Blogging - A global phenomenon

My friend asked me to blog every week so that he can link me to his blog. (i.e. be a regular updater so that it isn't a link to a dead blog)

This is my reply:
Nah. I want to be free, free from the burden of updating. it's like a commitment... another commitment. Time's valuable. Blogging is only not a burden when you enjoy updating it, and I am quite neutral in this.
Why do ppl keep blogs? There are several reasons.

1.Social aspect
Keeping in touch through long distances can be a chore, and blogging can help solve it. Blogs allow ppl to update their lives to friends and family online, making it more convenient for the blogger (if not you have to tell every single person every darn thing over again). Chatboxes and other interactive features also help. However, one should also be aware that the blog is public, and detailed personal info should not be posted.


2.Political aspect
Does Mr.Brown's podcasts sound familiar to anyone? Well, he has a blog as well. Oh wait, it's a non-political blog... cancel that example. Let's have another one. Beijing's Blogosphere has been fighting against politicians, their censorship, and unfair political practices. It gives them an avenue for protest and also anonymity, although not total security. Hmm.. sadly youths of today remain happily apathetic to politics --> less pressure on leaders --> less competent leaders. Hopefully this will change through education, but I have my doubts.


3.Citizenship Journalism

Interlinked with the previous reason, but citizenship journalism also covers other reasons. Blogs are shown to the WWW(World Wide Web), and therefore blogging allows ppl to rally support for a certain cause. There are blogs that are aimed at humiliating ppl with bad attitudes, do discourteous things in public etc. A website www.hollabackNYC.com, although not a blog, will be enough evidence to support this evidence. There are also examples of Police Brutality, do a youtube search and you'll see. Most of the time it's Bad Event --> Effect (protests). But sometimes it has to be Bad Event --> Blogging --> Effect. Blogs, a catalyst for the greater cause? An interesting notion.


4.Interests
Some bloggers keep blogs on things that they have passion in or they like, such as music, animals, movies. I myself had a chess blog (which unfortunately I have taken down because I couldn't find time to update it). Sometimes blogging regularly would help keep that passion in oneself, so that you dont lose touch with it and it just dies off. We must take some time off our busy lives to keep in touch with our interests.


5.Complaining
Yeah! Venting anger, complaining to the whole world, letting them know that there is one angry, dissatisified individual with his life. There's so much to complain about these days, as expectations rise and ppl fail to meet them. E.g. services, quality of gds, etc. Also, can complain about people, even celebrities. (i.e. celebrity-bashing blogs). Oh well, one should be entitled to freedom of speech, so continue. Just don't blog about religious/racial issues, it's against the law (Singapore's sedition act).

Another issue...
Why is blogging an uprising trend in the digital world today? There are several reasons.
1.Because it is cool to have one (i.e. Peer Pressure)
2.Stress! Busy!
3. Bo liao
4.Reasons mentioned above.

Yeah that pretty much sums it up I guess... wanted to blog more but its getting pretty late. Hope someone reads this anyway. Tata for now. =)

The value of life

After watching Neon Genesis Evangelion, the last 2 episodes (of the TV series) provided a psychological assessment of the EVA pilot, Ikari Shinji. He pondered upon the question: "Does my life hold any value?" In the end, he managed to break through his psychological restrains and get some self-esteem.
And so, it led me to think: What is the value of life, and what determins the value of our lives?

There are many definitions to the value of life, different perspectives from the government, society, and the individual. For governments(political), it is the cost of reducing the number of deaths by one, be it workers safety, healthcare etc. For society, maybe its the amount of contributions made by the individual to the society. For the individual, it is how one values their own life.
Let's be selfish and concentrate on the individual perspective.

What determins the value of our lives?
"It is how one values our own life." By this definition, it is obvious that it is the individual that determins their own value of their life. Interesting statistics from wikipedia: "Typically, the value of life has been placed at $3 million per life and $100,000 per year of life."

How does that work?
There are 2 factors that make us look up to ourselves, which is our capability and confidence. The more capable we are, the more confident we are, the more we value our lives.

1.Capabilities
The ability to perform actions. Earning praise from bosses, impressing dates, winning awards, in studies, work, CCAs, and even skills like handicraft, balloon sculpturing, or having a good sense of direction; All these are capabilities. Not all are appreciated, but you should still value them.
So, we should constantly seek to upgrade ourselves, pick up new skills, be interested in anything and everything because increasing our value in life is what we should strive to achieve.


2.Confidence
Believing in yourself, in your capabilities. That is self-confidence. Confidence can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, as those without it may fail or not try because they lack it, and those with it may succeed because they have it, rather than because of an innate ability. Too much self-confidence will lead to overconfidence, which is dangerous, because if you don't have enough ability and skill, then you'll screw up. But for those who lack confidence, it is important to get some. One must believe that there is a purpose in life, and believe in yourself. With no confidence, that psychological barrier will hinder attempts, limit abilities and limit achievements.


3. Happiness
Oh, did I mention there was a 3rd factor? Happiness. This is often determined by your own actions and mindset, friends, family. Communication, spending time together, interaaction, sharing secrets, telling jokes.
What's the use of capabilities and confidence if one is not happy? Happiness extents life. In a way, your life has more value when you live longer, as it is $100,000 a year. But this monetarily-assigned value is meaningless if you do not make full use of that 1 year. Live life to the fullest. Be happy, as one minute of sadness is 60 seconds of happiness wasted.

There is a difference.
Don't live life because you are afraid of death; like a shell empty of soul.
Live life because it is worth living; And it is.

The value of life is intrinsic; It cannot be sold, but it can be fully used by the individual.

Just a few more months.