days ago, the TV show “Korina Today” made a feature segment entitled “Beware of the Blog” wherein, the host and a number of guests talked about their views about the different issues relating to blogs primarily brought about by the Brian Gorell controversy.
The discussion raised a number of intriguing views about blogging. From notions like a blog can only be a reliable source of information if the blogger behind it is “respectable”, to the definition of illegitimate blogger as bloggers who hides behind anonymity, and a couple more which can be read on Noemi’s blog.
The purpose of this post is not to react to the points talked about on the show, for I believe that Noemi, Juned and Renzie had already said what I wanted to say. I am actually more concerned on why the people behind Korina Today titled their episode “Beware of the Blog”.
Why Should People Be Afraid?
The initial reaction that I had when I first heard the title was, “Huh? Why the heck should people be wary of blogs?” As a person who has been blogging for four years, and a blogger who covers and talks about the Pinoy blogging community, I have come to know a lot of things about the blogs and how it works. Nowhere along the path did I encounter anything that is enough of a reason for people to be afraid of it.
Is it because of the Brian Gorell Controversy? Are they telling people that, since Gorell has a blog, he could write about anyone who has crossed him and ruin their reputations? Or could the Malu Fernandez-OFW mobbing be the reason, where Malu was attacked verbally by people with blogs because of her not-so-well-placed “acerbic witâ€? Or is it about the Desperate Housewives’ racial slur issue, where blogs has proven to be a forced not to be reckoned with?
Beware of the Bloggers?
It is true that blogs has shown its great power in the past causing a lot of commotion and harming a number of people. But I don’t think that it is “the blog†that people should be afraid of but the blogger behind it.
Telling people to be afraid of blogs is like telling people to stay away from knives. Blogs are only a medium, just like TV and Newspapers. It is how it is used that determines if it could be dangerous or not. So based from this, it is the bloggers who are potentially dangerous. However’ I’m not saying that the title should be “Beware of the Bloggers“, either, for not all bloggers are misguided enough to be feared.
Beware of People Who Don’t Understand Blogging
I don’t think that it is fair for bloggers and blogging to be subjected to such a prejudice similar to the one conveyed by whomever thought up of the title “Beware of the Blog”. It’s been like this for a very long time. Blogs are usually described as unstable, informal, and even dangerous. If bloggers are not portrayed as hungry money makers, they are portrayed as people who does nothing but whine and bitch about everything.
Before anyone tries to talk about (or against) blogging, I suggest that they try it out, or at least try to understand it more, before speaking. Blogs are not something that can be easily conceived. For behind everything that can be seen on the surface, there are other things that are at work.
Just another one of my thoughts. Happy Blogging!
February 16th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
You are correct, I think there’s nothing to be afraid of Blogs.
I think the “misconception” with blogs is the main problem for the part of those who are new to blogs (or rather, “fears” blogs).
On the other hand, for us bloggers, we must opt for a more “responsible blogging” attitude; we have a very powerful means at our hands that may shape our audience either for their good or bad. Yes, blogging is a means of freedom of expression; but we must also remember, freedom is not absolute.
Nice post sir, keep it up!
February 24th, 2009 at 4:45 am
Beware of the blog!!! marahil ito naisipan nilang ‘title’ upang makuha ang pansin ng mga tao…”in general” ano nga ba katatakutan sa blog? maliban na lamang siguro ang mga nasasagasaan o natatamaan sa mga pasaring at direktang pagpapahayag ng mga ‘bloggers’…ngunit sang-ayon nga sa wika ‘nyo:” Blogs are only a medium, just like TV and Newspapers.”
..ang kaibahan lang at kagandahan dito, sa ‘blog’ walang ‘editor’ na magdidikta sa “blogger’ kong anuman nais nitong isulat o ihayag …hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ng ilan sa atin na ang mga ‘TV at Newspapers” ay may mga ‘vested interests’ na pino-protektahan.
Pero sa isang banda, minsan, lalong nagbibigay ito ng ‘exposure’ sa ibang tao na wala pa gaanong alam tungkol sa ‘blogging”…sa tao, madalas kapag sinabi bawal o masama…lalo itong pinag-uusapan!!!
Sa ganang akin, malaking bagay at tulong ang maidudulot ng blogging sa pagsisiwalat o pagmumulat ng mga bagong kaisipan na tila hindi naman gaaanong naituturo sa ating mga paaralan…subalit ilang ‘porsyento’ lang naman sa Pinoy ang may ‘access’ sa internet o computer o ang nagkakaroon ng hilig o ‘interes’ sa larangan ng blogging!!!
…kunsabagay, naniniwala ako…na papunta na tayo doon…
IPAGPATULOY ANG BLOGGING!!!
March 15th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
This is so sad because they are stereotyping everyone in this industry (blogging). There are a lot of blogs who dedicate on giving out informative insights that majority can take advantage of.
I thought this is a democratic country! I haven’t watched that show but I’m just curious, do they really know what they’re talking about? It seems like they’re commenting on a subject that they do not even have a full understanding.
working pinoyss last blog post..Choosing your own Niche
April 15th, 2009 at 4:13 am
Hello Karlo! This is a very interesting post. While we Pinoys have a reputation of having many bloggers, there are still may who don’t get it. I think it is those who are promoting this non-sense that are afraid of bloggers. Why? For decades, information was ruled by main stream media. They were the kings and queens of distributing information but today, a regular Pinoy has the ability to be the author, the editor and the publisher.
I think what they are afraid of is losing control of their precious pride as main stream people. Funny thing about this one is that instead of fearing thew new generation of media creators, why not empower them? Again, another form of crab mentality. What they don’t understand is that if they continue doing this, the more they will lose control.