Something is just not right with the STOMP Star Blog concept. I'm not sure if I can put my finger exactly on it - but I think it's got to do with the fact that STOMP's "star bloggers" just can't be themselves if they have to subject themselves to the editorial directions and marketing approach of a corporate organisation like the Singapore Press Holdings.
The X-factor behind any highly popular blog lies in the individuality of the blogger. And a blogger's individuality kinda gets suppressed, if the editor says, "This week all of you have to blog about this topic, next week all of you have to blog about that topic," - which is what's happening over at STOMP.
Look at poor old Xiaxue over here, for example, struggling with this week's STOMP assignment - the ethical issues of police entrapment. Come on, this is not a Xiaxue kind of topic. She can write entertainingly, yes - but not on a topic like this.
29 comments:
Stomp? More like Sleaze with a capital "S".
Who can blame the SPH? I doubt any self-respecting blogger would want to write for them, knowing the sort of restrictions they'll be working under.
Xiaxue and Dawn? Only if you want a media circus. :)
I don't think I really need to know what XX thinks. The toilet incident has already shown me more than enough on how her train of thought goes.
I feel that all the star bloggers are too pretentious and they look more like they want media attention for fame and money. If I don't read their blog, do you think I will read what they write for STOMP? SPH is getting distasteful. Urgh ....
Some people will prostitute themselves for five minutes of fame. Sigh...
This is how the MIW is attempting to "manage" the Internet. Before you know it, they'll get "Rockson" to blog on: How PAP won the people's mandate; Jobs on the rise, thanks to the IR; Survey shows retirement homes in Batam and Bintan much in demand; etc
Asking Xiaxue to blog about ethics of entrapment is like asking Tharman Shanmugaratnam to teach us how to speak Mandarin.
bimbo blog doing the limbo rock???? Anyway, I am suprise they gave XX the green light to F**K people. Are they trying to encourage the use of expletive by endorsing them as 'star' blogger? Well I wonder if that is the way they are trying to manage the internet. Ain't it cool to speak like XX?????
Everyone should watch this!
Only he dares to speak the truth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCmc3w1fs5k&mode=related&search=SDP%20rally
accessed stomp and tried reading ... reaslised that they have a common topic and all so call star blogger will blog about it. so typical of singapore style ... like our speakers corner, you can talk whatever you like, but first get a license. only managed to glanced through xx and ktm blog ... lost interest and switch to the real stuffs in the blog world ...
will stomp succeed? maybe .. if they let the blogger lost and do whatever they want ...otherwise its going to be like speakers corner.
Actually, I think xx is having a blast with this (can tell from her first intentionally terrible article that she sees the irony in this whole exercise)... just wait till folks get wind of the 'sort of language' sanctioned by 'the national press' hehee
And who SPH journalists anchoring that. Wahahaha. how long do you think that venture will last?
to simplesandra, janice, joe etc:
bloggers want their writings to be read, the more the merrier. So who doesn't want publicity? Even Mr Wang himself also indulges in a bit of self-publicity - witness the page where he lists down the accolades by other bloggers.
So I don't think we should crucify them for being a STOMP star blogger. Let's just judge them on their writing.
Cheers.
What irritating about STOMP is the constant in you face attitude displayed by the advertising. Do youth really speak like that, or is it just one or two who do, and SPH deems it necessary to ape it to be "cool"?
This institutionalized attitude is not worth apeing, neither is it typical of youths. Do the adults at SPH know that?
thats true - i m reading blog after blog and don't really find any good ones anymore. there are so many sg bloggers there who are not as famous as xx and dawn and all tht - here a few gd ones i've read :
http://www.missizzy.org/
http://gssq.blogspot.com/
http://skru-supernova.blogspot.com/
http://divyamenon.blogs.friendster.com/divs/
have you ever heard of a blog that only posts "every monday" and chat with its users through livechat "every wed"?
is that sheer stupidity or what? trying to run a blog like a weekly column. have they heard of real-time?
also, i dont like the branding. why are they putting a foot in your face in all their adverts? isn't that a little rude?
It's quite obvious that STOMP is the Singapore government's vehicle to sway the younger generation of Singaporeans to be pro-government by justifying some of the government's more "questionable" actions through the voice of so-called "cool" bloggers and personalities. Just look at this week's topic; practically everyone (6 out of 8) voiced a somewhat pro-entrapment opinion. STOMP editors can determine what the bloggers blog about, and I won't be surprised one bit if the editors also dictate what position the "Star Bloggers" should take in their arguments. Truly a waste of time visiting that site.
boon wrote: "So I don't think we should crucify them for being a STOMP star blogger. Let's just judge them on their writing. "
Er, excuse me, but I was judging Xiaxue on her writing.
By the way, wasn't the goverment trying to improve the standard of our English? Someon should give SPH a pat of the back when kids start to write and speak like Xiaxue. :)
Was XX writing?!
I thought she was exhibiting (her favourite pastime) the role of expletives as the new medium which SPH thinks all our youths should embrace.
Surely, fxxking is less seditious than posting anti-government sentiments.
Way to go, SPH!
to simplesandra:
I thought your comment was about the restrictions of SPH and media publicity. :)
But point taken. I do read XX's blog occasionally, simply for a change in writing style. XX can write properly if she wants to.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sammyboymod/messages?msg=108393.1
Everybody knows SPH has just launched this STOMP website for youths.
Actually, it is a scam to distract youths from private blogs and forums that is Pro- Alternative Parties and centralised all the "Youth Issues" into one website controlled by the authorities.
Even Video is allowed to be uploaded. They hire all the Pro PAP bloggers like Xiaxue and Dawn Yang to spread the gospel.
Whill this STOMP website worked for PAP ?
This STOMP website is PAP's first trial run to manage,deal and fix the internet.
Will Youtubes and Blogspots truimph over STOMP?
In long run, Singaporeans might only be able to identify with STOMP and everyone MUST go that website to upload videos and speak your mind.
Like how NS men can only go NS Portal to do NS stuff.
This STOMP website might be a competitor against blogs like Yawning Bread, Gayle Goh etc
Youths today and voters of tomorrow might in the end get distorted information about Singapore politics again.
Until STOMP allows us to upload videos like WP crowds,AP Speeches and Chiam See Tong's Long March to Town Council clips, this STOMP website is considered PAP website.
STOMP is to reinforce people already inside the matrix so that they will never get out.
Maybe someone can try uploading Chiam's clips into STOMP and see what happen ?
The internet war has just begun and it is still early days.
STOMP was not really mean for us seasoned internet pros.
It was meant for those youths who are about to become seasoned internet pros.
The catch here is that these youths will read Pro PAP news instead of listening to us critisizing PAP.
Then PAP will have a internet following in 10 years time .
Whatever motive PAP have behind in creating STOMP should be self-defeated and make redundant.
STOMP advertisements are relentless and everywhere.
If PAP succeeds, the consequences are unthinkable.
Imagine an entire generation has already passed by for 40 years, hoodwinked into the matrix by SPH and Straits Times without bothering to think of the credibility of the news they read.
I do not wish to see the new generation with internet, sms, mms, 3G etc be also hoodwinked for another 40 years into matrix by the very same media, medium and tools they use to access information.
anon wrote: "Youths today and voters of tomorrow might in the end get distorted information about Singapore politics again."
No worries. When these kids get out of their comfort zone and start to feel the pain from govt policies first-hand, whatever they "learnt" from STOMP etc will become history.
I know that, 'cos I was a staunch PAP supporter back in school. :)
This will probably sound a bit bizarre to many of my readers, but when I first started posting and writing on the Internet (about 10 years ago), I too was a staunch PAP supporter. But I educated myself along the way.
No worries. When these kids get out of their comfort zone and start to feel the pain from govt policies first-hand, whatever they "learnt" from STOMP etc will become history.
I know that, 'cos I was a staunch PAP supporter back in school. :)
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Hello Sandra,
Will it be too late by the time those youths wake up after experiencing hardship ?
I mean from youth to working your ass to support a family, this time gap, those youths would have voted 3-4 times for PAP assuming they vote at 21 and marry at 35.
Oh don't worry, many Singaporeans never ever get to vote at all.
Oh don't worry, many Singaporeans never ever get to vote at all.
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Let you in on a top secret.
Do not worry.
Next election, Worker's Party is contesting in all areas except those wanted by SDA and SDP.
This is because of a sudden influx of top professionals after witnessing GE 2006.
anon wrote: "I mean from youth to working your ass to support a family, this time gap, those youths would have voted 3-4 times for PAP assuming they vote at 21 and marry at 35."
Well, bad policies can affect singles as well, so some might not have to wait till they have a family to support before they start to question their own political loyalties. :)
I can bet on STOMP being a useful tool and gathering point for Pro PAP videos, pictures and stories for GE 2010/2011.
PAP is starting to manage the internet.
I viewed STOMP site and got lost in its interwinding web of a spider.And for some good measure,it also STINKs.
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