Sat 11 Oct 2008
RE my Onboard The Censor Ship post:
kash:
Perhaps it has occured to you that while real world journalism pays $$$, student journalism does not. Well on the bright side,Im happy that we have journalists that try and journalists that care enough.Society wont change if there aint people to question the status quo.And as journalists we were already prewarned of censorship and the realistic environments that we would work in. Doesnt mean we dont try, doesnt mean we dont push.To go to protest might not change the status quo,but its got people thinking about issues, its got people looking at alternative sources and questioning once again the state of the media.And migrate? Perhaps, but it aint going down without a fight. not an idealistic fight but one that works with realities and status quos.We’ve all grown much in the censorship debate at SCI and sir, maybe yes, we do have to grow up.But perhaps for some, growing up involves testing the limits in a responsible manner before embracing and working within them.Were you at the protest? were the protestors defiant, disgruntled or astounded or constructive in the debate?Would you rather have students representing a student POV on a public platform so that the Uni can respond, or wld you rather have students bad-mouthing the University in their individual capacities?I think sir, that there are more nuances that one can be aware of.
But given, the state of media is as it is and it is your opinion that it wont change in time and trying is futile.Perfectly legitimate point of view and one is surely entitled to hold that.
me:
To be perfectly fair, my post above probably deserves a more caustic response from the likes of you, especially for those who have that flame of dissidence and independence burning strong in their hearts. I admit I was probably being a bit over-cynical but there again I also submit that it was in the name of hyperbole and I was trying to make a point :)
I do greatly appreciate your collected answer in the current Internet climate!
Yes, I do definitely agree that it can get better – bit by bit – and you are right that the students have taken the appropriate course of action. My argument is simply that the gears of politics meshes all too slowly in these situations where it is not in their interest to change things. They don’t want to take off the reins, take off the blinkers, take off the bit and bridle. The media is a horse broken neatly to rein with the government sitting happy on its back, and I simply feel it’s a position they’re not likely to relinquish anytime soon, no matter how the horse bucks and leaps and tries to dislodge its rider. (Or in some cases, merely makes some weak whinnying in protest). Too often it merely encourages the rider to get the whip and spurs out, which doesn’t help its case – it is in the horse’s better interest to submit meekly to its master.
:) Well now that’s an extended metaphor that’s been milked dry.
Thanks for your comment!
[1 corner turned]
good reads. but im no arts/communications student nor a journalist so i may not fully appreciate how substantial this whole issue on censorship may be.
my opinion would be that to those who are capable (or deem themselves to be) of objective analysis of information, the current amount of censorship is too much. If the majority of the population is capable of that then i would agree that there is too much censorship. My question is how many people are actually capable of being objective? And how many people can actually be bothered to find out more?
i suppose in the arts faculty, there would be more people with the capacity for such thinking. more so in a journalism course. But what about the other faculties? and those who do not enter such instituitions? i quote the article in the original post. “Literature student Elaine Lee, 20, felt that the censorship questions the student’s analytical ability.” Contrasted with this “He also recalled how some students whom he spoke to did not know who Dr Chee”. Was this a case of ignorance due to excessive censorship? Or was it ignorance due to choice? That there are people who just cant be bothered. I have encountered people who couldn’t care to read the newspapers (im partially guilty of that as well). And these same people would readily vote for whatever choice there is besides PAP just for the sake of doing so. im no zealous supporter of PAP. what scares me is the lack of consideration behind the decision. but the truth is, there are such people around. perhaps even a majority. Currently, im more inclined to believe that in general, humans consume whatever information that is convenient to them then perhaps act rashly based on that information. I’m all for less censorship as long as the good majority of the population are capable and willing to handle the information in an intelligent manner, snd not act in unthinking rebellion. but that’s not something we can gauge can we?
I hope i didnt sound too cynical. i really dont mean to. i would like to add that this is merely my personal opinion. Perhaps naive and uninformed. Childish even (do enlighten me if so). The topic piqued my interests and i felt inclined to throw my opinion out there for healthy discussions sake.