Since technology had advanced, many spent less time on ink and paper. The computer especially, was a great influence, it required Man to just keep clicking and typing with their fingers with so much ease. Diaries, memos, to-do-lists were alien very quickly as all these were done straight away in the computer. However, there is an irony that affects everyone, and that is the Internet. Having a diary in a form of a blog was opened to the whole world to be read, even without the author knowing. Due to this, diaries lost their substance and value. Personally, i feel that Blogs (Internet Diaries) are fine and necessary if the owner uses it courteously.
Firstly, blogs are mediums whereby one can convey his present condition. In the past, one had to send a letter or make a call to another so as to communicate. However with a blog, the owner types a message and publishes it on his blog-page. Anyone who comes by would know more about the owner. Parents no longer have to send emails asking about their son’s situation. All they is required is going on the their son’s blog and reading whatever he has published in his ‘diary’. This is better than e-mails as emails are not always successful in reaching the desired recipient as Internet-traffic jams to occur. Even among friends, going to each other’s blog would give updated information about their day’s activities, feelings, favourite songs and pictures, wishes etc, creating a greater understanding among friends and social groups. Thus i feel that blogs and necessory.
Furthermore, blogs are sites that provide educational information, and lastest news in the world. In a documentary show on the 9/11 World-Trade Centre Terrorist attack, blogs were the first media to present that astounding news to the world. People who worked and lived in the area and witnessed the incident took pictures and videos with their cameras, uploaded them and published them in their blogs. People around the world browsing through blogs were the among the first few outside America to be aware of the attack. Surprisingly, the media in America was slower to report the news, as compared to bloggers. In addition, students around the would also browse blogs, especially the educational blogs to supplement and enrich their knowledge of a particular subject. Even in schools, teachers set up subject blogs where students are able to download notes and worksheets, and class blogs where class news and important announcements are published. Therefore, i feel that blogs are necessary and important.
In contrast, blogs could become gossip corners and sites for renting one’s hatred to someone, an organization, or even the government. The conventional diary was sometimes used by its owner to rant and rave, yet it was fine as it was kept a secret. However, now with a ‘public’ diary, owners take advantage of it and gossip and curse about a person and situation. Even if the author is wrong or bias, his blog might influence others to think the same way as he did, killing a mockingbird. Such misuse could have grave consequences to the victim. If the victim reads it, he might feel depressed as many had already read about it and might have been influenced to think alike. In multi-racial Singapore, two youths were jailed for publishing racist comments on their blogs against an indian university student, not knowing that a policeman came across their blogs are thus caught them. Thus, i feel that blogs could become a breeding place for hatred if it is misused. i feel that is is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that his blog is courteous in all manner.
In conclusion. blogs are really a necessity in the present world. However, everyone must be very cautious and remember that his blog would be opened to the world to view. Therefore, his words and thoughts must chosen with discretion so as to serve blog’s true purpose.
