From Surprises at the MIB Forum, The Daily Brunei Resources:
Another surprise awaited for me at the steps of the hall. I was standing next to a Deputy Minister, both of us waiting for our cars to come pick us up, when he said to me something about what you young bloggers are up to nowadays. Apparently he is an avid reader of Brunei blogs. Well, Dato, I am about a dozen years younger, I guess young is relative. To most Bruneian bloggers, I am old. But it is interesting that the Deputy Minister acknowledges the existence of bloggers and so for you young bloggers out there, your serious stuff writings are read by the policy makers. I do know of a few extremely senior people who read my stuffs but on official relationship, I don’t talk about it and therefore we pretend I don’t write blogs. But you will be surprised who else reads your stuffs. That’s an avenue for you to explore.
There, just plain proof that PEOPLE ARE LISTENING. I have been saying this all this while. We CAN make a difference. I know that one day eventually we’ll make enough noise that we can be heard. There, the time has come, now we know someone IS listening.
What are you going to do about it? What are WE ALL going to do about it? Will we let yet ANOTHER chance pass us by?
iammaurina 
It’s all well if people are listening but we also have a responsbility to make sure what we say is worthwhile to listen.
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Yes, lets not take this chance for granted.
coincidentally, i hope you think my site is worth reading.
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I may be a bit paranoid but…
I see Brunei in a transition period. Thanks in no small part to advances in technology and the Internet, Brunei is being forced to change. I’m worried that those in power will make changes for the worse and once again stifle Brunei. But that’s just me.
Going back to blogs being read by those higher up, they could either take our suggestions to heart or have our blogs closed banned/down (Brunei Talk forum anyone). The direction they take will depend on how Brunei changes with the times. I may be paranoid but really only time will tell.
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Just like how global poverty and hunger exists and is aknowledged, it is one thing for bloggers’ existence to be acknowledged. Whether the issues Bruneian bloggers raise will be attended to, and the extent to they are managed, is another matter entirely.
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LSM, maybe you are being paranoid. And maybe I am paranoid for backing up every single post ever made on my blog for fear of shutdown. Are we both just.. paranoid?
But what I know is that, this is my country and I am willing to fight for its progress. I am not just going to sit here and see it become even more stagnant than murky puddles. I’m just ready to be shut down and ready to snap back on.
lth, that is why we must again and again apply pressure to them to attend to the matters raised. That is why only three bloggers is not enough. Three bloggers are only enough to get us acknoledged. We need more to be attended to.
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There are various programs out there with the aim of eradicating world poverty and hunger, yet those issues remain unresolved and glaring as ever. Numbers count for naught when those with the ability and authority choose to turn a blind eye, even if they are well and truly aware of issues being advocated. When was the last time you, or anyone you know, undertook any action of substance in way of alleviating poverty and hunger? Similarly how can you be so sure numbers, in terms of blogs and bloggers, is the answer to it all?
In my opinion, to ‘fight for [Brunei’s] progress’ through blogs is akin to being armchair strategists. And the cause you are supposedly fighting lacks any sort of sustainable momentum behind it because its momentum is sustained only to the point when people stop reading. If you really want to make a difference, and if you honestly do think you can make a difference, get out and advocate your cause publicly and above all, in person. Once recognised, it is more difficult to shut one up than it is to shut one off.
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yes LTH you are right. perhaps my efforts are futile, and maybe i am being too optimistic about blogging. but i have said time and time again that i am a firm believer of baby steps. i have only this much resource to instigate change. but, lets take a step back and imagine if no one is here to do what i am doing, to do what LSM, BR is doing, will we still be in the HYS Forum phase? it is a slow pace we’re in, but one that is worth trying. if i am accused of being a flaccid armchair strategist, then so be it. but remember, up to 6 short months ago, no one cared about blogs. now, they’re noticing.
help me here LTH. help is what i need, not discouragement.
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