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| I believe in this Sarawak Talk
Sarawak Talk, in principle, serves as a platform for people to communicate their ideas to others, expecting others to give their feedbacks as the likely result ( although not necessary they'd stick to the flow of discussion; sometime it branches out to different topic altogether) and a media through which they can speak out thier mind without fearing that they will get fired by the bosses or questioned by someone with ISA badge. This is the media where any news would be published without having the need to get the editor's consent beforehand. This is the beauty of Sarawak Talk, and that's the way it should always be. I believe in 'freedom of expression'. My fellow Sarawak Talk explorers, Do you believe in Sarawak Talk? Why then we let things start to get out of our hands? The fear about the Internet being a nasty place to visit is confirmed. Lately, it seems that the trend is back! We engaged ourselves in the swearing, the fuck, the racism, the sexism and God knows how many Mahathir Mohamad has died if your curses had taken effect on him. Do they believe in Sarawak Talk? Some visitors to Sarawak Talk can read between lines, can take something lightly, have good sense of humour, are liberals and professional in their attitude. People of this quality can shrug off provocative and offensive remark as mindless. But there is no gurantee that many of us in this big family are wise enough to tell what is a joke and what is cock! Ever heard of the incident where the husband divorced the wife after suspecting she had an affair with another guy? It all started as rumours in Sarawak Talk, but some people can believe just about anything they read on the Internet. Somebody from among us have suggested the other day for Sarawak Talk to have a panel of ‘editors’ ( moderators) who can oversee this forum and behave the crowd. No doubt, they will be some people who'd ask what is Sarawak Talk without the usual fashion? But one must not forget they’re also people who’d ask what is the use of Sarawak Talk if we Sarawakians talk like a bunch of peking men from stoneage civilisation. Let’s be well-mannered speakers in this forum – minus the filth . We don’t want to subscribe to the idea that we can say just about anything under the sky in here. We have seen many posts lately suggesting that we do something about the ‘lawlessness’ in Sarawak Talk. The suggestions reflect on the need of good/quality discussion in here. Sarawak Talk has given us something which we small people could not find elsewhere – the freedom of speech. If the current trend prevails, we can lose that freedom to abuse. How do we feel about the monitoring of talks in Sarawak Talk? Followings are some posts in reply to the question: 1. Posted by Anonymous: Monitoring and filtering must be done with utmost care, wisdom and fairness. Filth must by all means be thrown out, but issues considered by some as "sensitive" should be allowed, provided the issues are constructively, sensibly and seriously discussed in the most civilised language and manner. 2. Posted by Empty Tin: Have this a paid service instead of a free service then only those who can afford it can come in and look at the way people having been voicing about those "haves"; Auto delete obscenities; Have some full time I.T. geniuses or just plain lepak boys and girls sitting next to the Sarawak Talk for 24 hours to monitor all messages and do what is necessary; Look for first class sponsor to sponsor the website and have some trustworthy business deals throw in to create interest and seriousness; Register all posters with a high tech programme available to countercheck all particulars with National Registration Department, Telekoms, Banks etc. etc. and so are genuinely genuine......................... 3. Posted by Unknown: Well, I think Sarawak Talk is an acceptable forum. People need a place to vent their feelings. Since they are ordinary small flies with no cemerlang award, no Datukship , no Datinship, they need a place whereby they can just tell it all, truth or untruth (up to the reader) or else don't tell me that only our bosses can get near to all those powerful people in town..this reminds me of those Chinese Emperors or Chinese Empresses who were gods and so inapproachable... 4. Posted by PSV: This is a good site to let go of frustrations and letting the other party know aboout it. Good for the social environment, understanding and progress 5. Posted by anonymous: Why should Sarawak Talk be so serious? is it not for everyone including those poor mice? has it got to be exclusive? if it is so, you have to come up with the golden lounge site and you know only who can enter........ we need more talkers talking about things that happen whether it is political in nature or not...what is happenning now is there is a group of friends throwing messages to and fro...what is happenning to others? let us not just read juicy gossips but contribute...even you spies can do so....no use reading every message and trying to catch Nemo, right? So, contribute whatever you can...in real life, nobody bothers what you say...but here, people read...which makes it a difference 6. Posted by anonymous: May be you think i memalukan you all...but the real thing did and does happen...tell me in all your honesty, do you yourself or your friend does something morally wrong? But we all just keep quiet. We know how to gossip about people. But we forget we ourselves also like that. We go round the whole world and tell everyone everything. What has happenned or what is happenning is the real thing. You were not here so you don't know. You say don't say like this. Why can't I? People already march into the room, already made a scene. So it is the same if i create a scenario here. We are hypocrites; real hypocrites. On one hand, we preach. On another, we do it ourselves. Shame on us! So, is this the professionalism that we know of? is this the change or no change that we are talking of? I think the clever professor might have to re-think and re-theorise. Change ourselves first before even attempting to change others. As a reminder, followings are Sarawak Talk Rules and Regulations: 1. Users may not post any messages which could be deemed sensitive, offensive or slanderous to other users, or damaging to the good name of Sarawak. 2. Sarawak Talk is for use by Sarawakians or anyone who is interested in Sarawak. 3. The Sarawak Talk Webmasters are not responsible for any comments or messages that are posted here. 4. The Webmasters reserve the right to remove any posting that is deemed unsuitable or of doubtful authenticy, without giving any reason. 5. It is the responsibility of the user to check these rules and regulations for any changes that may occur from time to time. 6. For any comments or suggestions, user may e-mail to webmaster@malaysia.net. Following are emails messages from Sarawak Talk regulars to Sarawak Talk Guestbook: (The guestbook only archived feedback up to year 1999, what happen after that is not immediately known) Name: Wan Taha Email:wantaha@tm.net.my Location: Miri, Sarawak Malaysia Date: Thursday, October 23, 1997 at 10:58:13 Comments: It USED to be lively and worth the time logging on to Sarawak Alive. But it has now lost one of its limbs with the decommissioning of the Sarawak Talk column. Agree, quite a lot of the topics that found its way into the column were but pure trash. But it did serve as a platform for exchange of ideas and opinion and discussion on current topics of mass concern. Some sort of policing could have been implemented although whether it should is highly debatable. But the point is Sarawak Talk is call-card and taking it off is not quite in the interest of most Sarawakians, which it should be. Name: terry Email:tyfm@rocketmail.com Location: kota kinabalu, sabah Date: Sunday, October 19, 1997 at 15:53:21 I'm a sarawakian working in sabah. I find sarawak on line a wonderful way to keep in touch with people back home. however, can we change the format for sarawal@talk? it is very confusing to follow the chat because of the arrangement of the titles and subtitles. if you care to go to www.infosabah.com.my they have a sabah@talk too except the format is very user-friendly and they vetted all contributors of messages, so no rubbish like dick and sophia here. anyway, thanks for a great job done on the rest of the pages! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I believe in Sarawak Talk . I believe we can talk and make Sarawak Talk a good place for gossips or discussion of everyday issues. I believe we can make a difference. Let’s argue like professionals, convince like politicians, inspire like teachers . Not necessarily we are pro-government but even if we need to criticise the Government or a religion or a race can we at least present our case like Lim Kit Siang please. What say you? I’m ready to behave ; it's your call. |
| Posted by J@mes anak Bond in Sarawak Talk, sometime in Dec, 2003, pleading to 'The Webmasters' to start 'behaving' the Sarawak Talkers. Unfortunately for Anak Bond, and as expected by the regulars there, he never get any reply. Something just can never change in Sarawak Talk, no matter how hard you try. |
| Posted by To be or not to be. Good luck and God blessed. on December 13, 2004 at 18:34:10: To be or not to be... Since I don't have any facts to support what I am going to say, it is only a hypothesis that I put forward here and nothing more. Do bear this in mind when you read the following, please remember, I am only speaking hypothetically. It is not facts but pure conjecture, a stupid theory, a story, a fairy tale or a pipedream, pick whichever suit you. I am doing this as an exercise in inductive deductive reasoning under freedom of expression, that's all. Should this resemble any reality and/or match your perception, that is strictly your opinion, not mine. Let me stress this, it is not my intention. --BEGIN: Hypothetical reasoning... Democracy, censorship, Sarawak Talk and Socialism. Contrary to what was said and done. In respect to forum thrashing, ain't that the ultimate censorship? Or is it just plain simple incompetency? Is this status quo? Intentional or not. Whenever there is some posting that is unwanted or someone can't tolerate. Just thrash the forum. Fast, simple and effective. In line and in perfect harmony with, 'Who controls the past, controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.' (*) - George Orwell's 1984 (ch 3). INGSOC will be mighty proud indeed. You call that democracy? But, ain't that socialist instead of democracy? BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU (*) The forum operator by not being proactive in defending their forum, implied, they are not interested in defending the 'right' of the people. No matter what they said, it can't be more simple than that. So/therefore/thereby, all the nonsense about freedom of expression and freedom of speech is just plain mere lip service. What can that be but hypocrisy at it best? Please, show me otherwise. Or is it just a new interpretation in the new version of the Newspeak dictionary? Which version may I ask? Could I be more blunt? Big Brother is indeed alive and well and he is you. Is this thoughtcrime? 'Is this 'Reality control', they called it: in Newspeak, 'doublethink''. (*) WAR IS PEACE (*) FREEDOM IS SLAVERY (*) IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH (*) Need I quote more from the book? In closing. If, it is in fact so clear cut, most of the problems in this world could be solved by simply wiping everything clean and starting anew. I am not so naive to believe likewise. Footnote and references: (*) 1984 - George Orwell. If Not Anarchy, Then What? http://www.freedomsite.net/not_anarchy.htm --END: Hypothetically daydreaming and thinking a loud. Always bear this in mind, my friend, 'Democracy without self restraint is anarchy and chaos!'. Cheers! As always, a toast to all for PEACE and FREEDOM!" |
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