Op-Ed: Some sass | Editorial – The Manila Standard

But we find it’s an inconvenience we can live with. It does not happen every day, anyway, and it shows that leaders of nations can still put their heads together and explore solutions—hopefully beyond diplomatic niceties—to issues hounding their constituents.

It was not until Monday that we were reminded of what “deplorable” truly meant. It took the form of a confrontation in the sidelines of the summit in Pasay City.

Fancying herself a major personality on social media, a woman had the cheek to confront a journalist from the British Broadcasting Corp. because she was not featured in its show while her rival was.

The “major” blogger told BBC’s Jonathan Head, wagging her finger:

“Can you tell me how is it possible that Jover Laurio, a very minor blogger in the Philippines was featured  by the BBC in order to defend herself…but not someone like me whose social media following is way way higher than her, whose Facebook  engagement is way way higher than her and who you had even interacted on Facebook?”

She also dabbed her eye with tissue to show she was hurting at BBC’s treatment of her.

The confrontational blogger also said the international news media only relied on the “lies” peddled by mainstream media.

Meanwhile, another blogger who had the sheer good fortune to be handpicked as assistant secretary for communication, looked on.

This blogger’s sense of entitlement is astounding. That she obsessed about being featured on the show betrays her desperation to be taken seriously. What arrogance to boost her stock by calling others minor. What folly to equate the number of following to legitimacy.

Last we looked, the word “blogger” was supposed to have a neutral ring to it, referring to writers who published their thoughts on anything from foreign policy to the different brands of makeup or nail polish. For good or bad, they were free from the trappings of being part of traditional media.

These days, however, blogging has been associated with blind devotion, mob mentality, irrational arguments— and the digital equivalent of the clanging of a hollow drum.

The number of followers is immaterial to whether a media—social or traditional—personality is legitimate. What the message is, and how it is delivered, count for much more than the warm bodies and trolls combined who make up their “fan base.”

Courtesy:  Manila Standard | posted November 14, 2017 at 12:10 am
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