The interview will be conducted face-to-face which as all you smart readers out there know, means in the same geographic location.
So when the request arrived in my inbox a few weeks ahead of when I had planned to spend a few days in Singapore I thought why not, what harm could it do?
"The questions we are interested in include the kinds of space that the Internet helps create as an alternative to the mainstream media, and whether and how the Internet contributes to democratic processes. We have been archiving several dozen blogs during the election period, including yours, with a view to analyzing their content and features. But we would also like to have a quantitative sense of how big the impact of blogs like yours is - and would be grateful if you could grant us an interview either face to face or by email ...
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ReplyDeletehttp://www.ips.org.sg/about/bog/
ReplyDeleteThere is, of course, nothing to fear.
Just go there and speak up for every blogger.
ReplyDeleteAnd remember to record everything (video or audio) and upload them on the internet for the free world.
We count on you.
I have already stipulated that their questions and our answers will be uploaded on our blogs, otherwise no go. However, we need more people to demand this concession from IPS, or else it won't work.
ReplyDeleteAlways refuse to deal, until the other party offers something of value to you in return.
ReplyDeleteNegotiation 101. Never give anything away free. Always trade.
what's their purpose? i heard the news this morning and lee boon yang says though more savvy to come but that does not mean they are in a way giving in too. Are they trying to "trick" us and then think how to fix us? or just paying another lip-svs (remember the casino project)- yah, "say your views and would like to listen and then at the back of their mind they have fixed up the idea to go ahead). some reservations though!!!
ReplyDeleteYawning Bread has spoken with IPS. Check out his comment to Mr. Wang's post on IPS approaching him for an interview.
ReplyDeleteYawning Bread was of the view it's okay as he met the Head and a Senior Researcher at IPS.
Cheers.
Board of Governors, IPS
ReplyDeleteImpressive members on the board
Appointing Governor
Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean
Head of Civil Service
Perm Sec (Special Duties & National Security and Intelligence Coordination), Prime Minister's Office
Perm Sec (Foreign Affairs)
Members
Mr Patrick Daniel
Managing Editor
English/Malay newspapers division
Singapore Press Holdings
Dr Teh Kok Peng
President
GIC Special Investments Pte Ltd
Mr Kishore "Can Asians Think?" Mahbubani
Dean
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
IN IPS WE TRUST
Does feel a little like entering the lions den.
ReplyDeletePicking up on anonynous on negotiation:
ReplyDeleteThey want your "business". Why not ask them to come to you instead? And you'll be fully protected by UK constitution.
Hi matilah,
ReplyDeleteprotected from what? exactly. There is nothing to fear.
Oh and the Uk doesn't really have a constitution. Not one that is written down in black and white. More a bunch of different laws that slowley evolve or as a religious person might say, 'intelligently redesign'.
Hi soci
ReplyDeleteProtected from...(fanfare) ta ta rah rah... DEFAMATION lawsuits.
And BTW, they're seeking your "input" which could be taken to mean that you are a "consultant".
That smells like money to me—for you, I mean. Please, take my tax dollars :-)
If only someone would offer me 'your' tax dollars I would gladly take them.
ReplyDeletethen don't go for that interview - whatever your view might turn into a weapon against all the bloggers, who knows!
ReplyDeleteNah, soci's cool. He should face them. Being "paid" for it would be a nice unexpected and unintentional"bonus"—he has done a lot of work, and this blog does indeed ROCK.
ReplyDeleteStarting a blog is a no-brainer. Anyone can get their own blog in 2 minutes flat, and start ranting and raving in whatever chemically-enhanced or natural-state they choose to be in.
But a "good blog" is more than just the ranting and raving of one excited individual—it is a community. A community of unique individuals who might differ radically in opinion and ideology (for e.g. I consider myself an "Old Whig"—decidedly suspicious of democracy), but at least agree that free discussion and argumentation is necessary in this world of ideas.
So soci and the team have pursued their own self-interest, and benefitted, probably the nation.