01S70

my point about the media is that it has the unenviable task of bridging the gap between the moms and dads and rulers of the country that read the straits times (i know we do, but...) the zaobao and whatever, and some of the things which actually do happen in singapore but go under the radar. and the recent spate of blog incidents bode well, because it shows opinion is flowing from isolated youth rants into the public domain. unfortunately, the more young and well connected among us feel it's all too late, when we know these thoughts and opinions have been going on for ages.

i don't care if the papers spout a government line, as long as its a sensible one. i think the media is doing a fairly good job of evolving. what i think the media should do though, is to report more "scandals" and "provocative comments" until we're all sick of it. and the poor sods who're the victims of public opinion are going to have to be learn to be strong in the face of withering public criticism and defend themselves well with the quill, a good example of which is miss sarongpartygirl. and we can then take debate beyond the level of "the cinema's on fire, quick, let's rush for the exit door" and think "the cinema's on fire, quick, let's put it out/let's call 995/let's rush for the exit door then call 995".