Oh shame on you
My good friend and aiya-sailo Vincent boy-boy grew up and wrote a very profound piece of art today. Because I find that mostly I agree with his take on how times have changed, I can personally tell you that what I think of this silly trend to become 'famous' in this blooming sphere.
IF YOU HAVE GOALS TO ATTAIN FAME BY BLOGGING I SUGGEST YOU GO DO SOMETHING MORE WORTHWHILE.
Well, before you can say, 'Of course you don't give a damn about hits, and you don't give a damn about traffic, you're already famous,' I would like to stand corrected. To say that I do not completely give a damn about traffic would be a complete lie. Of course I care, its just that caring about how many people continue to read my blog a day and the kind of people who appreciate my post, and caring about my FAME and POPULARITY in this part of human reality are essentially, two very, very different things.
Now I can tell you how shocked I was when about a week ago, a mail came in my box with this really cute little note that went like this, 'Minishorts-cheh-cheh ah, you know ah, my dream is to become established as a prominent blogger. I know this is ambitious lah, but this is my goal. So hoh, I am writing to ask you to become my teacher like that, si-fu me in this blogging business, can or not? '
Whoa. DEEP. You mean when you blog, you ada goal punya ah? And your goal is to become what? Prominent? And you write to me some more, ask me to become si-fu… cannot cannot. I must find out what 'prominent' means first.
Because my England very powderful, I so crever mah go and ask and see lor, just what this person means by 'prominent.'
Answer from ambitious blogger: A prominent blog to me means a worth-while reading blog. A prominent blogger is one who writes really good entries which most people can relate to and has good networking skills perhaps.
KANASAI whey, got definition some more. Hebat betul. Like this minishorts.net mah very PROMINENT lor… wah kembang-sial.
OK. After laughing my guts out (I'm sorry, but this is pretty fucking hilarious to me… I'll explain in a moment why it is), I proceeded to reply my young padawan with some very opinionated points from my higher pedestal built in the Mighty Zeus's castle in the air, telling this fella to, in simpler terms, don't put ambitions into his blogging. Why?
Because to me you see, to me hah, this is an opinion of mine, so please faham, it is an OPINION, blogging hoh, is A HOBBY. A hobby is something you do in your free time, because you like it. For example, collecting stamps is a hobby, blogging is like collecting stamps. Liddat. And hoh, to me hoh, when you blog hoh, yeah lah you can have a goal to 'improve your quality of writing', but once you have goals to improve your 'kenamaan', your quality of writing will be severely affected and the result is stilted writings which will not gel very well.
Blogging for fame is very much like, collecting stamps with the intention of becoming a world-famous stamp collector. Not that there's anything wrong with this, but I'm sure when people collect stamps, they do not have weird targets like 'By the end of this year, I am going to have collected 1 million stamps and make it into the Malaysian Book of Records.'
I'm pretty sure people who collect stamps do so because they like the stamps, not because they see some already famous stamp collector being revered and celebrated, and they dream of people going up to them and say, 'Hey you know, congratulations you are a famous stamp collector, eh….'
All right, maybe comparing bloggers to stamp-collectors is a bit much. But where I'm standing, the point that blogging is a hobby and a habit, making 'prominence in the blogosphere' a goal to achieve when you start blogging is simply put, rather, pathetic in my not-so-kind vocabulary.
As for achieving prominence, my dear, if you do make it into the A-list bloggers' list, well congratulations, I say it's a bonus. But from my point of view, where blogging is a hobby (since most of you seem to proclaim it so), then I see no reason why a hobby has to have a target achievement for measurement's sake.
Unless of course, its true, you want to be famous. Then I'll say, go ahead, but don't ask me for advice. I do not qualify because I simply do not subscribe to this blogging for fame shit.
In that case, let me, the so-called 'prominent' blogger (actually I not very femes one, you think I'm femes only), give you a quick short cut: take a photo of yourself naked, or a video of yourself washing your private parts, post it, and ping it several times. Or else, if you want to you can you know, write to a femes blogger asking her for advice.
And if she comes back to you with her version of harsh hittings, telling you, 'OMFG YOU USE TWO HOURS TO BLOG A POST THAT COMES ERM, STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART? MY (MORE FAMOUS) FRIENDS AND I AVERAGE ABOUT 30 MINUTES ONLY YOU KNOW (AND WE ARE EVER MORE SO POPULAR),'
–don't lah take it so seriously. At least mail her back and say, 'I'm sorry to be such a bother. Thank you for your time.'
I'd say this, first of all mailing me to tell me your goal to become a famous blogger is quite pathetic… at first I did find your blog nice to read, but after knowing your intentions behind the blog (I BLOG TO BECOME PROMINENT), the blog got really dodgy and your blog has since become terribly irritating to baca. However, I have been affected by external reasons. I can tell you candidly, though, that Lainie pulled my attention to your blog and told me straight, unabridged, 'I am not bothered to read that site. The contents boggle me and give me a headache.'
Oh we're such picky nitwits and we like to choose our favourites you know and obviously, you don't make the cut. I have a feeling its because your writings are stilted by your goals to become a femes blogger and hence your writings stick out as pre-planned, dreamt out of thin air stuff. Oh and and and, your recent method of coupling your posts with word-counts, although admittedly nifty, just makes me think, 'WTF?'
Secondly, if you cannot take humour with a pinch of salt, and lament in the passing thought that perhaps I find you a laughing stock, oh well then go ahead. Actually I didn't think you a laughing stock. I just found the mail hilarious and mind boggling. Tahu lah, I live a sad sad boring life reading boring stuff every day. An occasional surprise in the mail makes me laugh and I always speak from the heart.
Thirdly, there is something called ethics, and when somebody as femes as me replies you with usable methods to employ in your pre-planned journey to blogging fame, I say it is only ethical to reply that mail with at least, 'Thank you.' But oh well, because you're so arrogant, I see no harm in making the existence of your e-mail public. If you want to hit on the traffic that I enjoy here, well please write to me again, and tell me you want to be linked. Or you can be quite creative too, and leave a comment down here saying, 'You bitch, yes that person was me I wanted to be famous.' URL and all. I assure you, that will be your one-day ticket to blog-hero fame, and perhaps fulfil your hopes in seeing the fall of my esteemed highness. Ouch.
Because I believe in protecting the interests of shameless blogebrity wannabes, I'll let my readers (including you) wonder who you are. And nyek nyek nyek you will not be plugged unless you write and beg me to plug you.
Why do I plug other people instead of you, if you may wonder?
See, other people deserve the attention more than you because they are NATURAL bloggers and not wannabes, and these things, you know, you can read from the blog one. And oh, if I may add on to that, yes yes, I am such a petty, elitist bitch, but I'm sure that fact is pretty much established as one of my 'charms'.
Now don't you wish you can wipe me off the face of the earth? 
Related posts:
Lainie: YEAY QUEST
Hunting the Snark: A Question of Ethics
September 20th, 2005 at 10:55 am
Hmm…
September 20th, 2005 at 10:57 am
Vincent boy-boy seems to think that these household pests should be exterminated although he is not quite sure how.
September 20th, 2005 at 11:14 am
aduhai.. i dont even know why i bother to read the last post. im just unlucky to stumble on ur blog. too much lar u..
Nah, lemme correct your good english for you.
September 20th, 2005 at 11:14 am
The flames!! The flames!! Ahhh…I’m burning!! I’m burning!!
Now I’m really glad you were bloody patient with me.
September 20th, 2005 at 11:20 am
Scary man!
I think am running off…
Blogging for fame.. I don’t agree with that phrase. It’s a hobby like what you’ve said. So.. It should be a hobby.
September 20th, 2005 at 11:24 am
i am commenting for fame, COME VISIT MY BLOG kthxbai
September 20th, 2005 at 11:24 am
I think the ‘Blogging for Fame’ Blogger should have gone to Furong Jiejie instead of Minishorts for advice…
September 20th, 2005 at 11:45 am
i blog just because i want random ppl go to me and says ” Hey, aren’t u the blogger guy Kenny that’s not Kenny Sia?? u’re hot! ”
Haiz… hope that it will come true someday~~~
September 20th, 2005 at 11:49 am
*bends over* chooki plug me pulez!
September 20th, 2005 at 11:49 am
I agree with aunty minishorts, there are easier ways to gain fame, and there are a lot of better things to do (maybe not for fame though).
And sometimes, being well-known has it’s bad points as well.
September 20th, 2005 at 11:59 am
The next thing you know, some smartass will open a company and hire bloggers to work for them. Blogging will be a recognized JOB in the future, no more a hobby .
September 20th, 2005 at 12:01 pm
oh rosalind that one is already happening, and i don’t think that’s wrong. actually i’m fine with weird ideas like blogging for fame… but don’t lah write to me for advice. hahaha.
September 20th, 2005 at 12:19 pm
gua mau jadi femes jugak. boleh si-fu gua, kakak mini?
September 20th, 2005 at 12:21 pm
eyeris: lu pigi mati lah … femes buat lawak izzit.
September 20th, 2005 at 1:16 pm
Holy shit, fire came out of my laptop screen when I opened your site…hahahha
September 20th, 2005 at 1:39 pm
Blog and be femes for what?
Bodoh punya monyet.
September 20th, 2005 at 1:46 pm
Mahu jadi prominent? Sounds like someone I know.
For wat leh, later got pressure if colleague buka blog and read. I blog because I like to get in touch with my very own inner bitch.
Everytime outside smile smile at people pretend no rage inside can drive one insane.
September 20th, 2005 at 1:53 pm
On second thoughts, I will comment again just for the heck of it.
September 20th, 2005 at 2:01 pm
Respect in any field is something earned, not handed out like some meat tray raffle win!
If they want to be famous, then it is possible. Just need to create a product and then market it correctly.
You can pay companies to increase your blog traffic … but at the end of the day, if the quality isn’t there (product problem), or you are blogging about something no one is interested in (poor positioning of product, or wrong product), then the audience will not stay.
I’ve said it before (and I’ll say it again), blog about what you want to write/read, and the audience will build itself. People with common interests will come read the blog (I know a lot of my metaphysical/psychobabble/philosophical stuff loses people … still, I write about it, because I like to think about it, and I know some people don’t mind reading, thinking and reflecting … but, it is rather eclectic stuff. Explains why I only get 20 to 30 hits a day - but I do get some very thoughtful comments).
A solid loyal audience is better than fly-by-night passing by hordes of fanciful readers who will leave once they find the next Blog du jour.
Why a need for fame? Is something missing in their life that they cannot be fulfilled just through self expression?
Fame is an evil mistress. A lot of people think they want it, but what is it really? You make a mistake and everyone knows about it. (Russell Crowe, put that phone down!) You get followed in the streets by paparazzi who don’t think of you as a human being (and neither do a lot fo fans). You are a piece of meat who belongs to anyone who wants a bite!
People who want to be famous are idiots (in my not so humble opinion) … but of course, I do have a problem with the Sanguines of this universe.
Anyway, I could go on and on some more, but I am using up Minishorts valuable space. (My aplogies once again for writing so much Minishorts).
September 20th, 2005 at 2:02 pm
no no dabido… i think you’ve hit the spot.
September 20th, 2005 at 2:10 pm
hm hm… what fame got to do with blogs? blogs are just a wonderful piece of art, a piece of of the blogger themselves. its a way to express idea and things that came to bloggers mind.. i enjoyed minishorts blog due to this! the things that she post and write due entice me to blog but too bad i’m not a good expressor myself.
September 20th, 2005 at 2:26 pm
hehe..simple.. just plagiarize minishortsnet like someone did not so long ago and you get hundreds of comments on your blog.
or..write something seditious and end in court and have your face plastered all over the newspapers.
September 20th, 2005 at 2:35 pm
yeah…weird that people are blogging for fame now. and asking for advice! that takes the cake…
and i agree with dabido…”blog about what you want to write/read, and the audience will build itself.” i’m sure none of the now-”famous” bloggers really expected to be famous.
here’s to blogging the way you want to!
September 20th, 2005 at 2:37 pm
lishun: you’ll be surprised to know who the person is.
September 20th, 2005 at 2:52 pm
holy…have you ever read his FAQs about him page? I was laughing till I realised he’s….serious? Like….REALLY serious?
Who’s been asking those questions anyway?
September 20th, 2005 at 3:12 pm
it’s me. come visit me! come now! donch miss out.
whack you then you know. no its not jimmy. jimmy’s a darling.
September 20th, 2005 at 3:21 pm
huh?!
September 20th, 2005 at 3:29 pm
i’m sure u are very much aware that many aspire to be like u and would do anything to acquire such style when it comes to blogging
September 20th, 2005 at 3:54 pm
Hey, i heard from my china friends there’s a Furong Di Di now. And a ‘Qu Hua’ (chrysanthemum?) Jie Jie too.
September 20th, 2005 at 4:29 pm
Who’s this blogger that minishorts and lainie mentioned? >_
September 20th, 2005 at 5:09 pm
hm… im pretty sure not everybody blogs for the glamour, but i guess now that it’s considered ‘cool’ to have a blog, some begin to see it as a popularity contest of sorts? especially since, unlike most other hobbies, blogs can be (and are meant to be) read by other people. probably coz everyone’s a busybody deep down.. hehe.
for me, i did it mostly to keep in touch with friends and family during my internship, and making new friends from the blogosphere was just icing on that cake.
September 20th, 2005 at 5:35 pm
Fill in the following blank with Yes or No -
a) ______ I don’t have a BRAIN.
Who said English is easy?
September 20th, 2005 at 5:53 pm
Walau wei…I go off for a few hours and there is 32 comments…on this?
Deary me. I wonder if he knows.
September 20th, 2005 at 6:04 pm
My my..thought this was gonna be a one-liner but i nearly spat out my big mac dinner when i read your posting.
Well, i dunno about being famous but the person who asked you for advice, minishorts, certainly is INfamous now…
September 20th, 2005 at 6:49 pm
haha…and I thought bloggers were desperate to become more anonymous these days with people being sued and all
September 20th, 2005 at 6:52 pm
Veli long leh, so long tat my head spins!
Anyway, I do see that what you are trying to point out.
Bwaha! I want people to read and comment my posts too but then that’s just because I want my stuff to be appreciated that’s all. For fame or to be come a star of blogging? WTF? Better go for audition and become Malaysian Idol lar, lagi senang! cannot sing? nevermind. Can imitate william hung mar! Cannot imitate william hung? Also nevermind. Just slapped one of the judges on his face, sure make headline. Okay lar maybe not headline but sure at least somewhere in the newspaper.
September 20th, 2005 at 7:09 pm
Minishorts cheh-cheh. Yes I must admit that blogging is quite a hobby, but then I do wish to become a good blogger since I like to write and it will show me how good I am. And also just a little ego problem
September 20th, 2005 at 7:23 pm
cis… there goes my one day of fame….
September 20th, 2005 at 8:54 pm
wah, minishorts … I want to call you cheh cheh but I think I’m way older than you…
I must admit that I’m SO curious to know and read the blog which you mentioned but I just realise you’re not only ‘femes’, you’re also quite ‘ganas’ la …
I can’t really take blogging seriously cause I don’t have the time to spare … as you and most avid bloggers can attest to, blogging takes a lot of time to spare .. but maybe you should spare a thought to this poor chap. He just probably doesn’t know the ‘rules’ yet … and I’m sure he probably wants to be a good blogger but doesn’t know how.
Dunno la … just my 2 sen .. I haven’t read his blog yet ..
September 20th, 2005 at 9:26 pm
erm, juz wanna clarify my previous comment though:
IMHO, there is nothing wrong with him (yes it was obvious -who- from the start la) wanting to be femes through blogging. it’s his blog, his life, his choice mah. if we don’t agree with his thinking then just wish him luck and leave him be. (IMHO, ok?)
and there is nothing wrong with minishorts blogging the way she sees it, because it’s her thoughts and she ady said blogging is her life mah, so she’s naturally quite protective of blogging and what it means to her (and whatever else happens in this bog-o-spir).
bah humbug.
September 20th, 2005 at 9:49 pm
aiya totoro …
there’s such a thing as being too serious. I’m not saying that she can’t write whatever she feels like blogging, I’m also trying to bait minishorts into telling me the site la ….
cheh .. rosak plan ……
….. ok, ok, I KPC … so flame me.
September 20th, 2005 at 11:14 pm
what comes to mind is something like:
“When I grow up, I wanna be like Jeff Ooi!”
September 21st, 2005 at 12:10 am
OK. I give up. It’s me … (sob)
September 21st, 2005 at 12:12 am
Eh. Lazy to email. I know you will love this one Claire.
(oh Mack, friends are friends but fuck with the links already, please?)
September 21st, 2005 at 12:16 am
Jeff Ooi…a Malaysian ‘institution’, not self interest, but 0ther-interest!
September 21st, 2005 at 12:18 am
*applause* Good post.
Having written something similar, I agree 100%. To me, bloggers who do it for fame seems like they’re abusing the facility. Seems not exactly right somehow.
But that’s just me.
September 21st, 2005 at 12:29 am
oic…don’t think things r that bad
September 21st, 2005 at 12:37 am
[...] [QUOTE] Funny, for a week now I’ve been contemplating on why bloggers blog and suddenly Minishorts comes up with this post. Kebetulan betul. I decided I should blog about this too since I’ve been thinking quite some time about this. [...]
September 21st, 2005 at 1:01 am
minishorts: *raises eyebrows* oh my gawd i must be the most lembap one here la…
September 21st, 2005 at 1:34 am
Well, generally blogging for fame might be wrong so to speak but then again it’s up to that person itself. If it’s his/her wish then why not?
A person may want to be prominent and if that is his ambition then everyone should support him/her. I mean, do not judge or critise because it hurts. You may not know what it’s like being critisiced by so many people but still why not give that person a chance to explain him/herself why he/she wants to be a prominent blogger?
In life people need support and just a lil bit of support will help that person you know..
*sigh*
IMHO alright? Just my POVs.
September 21st, 2005 at 1:45 am
ah well, why dun u have anythin else to write in yer blog? must bitch bout other bloggers? as u said ,…its just yer hobby i guess. anyways appreciate yer hobby, but its pointless. well most blogs are pointless anyways. n yours sadly too……write somethin else interestin…somethin spicy rant and bitch bout somethin else k….good doggy….oops..i mean good girl.
September 21st, 2005 at 2:16 am
I’d like to point out to the general public that your post is not a critic. This is an angry rant. Rants are often incoherent & don’t necessarily have a point, or provide educational value to the reader. Actually, this wasn’t even really worth reading.
Woooohoo here’s a rant for you. . .
I don’t care if you get a thank you. I hope you apologize and delete this post. Oh wait! Better yet, this is such a masterful rant why don’t you print it out and post it on your little wall?
Is it any wonder that so many are drawn to this post? You are such a hypocrite and scream fame all over. Heck, I admire you. It takes quite the deceit to draw readers in like this and claim you’re not about fame, and that others write for fame and they suck.
I think I’ll go laugh now.
September 21st, 2005 at 2:48 am
Hi minishorts,
An interesting article that made me think it more of a lashing session aimed out at someone. I’m new to blogging to be honest and I cater not to all the blogs but only to those that interests me.
By far, I’ve read interesting articles by other bloggers. Good articles written reveals insight and maturity in his/her thinking. I understand from your article that the issue was one of fame. Fame can be looked upon on two grounds. One is to impress the people, the other is to impress people with substance.
For an example, Donald Trump is a guy I really admire not because of his wealth (there are plenty of others like George Soros, Warren Buffett, Abramovich, etc) or the way he flashes his wealth, but seriously, he made a great comeback from being a bankrupt in the early 1990s. He persevered. Fame thus is relatively a subjective matter. To me, D. Trump’s fame is in his art of comeback and the way he deals real estate business. To others, it may be the way he flashes his $$ around and that he is rich.
What’s wrong with being famous? Nothing. If there is one thing I learnt from Donald Trump’s The Art of Getting Rich, blow your own trumpet. But here is a word of wisdom. Make sure your barrels aren’t empty. In other words, whatever you do, make sure you have substance.
I wonder if the person who asked you to be his/her mentor or sifu, deserved the lashing that I felt your article ‘radiates’ overwhelmingly. The fact that he/she looked up upon you should not foster your own ego but be humble. For the last shall be first and first shall be last.
If you have no wisdom or advise to pass along to the person who asked of you that, then just politely decline. What benefit does one get from such lashing I just read?
Anyway, this is my view and, though I congratulate you for having a good degree of traffic. I do wonder however on the quality of your readers for seriously, your english needs to be corrected.
Its up to you on how you are to take my advise. Its not malicious nor any harm intended. If you know what’s best, you would take my advise. However, its your choice and I can’t make that choice for you.
Take care and good luck.:grin:
September 21st, 2005 at 7:33 am
What a lot of people don’t understand is that it is one thing to start a blog and happen to get famous because of it….and it’s a totally different thing writting a blog and saying ‘I WANT TO BE FAMOUS’
September 21st, 2005 at 8:42 am
Well, that person did say that prominent meant better quality posts, relevant entries and networking skills (meaning you develop friendships). Where the hell does it say “I WANT TO BE FAMOUS”?!??? How did you ever equate good writing skills, relevant entries and networking abilities to the words “I WANT TO BE FAMOUS!”? Bear in mind that that was what YOU thought and not what he meant.
*sighs*
I think it’s great that the particular person has ambitions - in whatever they do, be it a hobby or at their job - which is more than I can say for a lot of other people out there.
Here we have a whole bunch of posts commenting on how blogs have turned into rubbish over the short span of time, how blogs are lacking in quality and when someone asks YOU - a prominent blogger in M’sia (for whatever reasons) - for help, guidance, even assistance maybe, they get butchered for their ambitions.
Stroking the ego business goes both ways. And yes, I find this post both humourous and sad.
September 21st, 2005 at 9:04 am
Mei: i didn’t say it’s that person also. Any mention of a name?
Anyway a lot of ppl seem to want a piece of this ‘fame’ shit… now can you take the flames too?
That’s the mark of fame, in the making. Apparently, not many people can handle it.
September 21st, 2005 at 9:37 am
Tsk tsk. Teruknye you.
But yeah…you do have a point.
I remember getting flamed once - until my comment box letup. Now smart a bit and keep quiet. And I’m not even femes.
September 21st, 2005 at 10:04 am
You know, I’d just give you and the other guy switchblades and leave you two on a parking lot somewhere in Kajang to work out your differences.
September 21st, 2005 at 10:08 am
Huh…fame for what, can eat ar, got gold ar? Childish…
September 21st, 2005 at 10:12 am
Aiyah…this MS really got problem one lar, read this femes post then you’ll know lor.
(tsk tsk, no link policy)
Normally i don’t give a cow shit to these kind of childish fight but i just hope that guy won’t get “offended” whatsoever…
Shame on you. Go eat your fame and become rich la, so what?
September 21st, 2005 at 10:28 am
kahsoon: i’m sure your support will be very appreciated. naturally you are more prominent than me.
September 21st, 2005 at 10:31 am
Childish? Childish is holding a grudge even after half a year or so.
September 21st, 2005 at 11:18 am
i thought childish is give up to your impulse and go buy TORA or DING DANG at 7 Eleven and having the cashier there giving u that “Are you for real?” look…
which is.. what i actually did.. heehehehe:oops:
September 21st, 2005 at 11:24 am
Awwww…..MS.
I kinda agree with Vic (#53) and what Mei mentioned. Despite it all, weren’t you even a BIT flattered that someone looked up to you for support? I didn’t think it was wrong and I think this answer of yours has most probably ‘killed’ him. Yes, being able to handle flaming is part & parcel of being a prominent blogger but still, I really think you’re being too harsh.
September 21st, 2005 at 12:41 pm
Most bloggers I know blog just for the fun of it. However, I guess there is a narcissist in all of us otherwise we won’t make our blogs public. Right? Actually I guess the question the guy asked is quite interesting. What makes some blogs more prominant than the others? Is it controversy or intereting topics or images?
September 21st, 2005 at 7:27 pm
btw, what’s wrong with word-counts? Aizuddin Danian also has that in his belog… blek.
September 21st, 2005 at 10:59 pm
what’s a blog? how do u define a blog? well there may be pretty standard answers out there that gives you a pretty rough overview as to what it is. but to really pinpoint a specific definition… think it’s impossible. try asking different bloggers what their definitions of blogs are… u’ll be surprised with the variation of answers given. really, different ppl blog for diff reasons and i personally believe that whatever the reasons, so long as the writer is comfortable with it and is ready to face the consequences (in whatever form), so be it.
btw, minishorts - i’m new to this site but have been following your topics for nearly… er… a month i think (since the copycat incident). i like your entries, for they are so real and truthful (not to mention, daring too). keep it up!
September 22nd, 2005 at 12:08 pm
IMHO, blogging should be fun!
I don’t really like to make posts about how and why people should blog, simply because I’ve always felt that it is not my place to tell newbies how and what to do with their stuff. Recent events and conversations with heaps of other people…