2008: Blaaging to Blogging

My article published in yesterday’s The Friday Times [26th December 2008] where i shared the evolution of Blogging in 2008

There was once a time when most people in Pakistan had no clue as to what the word ‘Blogging’ actually meant, this ‘un-heard off’ word was often greeted with a confused and stunned silence, quite frequently followed with an innocent desi‘ish utterance Blaaging?. An avid blogger like me, who has been dotting the blogosphere since 2004 would instantly get those dreaded stomach binges to sum up the courage and go out on the usual two minute revolutionary spiel promoting the art and science of blogging, it was also an effort to educate the educated. In those days, back then, the two minute sales pitch would often fade into a distant whisper, leaving both parties scampering for other talking points as this geek fad discussion would not last an entire conversation.

Then came the martial law of 2007, most, if not all, Pakistanis were up in arms condemning this heinous political change, including the relatively unknown community of bloggers who too joined the outcry on the digital landscape and penned their protest, little did they know then, that this political tragedy may very well have served them with an unexpected christening right here in the ‘Islamic Republic’ of Pakistan. Whilst the Lawyers and Journalists were taking a battering on the streets, the media could not report and the press could not print, it was these previously unrecognized lone rangers of the blogosphere who stepped up to the plate and offered an unhindered and uncensored news from ‘the streets’. The media blackout had in fact catapulted the community of citizen journalists to become the ‘media’ for Pakistanis hunting for the real uncensored news about the political circus taking place within Pakistan.

Hence the landmark 2007 martial law, could easily be seen as the turning point for the Pakistani blogosphere, which initially was limited to a handful of bloggers transformed itself into a large crowd as Pakistan rambled uncontrollably in 2008. It was now apparent in even the casual coffee table conversations that when one were to ‘accidentally’ name drop the word ‘blog’ one were gleefully greeted with a far more engaging conversation to last a good nine yards.

Pakistani Bloggers might compel themselves to raise a toast to our President, to have provided them a joyful and entertaining year, we thank our stars that he graced our blog tabloids this 2008Following closely behind the martial law in November 2007 the blogging community was yet again handed a Rufe on the tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto in late December it was at this juncture where many bloggers united to try and expose the perpetrators helping piece together evidence that was otherwise being deliberately unreported, this effort lead to the discovery of the first four images which showed the shooter as well as the suicide bomber caught on a mobile video. The trail of the images/video started from an Orkut message leading to the first publication on a Pakistani blog and later being picked up by Dawn News and consequently Channel 9 was able to acquire the entire mobile video which made headlines around the world. One could easily suspect, that had if the video were initially shared on blogs it was possible that this too would have been left unearthed forever.

Probably the most blogger’d personality in 2008 has been none other then Mr. Asif Ali Zardari who continues to provide endless content for blog columns week in and week out. Starting the year with the rumor mongering controversy of the mysterious ‘will’ to the triumphant elections in February, the Murree declaration in March subsequently the hoopla surrounding the list of endless broken promises which ultimately lead to the self appointment as the Presidential nominee in September. If these events alone were not enough to satisfy the blog tabloids, he had the country rolling in laughter when he innocently served up the God/Gaad misspelling controversy and was too embarrassed to accept the blooper, but best of all was probably the Sarah Palin hugging blooper which had the blogging community ripping like never before.

Potentially blogging can be on any topic but it was an observable fact that this year we witnessed a significant rise in political blogs appearing on the local scene, mostly attributed to the problematic issues facing our country and everyone had the urge to stand up and share his / her opinions with the world at large. This sudden shot to fame, many laypersons were eager to equate blogging to professional Journalism, but a word of caution must be in order, as there exists a fundamental difference between the two. Blogging in its essence is a single persons opinion, right or wrong, which he/she chooses to share with the world at large and hence naturally tainted with a strong personal bias, whereas journalists are subjected to a higher echelon to present an unbiased, well researched perspective to their readers. With this fundamental difference blogging will always remain two steps behind professional journalists, but will tend to provide a valuable insight to any argument that may potentially be under discourse

All said, the year of 2008 was ‘the year of Zardari’, had if he had not been on the scene, for us bloggers, we would have been reduced to a mere ‘had been’ and would probably have been busy trying to ‘sensationalize’ the economic meltdown of 2008. For the sake of blogging many bloggers in Pakistan might compel themselves to raise a toast to our President to have provided them a joyful and entertaining year, we thank our stars that he graced our blog tabloids this 2008, but for the sake of Pakistan, we truly hope 2009 is not as enjoyable as 2008, is that too much to ask for….


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14 responses to “2008: Blaaging to Blogging”

  1. farrah, k.raja Avatar
    farrah, k.raja

    Hi Teeth
    Taken aback!! real creation!must say it is a piece of literature.

  2. farrah, k.raja Avatar
    farrah, k.raja

    Hi Doc!
    Keep it up,future is bright,best of luck.

    Internet sites could be given ‘cinema-style age ratings’, Culture Secretary says

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/technologynews/3965051/Internet-sites-could-be-given-cinema-style-age-ratings-Culture-Secretary-says.html

  3. Le Mystique Avatar

    “Blogging in its essence is a single persons opinion, right or wrong, which he/she chooses to share with the world at large and hence naturally tainted with a strong personal bias, whereas journalists are subjected to a higher echelon to present an unbiased, well researched perspective to their readers.”

    Perhaps we, the bloggers, resemble columnists rather than reporters when we write our personal and probably biased opinion about different issues.

  4. MB Avatar

    As always you rock man !!

  5. farrah, k.raja Avatar
    farrah, k.raja

    Blogging is even more important than Journalism.We are becoming a Global Village.The connection and understanding from human to human is more imporatant than what the politicians are saying.
    I see a whole revolution in Internet and blogging like , shoe throwing was turned into a game over nightand 6 million people played this game in five days ,it shows collective conscience of people.
    Everyone felt relived at this display of anger,it is only becasue of blogging that people around the world are getting together and I hope Peace will emerge as true picture of human tragedy and sufference emerges.

  6. Khuram Avatar
    Khuram

    Yes you are right.Zardari and his team never miss an opportunity to tickle our sense of humour or help raise blood pressure.Blogging provides an outlet to let out frustrations and also share some lighter moments.
    When I say Zardari and his team I mean senator Babar Awan, a minister with a fake doctorate,Ahmed Mukhtar apart from his comical disposition,his statements,Raja Pervaiz Ashraf who generates incompetence from 100 yards and the former FIA employee Adviser Interior Rehman Malik.The list is endless but I honestly do not know their names or portfolios which I am sure Mr.Zardari and his PM also do not. So keep up the good work.

  7. bings Avatar
    bings

    Pls post about the isreali attacks on your blogs

  8. guY-sir Avatar
    guY-sir

    farrah
    Indeed World becomes Global Village which name is “gulag”
    do ya like to live in gulag like globalization?

  9. farrah, k.raja Avatar
    farrah, k.raja

    sorry people I know this is out of context with the above but I am surprised and thought it worth while to share with all:
    From Ruters
    Dec 21 – India’s Hindu nationalists stormed a Nokia showroom for showing Kashmir as part of Pakistan’s territory in its mobile navigation system on Sunday (December 21).

    Scores of activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) barged into a Nokia showroom and snatched mobile phones and burnt them.

    BJYM is the youth wing of India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    They also set hoardings on fire outside the showroom in central Jabalpur city in Madhya Pradesh state, where the BJP is in power.

    Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan were carved out of British-ruled India in 1947. The disputed region of Kashmir is now jointly administered by India, Pakistan and the People’s Republic of China.

    Nokia cannot make such mistake.

  10. guY-sir Avatar
    guY-sir

    The above mentioned nokia storm vdo is available at
    http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=95800&videoChannel=75

    BJP is one of the dirtiest party of India they who contrived all ransacked against Muslims most notoriously Babri Masjid and Gujarat train accident and many others
    I guess in India election is goin on and if BJP wins then tension could be escalate and war can be occurred.
    BJP can make such mistake
    Allah Khair

  11. Ameer Hamza Avatar

    Your comments:

    ‘With this fundamental difference blogging will always remain two steps behind professional journalists, but will tend to provide a valuable insight to any argument that may potentially be under discourse’

    I don’t agree. During times bad, when people like Zardari, will surely crack down on local papers, blogging will reign supreme. It will give a kick to Pakistanis as lawyers movement last year did to lot of us. I am sure, blogging is fast emerging as a serious threat to mainstream media. It is, and we are its soldiers.

  12. Momekh Avatar

    oyeeee blaagar!! 🙂
    Zardari will give us all the material we need — good for at least 09. thats if he stops now 🙂

  13. Misabah, Multan Avatar
    Misabah, Multan

    has anyone heard the story of ugly bastard Waseem Khokhar of DLA Piper when he was in the cinema with his ugly bitch wife. She says "I need a piss, let me past you".

    "Why don't you squat on the floor and do it", says Khokhar.

    "OK" says the bitch. She pulls her pants down and squats on the floor. Khokhar starts feeling a bit horny so he reaches down and makes a grab. He feels something hard and says "Have you changed your sex?" "No" she replies, "I've changed my mind …I'm having a shit instead".