The Star Education Student Blogs Questionnaire
I was told by my PR person (ahemm) that The Star's Education section is doing an article about student blogs. Thus I was urged (batuk batuk) to answer the questionnaire currently being circulated on the internet. Those interested to fill in the questionnaire may do so by erasing my answers. *wink*
1. Why do you blog?First of all, I have always had many thoughts on a wide variety of subjects and having a blog is like a depositary of thoughts. Having a good content manager makes archiving all very neat and categorised and I am pleased with having exactly one year of blog posts.
2. How often do you blog (e.g. do you try to write an entry every day?)
I used to blog more frequently than I do now. I would say on average, I would blog twice a week. Surprisingly even though I blog less, the number of visitors seems to be increasing month by month.
3. How old are you and what are you studying at school/college/university?I am a 20 year old studying Architecture at Taylor's College Petaling Jaya.
4. What do you get out of it? (a chance to express yourself? practice your creative writing? venting stress and frustrations etc)
It has been a great medium for me to hone my writing skills. That has been my primary concern. Occasionally I choose to blog about topics which require a fair bit of research, so taking the initiative to do so helps me improve my analytical skills.
5. What are the main things you blog about? Is there a theme to your blog? (political/news/student life/any & everything that comes to mind etc!) Or is it just a sort of online journal detailing your daily life?
I blog about a wide spectrum of things. My blog posts are usually about my views on nation building-this means that I do comment occasionally on politics and issues of the day-, I have written quite a number of posts on architecture related issues, whenever I travel, I will write a travelogue, and the rest are just random filler posts about trivial matters. Sometimes I also write reflections about myself.
6. What else do you use your blog for? (photos/ chat space/ illustrations etc?)
I used to keep an updated photo album, until I realised some of the things I put up may have a commercial value. So I have cut down on that. =)
7. Do you read other student blogs? Which ones? Why do you like reading others' blogs?
I read blogs belonging to my friends whom I link to from my blog. I read them because its an indirect means of communication as well, and some of them, unlike myself, keep online journals which keeps me updated about my friends.
8. Do you think blogging is a good thing for students? What do you think other students get out of it/ what are the advantages for students?
Well it could be a good thing if used in a positive manner. An obvious result from blogging is of course an increased fluency in writing.
9. Why do you think blogging is becoming so popular among students? (both writing and reading them)
I see blogging as a phenomenon which is bound to stay. It seems that many youth would like to have a voice and a sense of ownership and what better place to find that than on the internet? In the past, there was a boom of personal websites, but who actually frequents these? A blog seems to be a more effective medium for individual expression.
10. Is blogging an 'in' thing among your friends/classmates? Or is this something you chose to do on your own?
I have always wanted an audience for what I write as I find that writing is a very important part of me. My decision to start blogging was definitely not because it was an 'in' thing but rather in a quest to complete myself.
11. If your blog is anonymous, why did you choose to be anonymous?
My blog isn't anonymous.
12. Did you design your blog layout yourself? If so, why and where did you learn the HTML skills?
I merely edited the content manager software's template. I am running moveabletype. When I have the time and the inspiration to do so, I change the design a bit. I picked up HTML on my own some 8 years ago. I did that because I wanted to have my own personal website at geocities then. I later did some voluntary work for the Malaysian Nature Society by being their webmaster for the Selangor branch. I have been involved in a few web projects, and am currently looking forward to enter into another web-design venture later this year.
13. How do you think blogs can be used as a way of telling the world more about Malaysian life? Do you think this is a conscious objective of student bloggers out there?
I think blogs like 'Mum-mum' (www.mum-mum.info) or TV Smith's Dua Sen (http://www.mycen.com.my/duasen/) do justice to fairly portraying Malaysian life. In the case of student blogs, the large majority of them are by students living in a cosmopolitan environment which does not portray Malaysian life in totality. Perhaps the mainstream blogs do portray Malaysian life, but for the majority I don't think it is apparent. So it is a conscious choice and not the objective of all student bloggers.
14. In view of Malaysian government/school's attempts to up the standards of English, student blogs seem a promising way for students to practise their language and writing skills. Are you interested in writing/literature etc? Is this blog a chance for you to develop your writing skills?
Yes, to a certain extent. But who will check the English on the blogs? I think English can only be improved when one is continuously exposed to good English writing. So if blogs are to be a medium to improve one's command of English, it must be a conscious effort on the part of the blogger.
14. Generally, Malaysians are not known for their arts/creativity - do you think this is changing with forums like blogging? How?
When one mentions arts and creativity, it is indeed a broad term. What kind of arts and creativity? In the case of blogging I foresee the development of very good writing skills and clarity of thought among bloggers. I would like to add that photoblogs are also a form of creative expression and I have seen quite a number of very good photoblogs kept by Malaysian students. Hence, blogging is a very narrow piece of the 'arts and creativity' pie. I hope that with the Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry currently independent from the Tourism ministry a more 'honest' and less commercial view of Malaysian arts will develop. But I do not foresee blogging becoming an impetus for arts and creativity in all fields.
15. How MALAYSIAN is your blog? In other words, do you use it to represent a Malaysian way of life? Or to express Malaysian views?
My blog is Malaysian because its author is Malaysian. I would not go as far as to say that my blog represents the Malaysian Way of life, but I would say it represents how I live my life as a Malaysian. It is also a place for me to voice my frustrations certain facets of Malaysia, e.g.. our public transportation system, local government and town planning, etc. But more importantly, it is a medium in which I can voice my hopes and aspirations in making a better Malaysia.