Not only the youths are blogging..

After browsing through website in relation to blogging in Malaysia, I realised that it is not only youths that are blogging. People from the government, politicians, teachers, mothers, celebrities, businessmen, doctors and more owns a blog.

Blogs are online journals or bulletins where people post entries on topics that interest them. They offer links to other websites and blogs, photos and opportunities for readers to comment on issues or communicate with others.

A research exercise conducted by Microsoft’s MSN and Windows’ Live Online late last year showed that most Asians blog to express themselves as well as share their lives with their family and friends.

The research findings, published in Blogging Asia: A Windows Live Report, were based on an online survey of more than 25,000 MSN portal visitors across seven markets.

The report also showed that the Asian blogspace is fuelled by youth under 25 (56%), while those aged between 25 and 35 make up 35% of the total. Only 9% of Asian bloggers are over 35 – it is anyone’s guess what percentage of this comprises senior citizens.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/5/7/lifefocus/17471449&sec=lifefocus viewed on 20th may 2007

From there I begin thinking that if adults spend time on maintaining their blog, how much time would they have to top up to their work time which results to limited time for family and friends. It seems to be like people have selected blogging as the alternative of communication these days. Being online does not necessarily mean that they are only communicating with friends or family. It could be strangers whose identity are not confirmed and they grew to be closer online just by chatting and some may lead to a date.

Results of Survey - Malaysia

The outcome of my survey that I did with my friends from Malaysia was interesting. The results shows that 100% of them prefer chatting on msn with friends because it is free, effective, saves time and is convenient. When asked upon why they use blog as a tool of communication their response was because it is easier to show images that they found interesting or maybe just photographs they took which they feel like sharing and their thoughts at that very moment that they feel like sharing. It the fastest way to get it out to people because how often could we meet in a week if we are s busy with assignments. Even though they spent quite some time in front of the computer (working on assignments and browsing around the internet, reading friend’s blog and etc), they do not think that it is affecting their relationship with their parents to distant. As most of them are studying abroad, they still communicate with their parents through phone occasionally although 60% of their parents do not know how to use a computer. As for me, my parents have msn and sometimes, we do communicate on Skype for we still talk like how we do on the phone and it saves so much money. Furthermore, they all disagree that there is a communication block by technology and in fact, it is helping us in communication.
I personally feel that if you really want to communicate with someone, it can happen no matter under what circumstances. It is the initiative that one takes to improve or strengthen the relationship between them. When I miss my parents, I just pick up the phone and dial their number regardless of where I am.

Let that aside, through the frequent chatting and blogging, there a certain language developed in ourselves which I reckon do not benefit us in practicing proper and fluent English. We create our own short abbreviation for long words and used it so widely that sometimes we might accidentally use it for work.

posted by: cyndi