Whew. I just came back from a very long hiatus and this is what I’m greeted with: issues, issues, issues.
It seems that no matter where I go I’m met with the politics of the “organization.” Well, to be politically correct, the politicking in the organization.
The Pinoy Blogosphere–as it is most fondly called–could’ve made front page news of the Inquirer for the past two weeks of controversies.
The first one involving a kid blogger who has been accused of having a dad for a ghostwriter, clashing with the so-called “ethics” of blogging.
Second is the “misrepresentation” of the Pinoy Blogosphere by a blogger who allegedly talked for personal merit.
Question: Who the heck owns the “Pinoy Blogosphere”?
Answer: Nobody.
It is a social construct promulgated by the now-so-called “powers-that-be” of Pinoy blogging. Strictly speaking the label only emerged when they got people organized–in events, in blogging awards, in blogger meet-ups. There’s bound to be a certain amount of clashes when you “organize” bloggers, who are so used to their personal space, into a more public spectrum where in they are forced to be under the scrutiny of the powers-that-be, or any other blogger for that matter.
It’s safe to say that clashes and controversies such as these are bound to happen. What would you expect when people who were once lords and gods over their respective blogs suddenly become subjugated to certain “social classes” in the so-called “sphere,” which are, unfortunately, oftentimes determined by their blogging age and influence (or is it affluence?).
I am not at all an influential blogger. Heck, I’ve been blogging for a little more than six years but you can count my influence units (if there is such a thing) by the fingers in your hands. What I’m trying to arrive at is that nobody lords–or should lord–over what people say or do in their blogs, or even outside of it. We chose to participate in these events because we want to make connections with people who more or less think the same way we do.
Heck, I’m just a tiny voice in the “Pinoy Blogosphere” but I refuse to accept the fact that I have no influence at all. We are all bloggers and we were all endowed with the power to influence. Nobody, by any point of stature, age, wisdom, or influence, can tell us what or what not to do. That’s the essence of blogging when it first came about. Now it is being mired by controversies because it is slowly being organized.
All I wanna say is, bahala kayo diyan! I’m gonna blog and I’m gonna talk about whatever I want. Of course some sense of ethics will apply, but that’s a whole different matter to talk about.
P.S.: This makes me feel more apprehensive about attending these so-called “blogger meet-ups.” Not that I’m playing snob or whatever. I just sort-of refuse to “join the club.” Sure I’m missing out on a few thousand hits to this blog, but what the hey, if I want to meet people online, I’d go to friendster or myspace or whatever! I won’t blog at all!
August 16th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
I only learned about this through your blog and from there I felt like I was an innocent fly trapped in the spider’s web. Visited Carl Ocab’s site and had my own impression of what the blog was about and also read Jayvee’s post about Ms. Toral.
Ocab’s (Sr. and Jr.) gimmick is brilliant but then again, a 13 yr old talking about “monetarization” maybe quite far-fetched. As for the Jayvee and Toral’s issue, although I don’t agree with some of Mr. Fernandez’ claims, I think it’s best to let them settle their differences (if any) for themselves.
You’re right in saying that no one owns “blogosphere”; therefore it is free for all. We are fortunate to be able to say what we want, in print and otherwise. I still regard blogging as something close to an online journal, something personal. Like Rick said, blogging is not what it used to be.
Parang nagiging showbiz na ang blogging.
August 16th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
It’s really a lot to take in in one go, actually. I just came back from blogging and the “blogosphere” is very much… let’s just say unpleasant.
There are still people who refuse to be part of the so-called “sphere” (like me) who just prefer to be in the dark, leading their own personal lives, just like how blogging used to be 4 or 5 years ago.
Ye, talo pa natin ang Angel Locsin issue! Wuhoo!
August 16th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
More power to you and your blog.
The younger bloggers (those who have not felt the effect of the powers that be) need to reclaim the internet and revert it back to the more creative realm it once was.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Hey thanks Benj! Yep you’re right about that! There’s gonna be a revolution-of-sorts, if you can call it that. Let’s break free from the norm! =)
August 16th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I wrote something like this for a paper back in college (reminisce, reminisce). And until now, I strongly believe that no law should govern the blogosphere or the bloggers. The cyberspace is THE ONE place where people can freely express their thoughts and speak their minds. HOWEVER, it is still up to the blogger (author) to draw his/her borders according to his own ethical standards.
Wow, ngayon lang ulit ako nakapagbasa ng blog mo.
August 16th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Weh, you actually read my blog? Haha. Been on a very long hiatus. But I’m back now. =)
I guess by-product na rin yung ng influx ng bloggers sa cyberspace. One way or another, there’s gonna be some “governing structure” to “organize” these “entities”. Parang real life lang. Otherwise, chaos. Hmmm…
August 17th, 2007 at 12:37 am
Well said. Party time next week!
August 17th, 2007 at 12:41 am
Haha. Don’t make me go there! =P
August 17th, 2007 at 1:03 am
You could’ve ended with “Answer: Nobody” and you’d still make a lot of people sigh in relief and go, “Oh, FINALLY someone says it.” But, hey. The rest of the post is, like, right on!
But, you know, just because you’re blogging all by yourself, I don’t think it means you’re not “in the sphere”. You’re in there already, unless your blog is unaccessible to anybody else aside from yourself. The fact that people are reading your blog (and you’re making an impact, small or no) makes you part of the blogosphere.
That’s what I think, anyway.
August 17th, 2007 at 1:07 am
They like to call it the “sphere”, whereas, as Benj rightly puts it, it’s more aptly called the Pinoy Blogging Community. Hehe. There’s a tinge of difference, but a whole lotta impact.
Thanks for dropping by! =)
August 17th, 2007 at 1:17 am
Hay, naalala ko tuloy si Habermas at ang kanyang public sphere. Hehehe.
Punta ka next week. Journ the club–err, join the club ka na–kahit sa kitakits lang.
August 17th, 2007 at 1:17 am
*nods, nods, nods* true enough, no one owns the blogosphere and we should all do something to keep it that way. this one you write, though you don’t seem to want to be a part of, still makes you one hell of an asset because at some point (or most) this kind of attitude is what makes the sphere alive.
i miss my old blog where no one else knew or cared what i wrote. no traffic, nothing. but guess what? it still is fun to know people appreciate or react on what you write. so basically, it can be ironic.
what matters most is that, we’re still free… and no one can stop that.
more power to your blog!
August 17th, 2007 at 1:26 am
@Ederic haha onga noh, kaka-submit ko lang ng paper tungkol diyan sa Comm140. Sakit sa ulo! About the blogger meet-up, I’ll see if I can go. Hehe. Until when ba ang signup?
@andianka yah I miss those days when you can freely rant about your classmate without them finding out. Got me into trouble dozens of times because they eventually found out, hehe.
But that’s the immature part of blogging. The community has matured because of the growth in the number of its members. Still, we all remain hopeful that we’ll continue to bathe in this freedom we’re experiencing. God only knows when they’ll start hitting us with HSA or anything of the same sort, diba? Mas grabeng isyu na yun. Sana nga mangyari, I believe that’s the time bloggers will unite to take on one stand. Ummm, pero sana wag naman. Hehehe.
=)
August 17th, 2007 at 1:49 am
hhahaha… kya nga jokes were circling around saying next time there’d be a future blogosphere president, senators, and cabinets plus doors! nyahahah! eway, at least open pa naman lahat. maingay, but somewhat healthy parin. i hope…
August 17th, 2007 at 1:53 am
Hahaha ayus yun ah! Pero wag naman sana mangyari. The last thing we need is curtailment of our freedom.
Yeah, I believe this recent controversy can attest to the democracy of the “Blogosphere” or the “Pinoy Blogging Community,” whichever way you may want to call it.
=D
August 17th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
next day, there will be middlemen to negotiate for your potential ads in your blog sites
August 17th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Hahaha. Ad agencies for bloggers and blogs will soon abound. Hahaha… =P