The blogosphere is an mutant of the real world. It mirrors the interests, pet peeves and deep dark passions of the individual, yet lacks the inhibitions of the inner self and the collective, while at the same time comes together as a collective, by medium, as the blogosphere.
It is a mutant because it lacks the inhibitions of real life. The inhibitions of the animal psyche via human morals and public shame are torn down by the anonymity of the computer. Once lacking in inhibition, mad power comes in place. The psychotic power to say and do whatever they feel like it.
Inane blogs like XiaXue feel that anything and anyone is fair game, to a certain point. Socio-political blogs feel the PAP is fair game. But in any society, blogosphere included, there will be its fair share of psychotics. Witness the racist blogs that are slowly crawling out of the woodwork. I shan’t list links lest they grow more brazen, but suffice it to say, those in the know are aware of their presence.
Who knows what drives these blogs. What drives a racist? A bad encounter? Inbreeding? Society? Who knows, and you know what, Singaporeans are by and large racist to a certain extent. However, much mutterings of racism are behind closed doors or private circles. So what makes someone come out into the public to scream and shout, “I am racist!”? Mad power.
Like any society, someone should be there to maintain peace, law and order. I guess before we panic like headless chickens and start calling for the censorship of the internet, or even knocking on the Police/ISD’s door, we should be asking ourselves, “What can we as a society do to help ourselves?”
One good answer is self-policing. Vigilante group if you like. The vast majority of the blogosphere are decent, intelligent people. These people should call out these madmen, let they, the blogosphere and the world know that there’s no place for them.
A cyber lynch mob if you will. Round them up and lynch them.
Jihadi blogs? Now that’s a whole ball of wax.
