When I first heard of
The Association of Bloggers (Singapore), being a blogger and a typical Singaporean... my first instinct was - I have to be a part of this!
But looking at it now, I can't help but ask myself - Why would I want to be a part of this? What's in it for ME?
And quite honestly, the answer right now is... nothing!
I'm under the impression that the ABS is somewhat like a workers union - to protect bloggers who associate themselves with this entity- only doing it under a grander (or stupid, the choice is yours) sounding name.
But do I need protecting? Am I not able to self regulate? Must I be part of a collective to be safe/successful?
And even so... Why should being a part of an association suddenly give me the privilege to just say anything I want on my blog (political or otherwise)?
And who exactly are these people running this association? Would I really I want to be associated with something that is set up and run by a clique of people with not much credentials and resource.
My blog is my labour of love. It is a big part of my identity. Why would I even need to be part of an association to validify my existence as a blogger of any worth?
Scratching below the surface, could this really be just a bunch of people capitalising on societies' natural tendency to want to belong to something... the herd mentality? (I am not stating anything, merely asking for your opinions.)
Somehow... for the average blogger like me, I feel that there is a no win situation here. I don't want to be part of either camps. I just want to be myself.
OK.. maybe it's too early to criticize... and some months down the road... I might have to eat humble pie and tap on the doors of ABS begging them to accept my $110 which would allow me to be associated with them.
Good thing I have a rich boyfriend eh?
(The last line above was in jest, please don't bombard me with emails screaming that I am with my BF cos of $$$. Have a sense of humour ok)
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Update at 12.40pm
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OK.. this is getting interesting. I was poking around for information on ABS. And look what I found.
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Apparently, on top of the membership fees... they have now casually mentioned that you need an "invite" to join this association.. and it has to be
approved by the "council".
And when queried about their selection criteria, they(she) said "We have a list :)"
Is it just me... or is this sounding more and more like a petty attempt at being elitist and exclusive. Would it be a surprise if that list went like -
People to be invited : number 1. me, 2. my friends who make up my council 3. my boyfriend, 4. the man from the yogurt shop that gives me discounts, 5. popular bloggers whom I can use to elevate the elitist status of my club
Something tells me it's going to be a cliquish - I don't like the way you look at me so you can't join my club! - type of association.
How are they ever going to make the changes they propose and create the waves (in the blogging scene) they dream of if their base intentions are so akin to that of a bunch of cliquish high school girls? I shudder at the thought.
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Another Update
CLICK here for link to article in TheNewPaper regarding wat bloggers ( including moi) think abt the association.
Comments
No one wants to be told what he/she can or cannot do. And when we step out of the 'boundaries' they set, what will happen? I think it's just some people's way of trying to glorify themselves and try to make everyone conform to what they want. Anyway, I'm a Malaysian so I don't really care anyway. LOL
to me ABS is going to be a blud of elites?
i dunnoe seriously speaking doesn;t sound as a casual group but more of a 'club membership' kinda thing?
oh well XD
Wah, it sounded like those tea parties of the whiter-than-white party.
I think that there are two lists, one to invite and one to reject.
sit by and wait for the smell to dissipate. frankly, some of the so-called members can't even write grammatically.
Just wondering what might become of it... esp with govt support.
But I get ahead of myself. For far as I have seen, the association did not claim to be a regulating body. Their objectives are different at this point in time. Let's not crucify them for trying something which these group of people find worthwhile. Isn't that a form of self-expression too?
But like you said here, some of the naysayers may eventually decide to join the association if and when it proves to be something for the greater good.