I read a kind comment-cum-advice by an ex-scholar of PETRONAS to remind me that the senior executives do not take criticisms well and that I should be careful about what I write. This prompted me to think back about what I have written in my blog over the past four years, and to think back about the reason I started out this small space for me.
When I think back of my early blogging days, I was far more outspoken than I am now, very opinionated and sometimes rash with my selection of words, too. However, now the argumentative side of me seems to have somewhat simmered down, and I don’t always start to tackle on current issues as much as I do in my early blogging years.
Besides being a platform for me to express my opinions, this blog has been the channel for me to express my disappointment, frustration, happiness, satisfaction, etc. Being the only child of the family, it is actually hard to live with such minimal communication. Because of such a wide age gap between my parents and I, it is sometimes difficult to communicate with them as well. I need a platform where I can voice my concerns and issues freely in order to let myself out, and even perhaps to maintain my sanity.
Of course, my concerns and issues are mainly in the form of criticisms due to inconveniences which I find unnecessary and uncalled for. No doubt I have readers who come from various backgrounds and different parties, and some of them might take offence at what I wrote. However, my criticisms were never meant to tear down the dignity of any individual or corporation; my criticisms were never meant to defame. On the other hand, my criticisms were meant to air my concerns and to provide an insight from my perspective that other parties may fail to observe. As such, criticisms should be viewed as a form of valuable feedback.
It would be wonderful to see that people who came across my criticisms would then take measures to improve the situation and to right the wrongs. For this, I would sincerely thank them and congratulate them in their efforts to provide a better environment, better services, more hospitality, etc. It’s not the end-result that counts, but rather the genuine effort.
Nevertheless, it is understood that some people take criticisms rather hard and negatively. These people may be convicted that what they are doing or thinking is right and they see no reason for people like me to bombard them with criticisms which they do not welcome. There is nothing wrong being convicted that they are in the right. By all means, they could always justify themselves and if I am wrong, I could always admit that I am wrong. After all, it’s all part of the learning process. To adopt a “I’m always right” kind of attitude would often shut an individual off from opportunities to improve themselves. Sometimes, even being too complacent with the status quo may not be a good thing, too.
I always try to see things from two sides, both good and bad. But it is not often that the good balances with the bad, and there are always cases where one outweighs the other. In this way, I try to provide a more balanced account of my observations to avoid biasness. I don’t profess to be absolutely unbiased, but I’ll try my best.
Being a seasoned blogger myself, I have come to know the difficulties of being a blogger and the risks that I am running. No doubt, I’m living in a society where so many things are considered taboo. However, we really must break out of our own shells to see the wide world beyond them.
I couldn’t have imagined how my life would have been like without a blog. I would have probably had chronic depression lasting for years, or I could have lost my sanity. This blog has been my virtual company in which I can air my grouses freely and at the same time provide some useful feedback as well as writing about some memorable moments.
Let it be known that my intentions are pure and I have no intentions to harm anyone. My opinions are sincere and this is my train of thought. You can choose to disagree with me or differ opinions, but at the end of the day it’s the personal conviction that matters.
My four years of journeying the cyberspace have been fruitful. I am glad that I have since kept the passion to blog and I am also immensely happy that I am still earnest to write.
This is my little corner which keeps me alive. It’s just this little corner that I ask for.
Henry Yew
Dear Henry,
You are indeed tactful and diplomatic in your choice of words. Indeed a blog is meant to be personal and not meant to hurt anyones feelings. In fact, i wonder how do some people take offence over something absolutely minute (at least in my opinion). Nevertheless, they do.
I can’t agree more on the fact that “we really must break out of our own shells to see the wide world beyond them”. That is why the sincere reminder – not to remind you not to write anymore, but remind you the presence of nonsensical creatures in this world. But then again, i suppose you are well-verse in dealing with these kind of people.
Stay hungry – stay foolish.
regards, K
Hello Kam,
It’s great to have people like you to remind people to be tactful and careful with their words.
Yes, it’s true that we need to be constantly aware of the “nonsensical creatures” in this world. As they are nonsensical, you don’t expect them to talk sense when something goes wrong, do you?
Obviously not!