http://sg-policy.wikispaces.org/
I’m very tired, very drained, and emotionally falling apart. As much as I love doing this, the back and forth of arguments and ideas, it is taking a toll on me, my studies and my relationships with those who I love.
My mind can take the pressure, but I fear my heart may be failing. 50cent eyebags (Australian btw, not the puny Singaporean ones), splitting headaches ambushing me throughout the day, a variety of aches and pains wracking my body. My heart still hurts the most.
My dream is to die leaving a legacy so that people would speak good of my name long after my bones are interred. I have fought long and hard, against my own personal weaknesses and against misfortunes that have befallen me so that I could attain the means and credibility towards that goal.
So often I doubt, and wonder if I’m overestimating myself, if I really have the capability to do good for society. Other times, I falter, wondering if I am paying too high a cost as I lose so much along the way: one-track mind or focused resolve? I don’t know.
So dear friends and enemies, give me a hand in this little endeavour. Sign up with wikispaces and build the wiki. We know we are capable of robust political debate without descending in chaos, rioting and a destruction of our society. Let us come up with something good, something useful, something helpful.
And maybe, just maybe, we might make a difference after all.
13 Comments
Han, I have the same sentiments as you. The going back and forth of arguments and ideas, and strong advocation of each other’s position, all of these require the expenditure of intense human resources. It can be a rewardful experience, but this kind of activism is very hard to keep up, and that’s why any kind of social change or political activism will never be easy. Given that we are both students, I think the sympathy is a lot more synonmous.
I don’t believe that we should overestimate ourselves, or at the least, I believe in a healthy dose of skepticism and perhaps cynicism. But I think we need to be more contended about ourselves, and lenient on the achievements we make. We both may not be able to effect changes, but we both have a drive and an impetus to transform the brutal and unsavory dynamics of today’s society. Regardless of our ideological differences, there’s always potential for change as long as those dynamics continue to churn by a variety of people who contain that passion. That passion for change is a motor by itself.
Setting up this wiki was your first step. Maybe we won’t make it to the finishing line, but our steps may be able to advance a mile or more.
Hello,
good job you have done so far, much much much better than the ST on stimulating discussions, even though many people have differring views from you but this is what makes I think a democracy a nice thing, people can come together and share their ideas and not fear being made to toe whatever line.
I just hope that you guys (the ‘big’ names on the Singapore(an) Blogosphere) keep in mind not to lose touch with the other readers who do not have the same level of intellectual capacity and ability to keep up with the discussions. It is sometimes very draining to try and read the posts that demands a certain investment in reading of theories and theorists that not everyone have. I am speaking quite selfishily here I suppose since my posts are not very intellectual
.
I have a feeling that the youngpap or PAP itself would start to hunt for people online for their tea parties.
Haha… it isn’t a wonder that u felt drained. Even as a reader I find it pretty draining to keep up with all the points and counterpoints. However I must say it is a pretty rewarding experience reading all the different viewpts and carefully think about them. I am think u too found it an rewarding experience. Anyway all the best to u regarding ur studies.
great start. a possible next step is for u to plant something in there first, otherwise everyone else wouldn’t know where to begin.
To be honest I think this will die a horrible death, going down from flames and trolling. It’s not that I think people will post crap, but that the number of people who spot the crap and remove it will not be enough. Good luck with the moderation.
Hmmmm i think it will suffer from lack of publicity though… should try to get it tomorrowed.
andy:
The editors have a policy of not Tomorrowing our own posts. If someone else thinks its good enough, I guess I’d be happy.
But then again, I’m of 2 minds about this. I wonder if people will participate in the spirit of coming up with solutions, or they would use this as an opportunity to attack the Gahmen again.
attacking the ‘Gahmen’ is not mutually exclusive with offering solutions.
Of course, the tone and spirit in which ’suggestions’ are made matter.
Hatred which is entirely conquered by love passes into love, and love on that account is greater than if it had not been preceded by hatred.
if the tomorrow editors have a non-biased policy, submitting its own articles and allowing for the other editors to publishing it would make it work rite?
anon:
Speaking for myself, and not the other editors, I do not like conflicts of interests, nor even the appearance of one.
Call it an occupational-analism if you will. I have a very low tolerance for conflicts of interests, particularly in light of certain curious facts about Singapore.
In the words of Lord Goff: “Justice must be seen to be done”
This is a good idea in theory, and indeed if properly fleshed out it has to potential to add true value (to Singapore as a nation), but I think it does suffer from a chicken-egg issue, which might be systemic because of the platform chosen. The chicken-egg issue is that there is no impeutus for submission, because it is unknown. This is compounded by a lack of recognition for participation - it is a wiki and hence serially anonymous.
This model has worked in the past, but with a far larger target audience. Time will tell.