Blogging on Blogging

So,they decided to sit up and take notice.
NDTV did an episode exploring blogging, and ironic or lucky it was one of my fav shows - We The People (and to be a hundred percent honest I watch it more for Barkha Dutt than the debates sometimes).
HERE is the link for all those of you who may have missed it or would like to revisit.

And suddenly it had the blogger in me awakened, which anyways goes for regular naps pretty irregularly.

To me the whole world of whirlwind thoughts is so exhilarating. And for people who like the dynamism and surprises in life - and have the courage to HANDLE it, blogsville sure is a place to be.

In fact just a couple of days ago I dived into my archives (another of my regular activities) and brought out, read and shared posts which I am rather proud of. Well, most of them had a pretty feminist's tone to it, but what the hell, that's one issue that gets me going so be it. I like to read write about it, it concerns me, and gets me thinking.
And this is the part that I liked best from the debate (on that link) - that this space and medium is about choice; so why should we put up with all the melodrama and endless discussions rather than just exercise our choice.

And whats so bad in expression anyway?
The same people who would applaud the (not so new anymore) Airtel adv., which essentially says that we can break all barriers if we talk (read express or connect), may not be able to expand the context of the idea and apply it to issues that bloggers often talk about - morality, sexuality and society.
Because when you are really down to the business of bringing down walls, well, not all of them may be simple and pretty, and some of them may have a lot of moss and dirt lurching on and around them.
So, does one stick to the agenda, and just go hit the wall - no matter how controversial it is, or safely lurk around and pass it by coz it is too messy to touch?

And the rest of the media is pointing fingers at the Internet, saying it is unregulated. But they forget to mention all the fine prints they put out there - "The opinions expressed in this show are of the people only and not necessarily the television company" or "the editor's opinion, and not that of the newspaper".

I applaud all the bloggers out there who address such issues either as a social essay or as part of their personal experiences. I write a personal blog, and I know its tougher writing about myself than why the finances of a certain country may not be looking too bright!!!

Yet, a part of me is was saddened by the show. Even though it is well accepted that it is only human to take the easy way out, I think if every time we try and be politically correct , the real voices may never be heard. And am not an expert, but I do understand that social changes are slow and often live in undercurrents.

So maybe thats what blogging is - about people who realize that enough of the candy floss newspapers and TV channels, that are often biases or censored or plainly subjected to the sponsor's whim in their opinion or reporting. We got to find a different way of talking about all that has been swept under the carpet for so long . . . . so why not take the responsibility onto ourselves, and be the drop today that might be the ocean of a future.

And please, since it is the season of disclaimers, I de like to say, not all NEWS news is opinionated, nor all Internet reasonably responsible communication.

And, just to highlight the irony inherent there - and this maybe digressing too during my recent trip to US I was listening to these two gentlemen debate the democrat and republican scenario of the presidential election at diner table and then one of them at some point said:

"I choose what news I read, and that's why I got to the Internet. What you heard is wrong, and maybe you should check the source of your news."

And then in a later conversation with me, where I like a typical hospitable Indian invited him over, he said :

"Oh but I read there are monkeys out there on the streets everywhere and I wouldn't risk coming to India."

To which, I had the perfect opportunity to quote him onto himself -

"What you heard is wrong, and maybe you should check the source of your news."

So its not a perfect world, so what, don't we learn enough about that every day. We blog, with pride and passion, and with imperfections. Yet we love it.


As a footnote :
I ve been blogging - reading and writing - for six(ish) years now, and I am proud of it. I just think this is a great place to be. And not every one can handle it, so the faint hearted needn't stress themselves out.