I’ve been very reluctant to blog about this issue, but after reading the blog reactions from many concerned bloggers, I feel it would be hypocritical of me to have any opinion and not blog about it for fear of political reasons.

Politics within the local blogosphere haven’t been very fun, funny, or entertaining. Most of the time, it’s just childish kindergarten format squabbles. With the Association of Bloggers Singapore (ABS) trying to “unite” local bloggers, I can’t help but to feel that it’s another attempt to draw lines between bloggers. Everyone has to take a side, their side or no side. I don’t believe that any groups can unite all local bloggers – perhaps only those that are already active in the blogging scene. But face it, there are only perhaps a couple of hundred bloggers in Singapore that takes blogging seriously. Majority of blogs you come across are anonymous or super casual (updated like twice a year?), most blogs are just outlets to vent your frustrations.

My guess is most people that are willing to pay to join the ABS, would be individuals that are already somewhat involved in the local blogging community. I don’t think it’s a good or bad idea, but I’m just skeptical of how much can ABS really aid local bloggers. How can ABS help if there’s a flame war going on? They cannot and should not take sides, being a professional body. How can ABS help when there are chaos and politics in  the local blogosphere? How are they going to educate bloggers to blog responsibly?

Although there are many questions that would be left unanswered for the time being, I believe that action speak louder than words. Perhaps we should have an open mind about this new association, and give them a chance to prove themselves. No point in slamming them, or slamming any individual, when they have only just begun.

Here are some more reads to blogger’s views on this association. Some are rather supportive, some not so.

ABS President Eastcoastlife

Anonymous blogger’s protest

The Lycan Times’ opinion

Daphnemaia’s call for boycott of ABS

Hollyjean pointing out why there’s no need to join ABS

Brian (PR guy) ‘s take on ABS

Perhaps ABS needs to answer some of these difficult questions for bloggers to be able to accept them. But after reading Hollyjean’s updated blog post on an “invite only” association, I’m not sure this will take off very well.

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1. Oh my goodness. Good point about ABS being impossible for ABS to take sides in a dispute. Wonder how I could have overlooked that point.

   Good post. Can’t say I agree with everything, but then who really cares about that?

   Comment by Farinelli — January 21, 2009 @ 9:40 pm

    

2. I’m not sure what they are doing, but from the few posts I’ve been reading, I am not too sure why they are forming an association. Don’t really see any advantage of being in such an association, and the costs of joining (is it in the 100s) is like high. Blogging is popular because it is easy and anyone can do it. Plus nobody is going to really care about your opinion, at least they’ll give up if you’re stubborn enough. Maybe I’ve gotten my information wrong. Anyway I think it’s not something for everyone or the average blogger on the street. It makes sense if its an association of serious bloggers and they have courses on how to blog efficiently or something. Else it’s a waste of money. Haha.

   Comment by ignorantsoup — January 22, 2009 @ 12:12 am

    

3. Hey, good post. I have to agree to most of the points you have raised in this post. I would also like to give them a chance to prove themselves before we pour cold water. So we shall wait for their launch yea.

   Comment by sm — January 22, 2009 @ 12:32 am

    

4. No wonder Alvin suddenly ask me about what blogger network by ECL -_-” now it all makes sense.

   Honestly, I wouldn’t want to pay to be part of a group, not something that I practice. Is like putting a price tag to be… You know what I mean.

   I feel that this is created out of good intentions, so they have my blessings (so to speak) and even my support (if worth any value to begin with). But I also feel that I’m not looking for belonging.

   If I’m not a blogger you’d still be my best friend righto? Hurhur. The world may forsake me but I still have you righto?

   Thank god I have Priss!

   Comment by Princessa — January 22, 2009 @ 12:37 am

    

5. LOL, the world’s not gonna foresake you just because you don’t join communities or association la… but yup, we won’t abandon each other *hugs*

   Can we form our own club too? Just me and you?

   Comment by Priss — January 22, 2009 @ 12:45 am

    

6. You’d be surprise man. And you better not. I don’t have that many friends, going to bug you for life hurhur.

   Hmmm… I thought we have?

   Comment by Princessa — January 22, 2009 @ 12:53 am

    

7. I just remembered! Talking about being part of a group check out Cel’s new blog –

   Can we have something like this? I mean… Our history is like waaay back lor. If she has one, I WANT ONE TOO!

   Comment by Princessa — January 22, 2009 @ 12:56 am

    

8. Not every Singaporean blogger wants to be so “professional” to their blogs. Most of us are just happily bitching in our own little blog world in our own way.

   Perhaps if they were to change their name to “Association of Professional Bloggers Singapore” it would better. Despite that their association was not meant to “represent” all Singaporean bloggers, it’s name inevitably does and may become recognized as a “pseudo-authority” of Singapore bloggers.

   Especially with those “government” interactions that ECL was referring to on her own blog, they may end up representing all Singaporean bloggers to the government without our consent. =(

   Comment by Antz — January 22, 2009 @ 1:07 am

    

9. Who is to define who are the “professionals” and who are not anyway. -_-”

   Comment by Princessa — January 22, 2009 @ 10:01 am

    

10. [...] or ABS, launched just a week ago, inviting many criticism, detractors, insults and naysayers. Even I was quite doubtful of the purpose of this association, but I thought given some time, they might be able to answer [...]

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