In KL yesterday I actually taught a seminar on writing copy for the Internet, and I included a few slides on blogs. I was amazed to learn that Malaysians have no idea what blogs are; these were all communications professionals, and none of the 40 attendees had ever heard the word “blog.”
This may have been a big mistake, but I told them the most popular Asian blog was The Gweilo Diaries, and I wrote the url on the whiteboard as everyone in the room giggled at the name. (I only hope on the day they check the site out, Conrad isn’t posting about how his latest Asian femme fatale has messed up his bedlinens again.) In retrospect, this was probably a mistake and I should have sent them to Flying Chair.
I also encouraged them to start their own blogs. But they seemed utterly mystified as I tried to explain to them how interesting and fun blogging is.
1
By csiagian
I enjoy your blog! Will be coming back more often. (Came via Gweilo)
And umm, speaking as a Malaysian who however is not currently in Malaysia – there are quite a few of us who do blog.
September 18, 2003 @ 10:10 pm | Comment
2
By Conrad
Thanks for the plug. No need to concern yourself about femme fatales now that I’m gay.
September 19, 2003 @ 3:41 am | Comment
3
By idle
There are quite a few Malaysian bloggers, but just like Singapore, most of them are in their teens.
September 19, 2003 @ 9:43 am | Comment
4
By richard
Idle, I suspect it’s true — the Singapore bloggers seem to be mainly teenage girls writing about stuff they did that day. That’s totally legitimate, but it’s a far cry from what blogging is in the US. I can’t imagine these teenage girl bloggers managing to get their senate majority leader to resign, for example.
Conrad, glad to hear you’re accepting yourself. I realize what you are going through right now must be tough as you struggle with your sexual awakening, but hang in there. Somewhere Mr. Right is waiting fror you. (Those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about need to go here.)
September 19, 2003 @ 10:05 am | Comment
5
By cheayee
tell me about it…
no one i know is interested to read a blog about teachers?
talk about boring them to tears…
September 15, 2005 @ 10:07 am | Comment