What’s the point?
To ease into this new fortnightly thing, I thought I’d start by getting all post modern and shit by writing a column about the column. Considering this site is yet to be officially launched, this is probably as casual and informal as I will probably be able to be, so why not?
Some of you who come across this site might think: Oh great, more writings about the state of Malaysia by young(ish) activist types. Others might go, hey, those are some of the best writers I know, I’d love to read a Web site featuring more of their material. In which case, I would urge you to read more. We really shouldn’t be the best writers you know.
In any case, this column about the column is about the questionable influence writers have on Malaysians in general. After all, we’re often told that we don’t like to read. It’s something I’m thinking about because here I am, starting another column, wondering how this should differ from the other two I already write. And also how this column should differ from those by all the other Bolehland.com writers. Most of whom know a lot more shit than I do. (Perhaps being crude and vulgar is one way to distinguish yourself. Noh Omar seems to think so.)
Something else I’ve been thinking about: does writing actually make that much of a difference? If writing alone could change society, Jeff Ooi would have been happy remaining a blogger. The mere fact that he dipped his toes into politics, I believe, show that while people love talking about blogs, their impact here remains somewhat limited. For now, anyway. Political change can more immediately be made by politicians. This isn’t the US, with its netroots and what not. This is Malaysia, where I sincerely believe Telekom Malaysia is conspiring with the government to keep Internet access as minimal as possible to avoid us visiting Malaysia Today. What, did you think the slow speed, high cost and limited reach is because of the company’s incompetence? Think again.
So why write then? So that people can read and go, “Yes, (s)he is so right. That is so true. Malaysia needs change otherwise it’s doomed,” before they cast their vote for more of the same, in the name of stupidity? I mean, “stability.” Jaded, anyone?
Well, right now, truth be told, the main reason I write is rather simple—deadlines and the pesky editors who enforce them. And the fact that I get paid. Well, for most assignments anyway. Plus, it’s a nice boost to the ego. Though they don’t read, Malaysians for some reason think people who write are smart and intelligent. Some probably imagine writers as people who chain smoke in front of their typewriter, thinking so hard the break out in cold seat trying to generate ideas. But as you can see with this first Bolehland.com column (about my Bolehland.com column) not all writers know what they’re doing. Clearly, I have no clue. Hopefully, dear reader, you do.
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6 Responses to “What’s the point?”
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aheh, i dunno, i’d look at this as the place you could say all those things you wanted to in the NST but weren’t allowed to :P :)
and your refuge when you become their 3rd victim :P :)
do we have an effect? i dunno. who cares.
i think this site is meant to be whatever the authors want it to be (semua bolehlah.. :) for me, i’m hoping that it’ll be a place for writing that’s done for writing’s sake, ‘cos it’s fun >:)
Brian Yap? KLue?
Things I couldn’t say in NST? Hmm, what’s that?
I suppose I wrote that out of frustration (not to mention in a rush) at not being able to figure out how to distinguish this one from the others (as in the other columnists, and my other columns). It wasn’t particularly well thought out, I have to admit.
Luckily for me, this site is still new. So I can hopefully get away with this poorly written rant that probably belongs more in a personal blog.
And yes, revk, brian yap, klue.
I guess some write because they can, whilst others write because they have to. But I’m sure all write because they want a better tomorrow.
One good reason for writing is to assure the rest that they are not alone. Finding a common denominator is not that ‘uncommon’ after all.
I understand how you feel, it’s a battle everyday to keep doing this, I sometimes want to just say Eff it. And stop. Everything. Retire to perhentian and make teh tarik. Be oblivious. Change is a hard thing to push through something as passive as writing. Hopefully those reading are active.