What are your credentials dear blogger?
A big almost semitic nose, curiously fast typing speed, free internet (yaay), talkative, thinkative blah blah!
The ToI tells us that Shakuntala Mahawal, (Principal Information Officer) is trying to get a process in wherein bloggers would be recognized.
Well. First of all I don’t like the term net journos. Not every blogger is reporting, or even aspiring towards some kind of journalism. Secondly, I think it’s going to become a very strange way of approaching the concept of free speech.
Blogging is a complicated social software in its own context. Now the issue is are you going to have a credential system for bloggers or blogs? While bloggers by themselves do have a clear identity, these are often created identities, and people may not wish to really connect a pseudonym with their official name! Meanwhile, blogs by themselves are becoming more important than the bloggers themselves, especially in the case of community blogs.
So is one going to accredit a blog or a blogger. Is it going to be a license, or the number of months one blogs. Will it be related to content, readership, target audience or background of the blogger.
Besides, ToI also doesn’t seem to differenciate between a dotcom and a blog. (Phew!)
I believe in being able to talk about anything. Being a blogger doesn’t necessarily put the burden of honesty or accountability on me unless I claim it for myself. A blogger is not automatically some kind of a saviour. Not every blogger is trying to change the world. (And why should they!?!) So even if a 15 year old girl is talking about her new pink bedspread, or a 14 year old boy is talking about his pimples, or a blogger gives you spectacular insight into the crisis of the Food for Oil program, there is no need to judge them on the their interests. A blog doesn’t pop-up. You visit it. Sign up for its feed. You don’t like it, don’t access it. But the government may not approach the issue the same way. Where it giveth, it can also taketh away!
So will the government now judge which bloggers or blogs are serious enough to be accredited. Sanction? Rules? License? Man, once that happens… you can be sure that this blog will die a very natural death!!
Can you imagine? Department of Blogs under Social Welfare Ministry? And a pink bilingual form that asks you for your name, your father’s name, mother’s name, village, postal code, distinguishing marks on your body.
Have fun while you can. :) We’ll find another way soon.
*Can’t stop Laughing!*
