The Death Rattle Of The Fourth Estate

I came across this feature in the Weekend BB and read it with incredulity.

It is amazing, in the light of how blogging has evolved, to find a feature like it in a daily newspaper. That page could have been put to better use, like highlighting the Fund Raising Event this Sunday for The Special Olympics Training Programme. Instead it seems to me like a desperate attempt by conservative journalists to survive Web 2.0 by making bloggers look like simpletons.

Nice try, but no bananas.

Comments

[EmmaGoodEgg]

I thought I'd edit the bits I found offensive.

ps/ Anon, say hello to Diamonds for me. And Evan, Peeved and Troll, nice to see that you share the same computer.

[PEEVED/Troll?]

This is going to be my very last entry. Let's put an end to all this, for it's starting to get REAL PERSONAL and PLAIN MEAN, especially for the hostess. We've all said our piece, so now it's time for us to really bury the hatchet. I bow out. Good night!

[AnakBrunei]

Yeeeehaaawww the troll bites! Feisty one too!

[anon]

honestly, the person who BLOGGED abt this caused all this drama. hehe attention seeker. :P~ and you call yourself a ***! TskTsk! *shakes head*

[anon]

honestly, the person who BLOGGED abt this caused all this drama. hehe attention seeker. :P~ and you call yourself a ***! TskTsk! *shakes head*

[Troll?]

ANAK BRUNEI, Thanks...

I do believe that a lame and transparent reply such as yours (but hey - at least it was SIMPLE) automatically lifts up my Credibility factor to 100 per cent, if not over.

Why do you have a book when one can BLOG eh? Good to know you are able to calculate, though...

I don't suppose I should take you seriously UNLESS I have your your full name, IC number, mobile number, license plate, date and place of birth, home address, e-mail address, as well as any other number, address or additional information of the sort that might prove helpful, please, since we're on a roll here! What the heck...

So since everyone here uses nicknames, monikers and the likes, does that mean ALL OF US are in your "book" - "not on board" necessarily?

Oh WAIT, I get it now: This rule of thumb DOES NOT apply to the preposterously supportive and grossly SYCOPHANTIC (Look it up! Maybe it's in your book..) Comments received.

Have NOT a good day. Bye!

[AnakBrunei]

Wow, I don't mean to feed the troll, but PEEVED certainly is very articulate. UNFORTUNATELY, this part, "I have to remain anonymous here for many and darn good reasons, and I also cannot reveal my sources..." means automatic 99 percent discount on credibility in my book. I guess the remaining 1 percent which I would actually take on board is just the fact that the writer is simply peeved. Simply...

[EmmaGoodEgg]

I thought I'd edit the bits I found offensive.

[PEEVED]

PS...

"ablility" should be "ability" and "TERRIFFIC" should be "TERRIFIC"

: P

[PEEVED]

PS...

"ablility" should be "ability" and "TERRIFFIC" should be "TERRIFIC"

: P

[PEEVED]

In my honest and most humble opinion, I find that 'Muriel' and her "Einstein" blog is better, and overall a more enjoyable read, than 'Emma Good Egg' (?) and "The Beehive" (?!). Aaargh!

We don't know each other, but as an (instant) fan of the Borneo Bulletin's serial column, I was directed to your website by a close friend, who does occasionally BROWSE through it.

You "read with incredulity", huh? That doesn't strike you as sounding the least bit PRETENTIOUS?

As for "a desperate attempt by conservative journalists", let us get one thing straight here.

I have to remain anonymous here for many and darn good reasons, and I also cannot reveal my sources, but the creator and writer of Muriel's blog (who I have personally known for a couple of years now, and let it be said that this particular individual is the MOST GIFTED and WONDERFUL person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting in my line of work, and yes - that IS saying something!) is NOT a journalist with the paper, nor a conservative. In fact, far from it!

"...by making bloggers look like simpletons. Nice try, but no bananas"
- That was NEVER the intention, so you can ***** those things up "where the sun don't *****"!

As for the rest of you...

"It's just like Bridget Jones diary"
- Finally, someone perceptive who actually makes sense, and able to draw a worthy and justifiable comparison.

"I have to ask why the BB launched it in the first place if for no other reason than to cash in on this whole blogging thing (which technically the article isn't but we'll let them have their little moment...)"
- BB sells 30,000 t0 50,000 copies of their quality product on average - PER DAY! Yes, obviously, they need the money, and I do hope you are so enjoying YOUR moment now.

"I wonder if they realise that a blog by definition refers to a weblog hence strictly speaking you can't 'blog' in a newspaper"
- Oh Okay then... So now, according to you and the intuitive commentator before, the news editors are apparently also stupid and out of touch, while local Bloggers are The Next Big Thing.

"Your post got me thinking about why people blog and why people read them"
- PRECISELY. All of you in Blogsphere and Cyberspace should be asking yourselves that!

Look, obviously, some of you have royally PISSED me off! However, I still have the right to my own opinion AND to express it AND to stand by it.

Muriel's blog is BRILLIANT, because aside from being a satire of sorts, it has a flawed yet lovable heroine, whose very redeeming quality is an ablility to make fun of herself - something that we ALL seem to lack nowadays, in this age of technology, celebrity, materialism, superficiality etc etc.

Here is a character, albeit fictitious, who actually DESERVES to be championed, not to mention enjoyed by thousands - who may be in favour of some UNIQUE observations and TERRIFFIC humour from time to time.

As for Emma, I suggest you write an apology or something close to that, not that I truly expect it, for I believe you are actually just a ROTTEN Egg now sitting right next to a wide-open can of worms (so much for some Constructive Criticism). Have a good day. Bye!

[falalalalaaaaa]

omg. so what if the BB decides to spice the paper up? u must admit, it made u laugh! and the writers brilliant! its just like Bridget Jones diary. funny & witty.

[LSM]

THANK YOU, EMMA! I was going to mention it but decided to see how it goes over the next few weeks. But still, I have to ask why the BB launched it in the first place if for no other reason than to cash in on this whole blogging thing (which technically the article isn't but we'll let them have their little moment...)

[tina]

I like the last line - "Keep a date with Muriel's Blog on Wednesdays and Fridays in the Borneo Bulletin". I wonder if they realise that a blog by definition refers to a weblog hence strictly speaking you can't 'blog' in a newspaper.

[Orwellthatendswell]

Your post got me thinking about why people blog and why people read them

http://orwellthatendswell.multiply.com/journal/item/1553

http://reeda.multiply.com/journal/item/97