This is a serious post.

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Fong MC says:
June 24th, 2005 at 10:02 pm

Dear Ms Khoo,

I am writing to you as a parent of two young adolescent children regarding the recent article in the Star newspaper regarding your blog and the follow-up ‘discovery’ of your web-site by my children.

I was initially glad my children developed a keen interest in finding out more about the web-logs phenomenon. In addition, I have never make any attempt to limit or censor websites as I believe my kids should have the freedom to discover what is wrong or right following discussion.

I have no reason to suspect the newspaper may have overdone itself this time. I was flabbergasted to discover your blog contained profanities and unsuitable materials for children. Perhaps this is an oversight on the part of the Star newspaper but the cat is out of the bag.

I feel you do bear some of the responsibilities for this. By allowing yourself and your website to be highlighted in a national newspaper, you have knowingly and willingly allowed children to have access to your website which you clearly know contained unsuitable materials for young minds.

Perhaps this query should be directed to the newspaper and not to you at all. After all, I accept your right to have your own personal opinions and your private space. It is not in my place to judge you; in fact, I have no interest in visiting your site. As you have said, I am not even welcomed here.

Be that as it may, kids will be kids. In fact my daughter look up to your blog as a role model blog. Hence, as a parent to my loved ones, I would like to implore you to re-consider your approach to your blog now that you are known nationally. I am not asking you to change. But please think of the young ones. Do not sacrifice simple decency on the altar of individual rights of expression.

Sincerely
Fong MC

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Fong forwarded an e-mail to the editor of The Star as well, expressing his hope for the daily 'to scrutinise the contents of blog before allowing the URL to be displayed so prominently on a national newspaper.'

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Dear Fong (and concerned people who have no regards for loose use of expletives),

Not withstanding the fact that the newspaper article clearly stated that,

Minishorts.net is a direct, emotional, sometimes raunchy but always honest and insightful blog about the life and thoughts of a young Malaysian woman and her very wild imagination.

… I do accept the fact that contents in minishorts.net are not suitable for immature minds.

HOWEVER,

I maintain while the popularity (or dispopularity, depending on how you may like to see it) of my site has been boosted by the publication of that article, I also wish to inform you (and other concerned individuals/groups) that the targeted audience of this site has always been the mature crowd.

For your benefit, and to ease the responsibilities of concerned parents, mentors and guardians, I will be putting up a disclaimer (in bold, nothing less) that repeats the published title of this post.

Thank you very much for writing to me.

minishorts @ Claire