Bloggers now NOT required to register

Sigh… Can someone tell me who is really running the country? Are our representatives shooting their mouths off without basis or having considered all the facts, or is it a case of “good cop-bad cop”? One guy causes an outcry with some stupid hare-brained scheme and another comes in to sooth ruffled feathers so we’d all troop off valiantly to the ballot boxes to vote in more of the former?

On April 5 2007 the headlines of the Star screamed that Bloggers may have to register  This statement was made by none other than Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor. Coming from someone of his position, you bet that everyone would take it seriously!

Today, 9 April 2007, I read on Bernama that there is “No Plan To Compel Bloggers To Register, Says Abdullah” (It wont’ let me link to the article so just go to Bernama and do a search for “blogger”)

You know, I’d have thought that a decision or suggestion as profound as that of wanting bloggers to register would have been discussed by the relevant Ministry between the relevant Minister and his Deputy and their various kuncu-kuncu aka gofers (as in go-fer a coffee, go-fer kuih break) If important enough, I’d have expected it to have been discussed with the high-ups in particular, the Prime Minister. I’m sure everyone knew what an outcry this sort of announcement would cause. Yet, they let it happen.

If I were the Deputy Minister in question, I’d be pretty concerned if the No. 1 man has just poured cold water on what I thought was a brilliant solution to a nagging problem. The man had 4 days to bask in the limelight and attention while blogs all over the nation criticized his statement and repeated his name over and over like some mantra.

But now, he just looks kinda silly. Imagine if you will, someone who thought it might be fun to rip off a lampshade and dance around at a party with it on his head. At first, its funny. As it goes on, it gets silly, and then, it just becomes pathetic. Well, I think he just hit Level 3 there. Your 15 seconds of fame is up, man!

You know, if the man would just get himself a blog, he might find that this sort of publicity is actually good, for it is exactly what he needs to boost his blog rankings, as every SEO guru will tell you. Everyone criticizing him would be sure to link to him somewhere in their posts! That would boost his Google PR, technorati rankings and whatever else ranking he needs so he can secretly earn USD writing paid posts! Perfect SEO situation I tell you!

Who said there’s nothing to learn from blogging?