Dear Mr Tang,
I hope this email finds you well! We’re launching a new Straits Times Political website just before the National Day Rally. As part of the launch we’ll have a bunch of stuff up – including one bit titled “What I want to hear from PM on Sunday..” i.e what issues/topics/ announcements you personally want to hear at the National Day Rally. We’re getting MPs, bloggers, observers etc. Do you mind contributing? Very brief – one or two paragraphs will suffice. We will copy and paste the whole thing in, so it’s not an interview style and it won’t be edited.
Would it be possible for you to contribute? If possible by late tonight or tomorrow morning? So sorry for the tight window but we just need like 200 words, max!
Many thanks!
R C
Political Desk,
The Straits Times
Political Desk,
The Straits Times
*****
I don't wish to be a busybody, it isn't me. Since this email was forwarded to me, I guess I was invited to comment on it. Else, I couldn't think of what was the motive of letting me know. It was an email from The Straits Times to our most famous Train Officer Blogger in Singapore. To me, he is the most famous blogger in Singapore now. I see his name mentioned everywhere in Straits Times, mentioned in a serious tone mind you and that is something. I mean, you see the blog of a plastic bimbo with pink hair appearing on mainsteam media now and then, but who really take that seriously?
Remember the Association of Singapore bloggers? [link] I wasn't blogging back then in 2009 but I remembered having some thoughts about it. My first instinct was that the government was trying to control the internet by conquering the divided bloggers. Just look at their last post in their blog. It was typically how we run government agencies. Who are they fooling? It was a tame attempt as that association lasted for 2 months and closed shop. Even I could run my blog for more than 2 months writing stories nobody reads or share. They couldn't even pretend to have the heartware to do better. It was a joke.
Since then Singapore bloggers remained disunited. Perhaps it is meant to be, as blogosphere thrives on creation, individualism and independency. But the most attractive features of blogosphere turns out to be its weakest link. It is easy to conquer the divided and the government knows that. It is pointless for us to talk in codes like Farmer has been doing because the cat was already out of the bag for some time now. It is the same strategy of how government agencies in the world dealt with hackers. In the earlier days of mass internet, hackers were a force to be reckoned with. Agencies tried stopping their rampages by setting guidelines, laws and strengthening web security. None of these worked as well as getting hackers themselves to be their frontline. They termed them White Hats.
Since then Singapore bloggers remained disunited. Perhaps it is meant to be, as blogosphere thrives on creation, individualism and independency. But the most attractive features of blogosphere turns out to be its weakest link. It is easy to conquer the divided and the government knows that. It is pointless for us to talk in codes like Farmer has been doing because the cat was already out of the bag for some time now. It is the same strategy of how government agencies in the world dealt with hackers. In the earlier days of mass internet, hackers were a force to be reckoned with. Agencies tried stopping their rampages by setting guidelines, laws and strengthening web security. None of these worked as well as getting hackers themselves to be their frontline. They termed them White Hats.
White. I shivered at the thought of it. The war has already begun, based on the new strategy.
We already have the crappiest shit I've ever seen here [link] who displays fabrications of fabrications about the PAP. There has been individual bloggers converted into Whities, I was told by a friend who is a fervent blog scout over the years. She even remembered the blog names of the converts. Well they are still doing it aren't they, looking at how things are going?
The above email raised so many questions in my head when I was reading through it. I almost could not believe my eyes and had to re-read it twice, thrice before it finally dawned on me. They never changed, sneaky bastards. Looks like our friend here is being recruited to be the this year's Poster Boy of the National Day Rally. I was forced to run my WhiteAxeTrainer V5.4 decoding software on that email and this was how the message was translated:
Dear Mr Tang, (Dear Potential New Convert)
I hope this email finds you well! (Lanjiao, whoever targeted by you guys is cannot strike 4D in 10 years) We’re launching a new Straits Times Political website (More of that Association of Singapore bloggers shit but with new ideas) just before the National Day Rally. (It confirms that Straits Times WORKS FOR the PAP govt, if that even needs confirmation) As part of the launch we’ll have a bunch of stuff up – including one bit titled “What I want to hear from PM on Sunday..” i.e what issues/topics/ announcements you personally want to hear at the National Day Rally. We’re getting MPs, bloggers, observers etc. (It was a week before the NDP Rally and the PM is asking bloggers what he should be talking about? Who are they kidding?) Do you mind contributing? (Do you mind being part of us?) Very brief – one or two paragraphs will suffice. (We don't really care what you say anyway, we just want your name) We will copy and paste the whole thing in, (Cos we don't care, remember?) so it’s not an interview style and it won’t be edited. (Why should it even be censored edited usually?)
Would it be possible for you to contribute? (Please, we can't find any Poster Boy on time) If possible by late tonight or tomorrow morning? (We are desperate, Gintai) So sorry for the tight window (We really are) but we just need like 200 words, max! (We don't care what you want to say, for the last time)
Many thanks! (To confirm my promotion)
R C (Some dog)
Political Desk, (Kempetai)
The Straits Times (Enough said)
Hilarious. Good One!
ReplyDeleteI like this!!! So typical... And also look at what happen to talkingcock forum after it's been mentioned at a NDP rally.
ReplyDeleteBTW, can anyone confirm whether Mr Wang had turned Whitie too?
Lol! KNN!
ReplyDeleteKempeitai? More like SS/Gestapo to me.
ReplyDeleteHa they should just call it The PAP Political website inatead of the Straits Times. Who are they trying to kid?
ReplyDeleteshouldnt you give proper dues to the author gintai instead of chnging the name to yours?
ReplyDeletei apologize, idscovert he name is gintais'. you should still accredit it to him...
ReplyDeleteThe PAP buggers are simply incorrigible and don't seem to understand their propaganda tool the 'Straits Times' has a long way to go to redeem some credibility and respect. It is easy to control rebuttals in their forum pages but not so in the blogosphere. For starters, the S.T. political website will have to think of some ingenious way to pay netizens to read their shit.
ReplyDeleteGood one,thank you.But it does show that why Singapore deserves PAP,we get the government we deserve,especially now with the power of new media,our citizens do not have any excuse anymore.
ReplyDeleteThose who are lured just over a cuppa tea or meeting are not worth their political principle and convictions. They will be the ones who write to critique the govt but actually go vote for PAP. They are the ones who hope to be popular on both sides of the spectrum but have no spine to take a side they believe in, for the good of country.
ReplyDeleteTheir self-interest needs may be met by the power-to-be, but those whom they speak out for earlier, remain where they are. Let them show their tails, the earlier the better.