Cowboy Caleb the liberal arts, grown-up stuff & random mischief

Hi Sandra, It’s God

Nowadays, being a reporter is really easy. You just send email and suddenly you have the material required to meet your deadline!!!

Ok, so I decided to entertain Sandra Leong from the ST because her questions were pretty interesting.

Hi there,

My name is Sandra Leong and I am writing from The Straits Times. I am writing an article on the local blogosphere and was hoping to get in touch with you for some input from you. Would really like to pick your brains! Basically, I’m examing this ” me.com” phenomenon, where anyone and everyone - I’m profiling senior citizens, housewives, ah lians with blogs - can stake their claim to an online space, and also asking whether there’s an overkill.

Would really appreciate it if you could take some time to answer some questions?

1) As a reputable blogger, how do you feel about the Internet getting crowded with millions of bloggers? Especially when many of them have little to say about issues, but blog about the mundane like walking their dogs and going to the movies? What do you think of this fixation with “exposing” one’s personal life?

2) It seems that the demographic profile of bloggers is widening, with more “unlikely” sorts - like the people I mentioned above - jumping on the bandwagon. Have you noticed this too and what do you think it bodes for the blogosphere?

3) A recent study in the US found that people are more interested in personal gossip when reading blogs, rather than thoughtful commentaries or news. Do you find this to be a pity?

4) What are your opinions on people using blogs to get their 15 minutes of fame?

That should be about all. Let me know if you can respond? I’ll need the answers by Thursday. My numbers are listed below if you need to get in contact with me.

I would really appreciate your help.

Thanks v much!

Sandra Leong
Journalist
Straits Times Life! & LifeStyle

Click on to read my reply

Hi Sandra,

Haven’t I met you at some party/fund-raiser??? Yes, I think I have. Thank goodness you have no idea who I am. Please see my answers in blue.

1) As a reputable blogger, how do you feel about the Internet getting crowded with millions of bloggers? Especially when many of them have little to say about issues, but blog about the mundane like walking their dogs and going to the movies? What do you think of this fixation with “exposing” one’s personal life?
Blogging has gone mainstream like string bikinis and brazilian waxes. Once it was the domain of nerds keen on public mental masturbation and now it is now a widely accepted hobby.

2) It seems that the demographic profile of bloggers is widening, with more “unlikely” sorts - like the people I mentioned above - jumping on the bandwagon. Have you noticed this too and what do you think it bodes for the blogosphere?
Let me put it to you this way - the only people I object to jumping onto the bandwagon are paedophiles and other sexual criminals. Blogs should not be a means to promote a dastardly alternative lifestyle. Apart from that group, everybody else is welcome to join the party.

3) A recent study in the US found that people are more interested in personal gossip when reading blogs, rather than thoughtful commentaries or news. Do you find this to be a pity?
Well most people enjoy eavesdropping and peeping at their neighbours. Are blogs really a reputable souce of news or commentaries? I read several well-written blogs in that category which are run by strange individuals I wouldn’t trust in the least.

4) What are your opinions on people using blogs to get their 15 minutes of fame?
I think such bloggers are one step away from resorting to incredible feats of desperation such as appearing on ‘Singapore Idol’. Either way, the public gets entertained. Hurrah for that.

I wonder if they would use the word “mental masturbation”.. maybe rephased it to “mental self-gratification”

Apparently she’s a snob. Good answers. Now we’ll just wait and see how they’ll edit your answers to suit the article! hah

It wld be interesting if they really publish your answers lol.

I guess Sandra decided to be gentle with me and asked less difficult questions :) Hey wanna see how she looks like? Picture posted with her permission, here.

I’m profiling senior citizens, housewives, ah lians with blogs

she indirectly called u SENIOR CITIZEN ley! beat her up and feed her bananas!

the only people I object to jumping onto the bandwagon are paedophiles and other sexual criminals.

then why u gib me free hosting?? u contradicting urself ley.

Cowboy’s responses too flippant. Confirm wun use lah. or use very little.

Ivan damn daring siah.

Considering that the local media haven’t been real friendly with the local blogosphere, i’m waiting with anticipation to see how this article turns out to be. CB, do remember to ask her when’s the article coming out! She will know.

hahahaha… that’s a good one. let’s see how sandra is going to use your answers.

mental self-gratification

HAAAAAAA!!!!

Hahaha.

Journos are people, and people are lazy. I woulod think that to get better answers she should try and engage people by attempting to meet up to get the scoops.

Journos have really tight deadlines and email interviews are common-place… so i don’t think it’s an issue of laziness.

It actually appeared! HEhehehe. Check the sunday times!

Why they nair ask me!!! I want my 15 mins of fame! 15 seconds oso can!!!!

damn lor.. CB.. u should ask her to reply with a photo, vital stats, telephone number & mailing address…

1. take her foto, plaster all behind NP public toilets doors withe r her number & VS

2. send her a dildo & wit the caption “Suck it”

I think her questions are so shallow and judgemental. A reporter who divide people is ruling class and sub-human class with no right of expression.

If I were you, I won’t even bother to answer her and help her get her job done.

I want some picture edison scandal with gillian cheung.thx.