Blogger Indonesia of the Week (80): Rob Baiton

Frankly speaking, I dislike anonymous blogger or ghost blogger as I prefer to call it, particularly those who blog/write on such sensitive issues as politics and religion. Speaking of the latter topic without giving a clear name and identity, to me, does not represent a good intention, and thus credibility. A writer or a blogger who rigorously writes on those issues while hiding one’s true identity and name –such as the one behind indonesiamatters.com deserves our suspicion of having a hidden agenda. Specially when one is critical to certain religion while generously flattering or defending another most of the time.

I also notice that many foreign expatriates who blog on Indonesia tend to hide their identify or go pseudonymous. It’s of course their rights to do so as far as, as mentioned above, the themes they are talking about are not about certain sensitive issues. Unless they’re the ones who don’t care to keep their personal credibility and the credibility of their writings intact, being anonymous in writing such issues is a folly. Despite I highly appreciate those who are critical to themselves– like Juan Cole– I regard as far as writing, self-critical is the highest virtue; I still am able to find the way to appreciate those extreme right-wingers who talk rubbish all the time against others like Daniel Pipes (danielpipes.com)– who are vehemently anti-Arab, anti-Islam and Muslims and praises himself and the world he represents to the hill– for his gut to show his face. We may agree or disagree on something, but let’s do it on eye-to-eye basis. On blogging term, let’s not be anonyomus. That’s what a real man should do.

In short, what I would like to say is this: anonymous blogger is a coward. Sadly most foreign exparts in Indonesia are anonymous blogger. Rob Baiton, an expat in Indonesia for 15 years, therefore is a few exception. Go to his blog right away, and you will find out why.

Further Reading:

Why Ghost Blogger

Why Ghost / Pseudonymous Blogger (2)

Anonymity and Credibility

Scientific and Credible Blogger

Why They Blog Anonymously and We Do Not

Being Critical within and without

List of previous Blogger Indonesia of the Week and requirements to get reviewed

This entry was posted on February 12, 2008 at February 12, 2008 and is filed under Blogger Indonesia, Blogger of Week. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

sufehmi
March 7, 2008 at 12:30 am

One more thing – you complained about “xenophobia” / “us-them” on Ong’s email (see http://www.jakchat.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/62291).

However, your “Orient” comment (among others) is so much more offensive that Ong’s “observer” email. Especially since Ong put himself in that observer category.

You need to fix your attitude.

Well, some bloggers have attitudes too, ryosaeba.wordpress.com for example. But he’s consistent and he doesn’t take offense as easily as you. And he doesn’t mix his rationale with his emotions.

Rob
March 24, 2008 at 1:27 am

When it is all said and done this is Mas Fatih’s blog and he can write and do whatever he wants within reason (reason in this case being compliant with the prevailing laws and regulations of the Republic of Indonesia).

The fact that he may have used the blogger of the week entry to jump on a soap box and make points about anonymous blogging, is once again a case of his blog, his right. My stats would suggest that at least sum of you fine readers swung by to check my blog out, some stayed and commented and some disppeared as quickly as they arrived!

I do not give the proverbial rat’s arse whether you blog anonymously or not. It does not matter. If you feel that you can only give more credence to what is said by someone who posts under their own name, so be it! Do not underestimate our reading public, the vast majority are much more discerning than blindly accepting what is written as the truth!

With respect to stereotyping. Stereotyping just clouds the real issues that we confront daily and detracts from reasoned argument. It is better we confront stereotypes and those that make them with a view to breaking them down and exposing them for what they are. But I am not going to engage in petty name calling or anything else.

You want to pick me on the colour of my skin rather than the content of my arguments, then you should expect to get as good as you give when I point out the narrowness of your arguments.

But the comments have digressed from the original point of Mas Fatih’s original post, which was highlighting my excellent musings as blogger of the week!

Cheers,

Rob

badot
March 27, 2008 at 7:56 am

woow, pengen kaya gitu, kemauannya gede banget

Alex Gunawan
April 22, 2008 at 10:48 am

Woow cita2 yang amat bagus

» On Anonymous Bloggers (2) Finally Woken
September 17, 2008 at 1:05 am

[...] a big hoo-ha a while a go when Fatih raised an old issue about anonymous blogging. He particularly dislikes those who blog anonymously on sensitive issues, like politics or religions, and suspect tha…. Fatih’s post generated ripostes and comments from expats in [...]

Masenchipz
October 25, 2008 at 11:08 am

Rob baiton? ehm?

Stop Dreaming
July 1, 2009 at 3:15 am

Look forward to reading more from you in the future. Join us in Facebook page and disscuss more. It is all about stop dreaming and start action.

Blogger Indonesia of the Week (92): Alia Makki
July 28, 2009 at 2:51 am

[...] Why True Identity is Important [...]

Listiani Lestari
August 15, 2009 at 2:53 am

Indonesia, turned Islam into an arena of terror and blood-shed.

I cry, to watch Indonesian young men being used to bomb themselves and their homeland.

Islam is a religion of fear and terror. A diabolic institution based mainly on hatred towards any living creature.

Islam sends innocent Indonesians to their death.Giving the impression they are Human-Islam-Message-Bombs. Facts, shows that the device is cellphone activated.

After Islam murders the innocent they glorify then as heroes in Islam Martyrs.

And no one seems to care about this suffering Nation

My name is Listiani Lestari id:530971312.Born Islam in Tebet Timur Dalam.

I have worked my way out of Indonesia. Nowadays, I am living the rest of my life in Switzerland.I have
no intention what so ever in returning back to Jakarta where respect,honesty and human dignity are unknown.