Blogging.

Hi guys!

I was flipping through the pages of the Internet when I came across a few of my friends' blog. Some are black, white, blue, orange, "Emo"; but they are all very interesting. Do you know that blog-hopping is considered to be an official hobby?

Then, I came across this article: "How to write a good Blog". I think everyone should know this, as our lives as CHSSB members aren't all about "O" levels and music-making. They include learning life skills as well. And believe or not, blogging is a life skill--it is an inaugural method of communication.

Due to space constraint, I am just gonna quote a few sentences from the article. As everyone knows, "blog" refers to the term "Web Log", which actually means an online journal. But have you thought about what a blog exactly is in terms of modern times?

Dave Taylor, an expert on business and technical topics and the author of 18 different books and thousands of magazine articles, says that a blog isn't what everyone thinks it is.

"What is your definition of a Blog? A blog isn't what everyone thinks it is. In fact, on this very page, you have a pile of definitions of blogs that I disagree with. Because everyone likes to focus on the *presentation* of information and blogs are really all about the *management* of information. Here's what I mean: if you think that a blog is a web site characterized by frequent articles displayed in chronological order, typically with timestamps, a journal or diary, you're missing the forest for the trees. Web logs, instead, are just the facade that we see of considerably more powerful content management systems that really revolutionize the maintenance of Websites".

Basically, what he means is this: Blogs are simple. They are both crap and rubbish.

Up till now, many of you may protest, thinking that I am putting down all of your blogs.

HOLD YOUR HORSES.

Before you come to any conclusion, I just want everyone to know that, I am not putting down any person or persons' blog.

I believe that, a blog is a "own self" thing. It is especially unique and special, but only in the eyes of the beholder and owner. Blogging, in other words, is a phenomenon. It is not a bad thing, but its not a very good thing either.

You have heard news about racists or insulting comments on blogs, and even cyber-bullying. Just two days, our conductor said that he read a CHSSB member's blog on comparing him and our guest conductors.
So here's the cons of blogging:

1. IT IS NOT PRIVATE. Whatever you say can be viewed by other people
   
2. IT CAN BE USED AS A TOOL TO HARM OTHERS.
   
3. IT REQUIRES TIME AND EFFORT.

A blog is just like a pet, if you don't take care of it, it will die. If you "input" negative influence into it, it will harm others. So why do we blog?

Most importantly, why are you even browsing this address right now?

The answer to this question is VERY simple: We need blogs. Blogs are no longer a "want" to us anymore. It has become a "need" to us as technology modernise, hasn't it? You don't see Stalin write a Blog on his hatred towards the Democratic countries during the period of the Cold War, and you don't see Winston Churchill typing out a soft copy of the "Iron Curtain speech" on a Blog. But you do see MPs creating blogs and everything.

What I am saying is that, nowadays, people need blogs to sustain the freshness of their everyday lives. They reflect, ponder, complain, show their remorse, communicate, propose, announce, provide information, share, and even to keep memories on their blogs.

So, there is nothing wrong with having blogs. There is nothing wrong with comparing two people that you know on your blog. There is also nothing wrong with revealing your deepest darkest secrets on your blog. There is absolutely nothing wrong, because it is YOURS, and yours alone.

There is no specific instructions in writing a good blog. Like what some experts say,"Just follow your heart, and write whatever you want. Think before pressing the "Publish Post" button: think if what you are trying to say will SERIOUSLY hurt some one's feeling. If it doesn't, then go ahead and post it." This is the solution to all the sub-conscious cyber-bullying in the Internet.

"The key, as in all things in life-is to keep it simple. Simplicity means that readers won't get confused about what your journal entry is actually about."

And then write whatever you want.

Don't fear about what others would say, don't be scared and suppress your thoughts.

And DON'T, after reading my post, delete your blog.

Believe me, if you can write things from the bottom your heart, you can write anything--from how you did in a test to 1001 reasons as to why you support Barack Obama. And you will still make a difference.

A positive one, of course.

Just remember one thing crucial when you are blogging: Just to be safe, don't put your name there. =)