Comments on: Digging Up The Flower Bed: Digital Speech In Malaysia http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/08/02/digging-up-the-flower-bed-digital-speech-in-malaysia/ Living One Day At A Time Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:35:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: little.black.book http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/08/02/digging-up-the-flower-bed-digital-speech-in-malaysia/#comment-12223 little.black.book Thu, 03 Aug 2006 13:14:20 +0000 http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/08/02/digging-up-the-flower-bed-digital-speech-in-malaysia/#comment-12223 the price of free speech is too high <strong>Peter: That depends on what we are fighting for.</strong> the price of free speech is too high

Peter:
That depends on what we are fighting for.

]]> By: Mr Green http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/08/02/digging-up-the-flower-bed-digital-speech-in-malaysia/#comment-12220 Mr Green Thu, 03 Aug 2006 10:26:14 +0000 http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/08/02/digging-up-the-flower-bed-digital-speech-in-malaysia/#comment-12220 to be fair, they do have a lot of bigoted and misleading "outcries" to deal with. but that price should be paid until it costs more than their security. <strong>Peter: Untruths should be countered with truths and facts, and not by silencing it.</strong> to be fair, they do have a lot of bigoted and misleading “outcries” to deal with. but that price should be paid until it costs more than their security.

Peter:
Untruths should be countered with truths and facts, and not by silencing it.

]]> By: Eugene http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/08/02/digging-up-the-flower-bed-digital-speech-in-malaysia/#comment-12196 Eugene Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:49:05 +0000 http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/08/02/digging-up-the-flower-bed-digital-speech-in-malaysia/#comment-12196 Dear Peter, It is indeed sad to see our PM take such a stand. He started out in office with so much promise only to sink nicely into the usual mould. Complete freedom of speech is not a reasonable expectation in our country. Too many times we have seen the powers-that-be try and shut up those nagging voices that try to replace their non-existent conscience. Its the only way they know how to deal with criticism and fair comment. There's so much our leaders can learn from bloggers about dealing with negativity. Remember the handicap toilet issue in which you were involved? How so many intelligent bloggers debated and finally agreed to disagree on matters? On whether this new warning from the PM means whither digital speech, I really doubt so. The internet is a universe of its own. Its futile to try and control it. In fact, its simply impossible. Our PM's warning is really a scare-tactic. They may apprehend a few to make examples of them but they will never be able to stop the countless nubile fingers tapping away at the keyboards. The blogosphere rides on the internet and its becoming a juggernaut; an unstoppable force. Let them start the "bird hunt"; there'll be far too many brave birds for them to cull the chirping... <strong>Peter: Even if it does happen, there are still the kopitiams and warongs and mamaks...</strong> Dear Peter,
It is indeed sad to see our PM take such a stand. He started out in office with so much promise only to sink nicely into the usual mould. Complete freedom of speech is not a reasonable expectation in our country. Too many times we have seen the powers-that-be try and shut up those nagging voices that try to replace their non-existent conscience. Its the only way they know how to deal with criticism and fair comment. There’s so much our leaders can learn from bloggers about dealing with negativity. Remember the handicap toilet issue in which you were involved? How so many intelligent bloggers debated and finally agreed to disagree on matters?

On whether this new warning from the PM means whither digital speech, I really doubt so. The internet is a universe of its own. Its futile to try and control it. In fact, its simply impossible. Our PM’s warning is really a scare-tactic. They may apprehend a few to make examples of them but they will never be able to stop the countless nubile fingers tapping away at the keyboards. The blogosphere rides on the internet and its becoming a juggernaut; an unstoppable force. Let them start the “bird hunt”; there’ll be far too many brave birds for them to cull the chirping…

Peter:
Even if it does happen, there are still the kopitiams and warongs and mamaks…

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