WHY I DO IT DIRTY
20.11.11 / Emaratist / 5 Comments
For your record this post was submitted and published – Nov 19th pm time , on thinkup.ae as a contribution piece .. now you can read!
When it comes down to writing I do really suck at it. I don’t claim to be a Harper Lee or J Rowling, but I do have this magical stick that is so good at pressing people’s buttons, and that is exactly why I’ve decided to blog. I do it in a very authentic subtle way and blog my heart out to crack this spark and form a connection with everything and everyone Arab from all classes, faiths and colors.
I have strong thoughts and opinions about things that matter to others and me. Sometimes I wish if I have the ability to shut up and drive. I sincerely find it so difficult to keep my thoughts locked. How can anyone promote mind slavery? Triggering, pushing, disturbing or making someone happy through my lines is better than adding nothing on the table. I don’t blog for the sake of blogging, I blog to minimize the gap, the current gap in the Emarati or Arab blogging world.
Unfortunately, majority of people in the Arab region don’t feel comfortable hearing what others have to say about issues or sometimes anything or them. When they disagree with you, they misinterpret your lines and accuse you of weird things. Well they say I preach hate. In reality all I do is communicate.
For me blogging means setting my spirit free. The moment I start typing I intentionally disconnect from my fears, worries and any holdbacks. I make sure to stay true to my views regardless of what others might think of me or happen. My goal is to press buttons and interact with readers who might relate to the topic in any way possible.
The current Emarati blogging world is more like a diary type of thing. I honestly hate most of what I see. No disrespect! Who wants to read bedtime stories anyways? If you do it right, blogging is a powerful tool that can easily beat up any well-established local newspaper. I can’t deny newspapers give you a great reach, but there are many restrictions in terms of beefy content. We all know that 99.9% of available Arab media venues filter content. Such a filtration issue restricts freedom of speech and creativity. You can’t jail or semi jail freedom or speech.
Bloggers are their own bosses and that’s exactly why by time blogging will be taking over many traditional means. In countries around the world you’ll find bloggers quitting their corporate jobs and giving their 100% to just blogging. There are many successful cases and I wish that one day we’ll witness such cases in the Arab world and my home country the UAE.
Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, I’m getting somehow a naughty reputation among social media users. I’m glad that I’m being somehow recognized as a hardcore female blogger who is taking the Emarati blogging to a whole different level. Believe it or not, I’ve received admiration notes and hate notes, all sorts of notes. I have even received invitations to participate in researches and focus groups around social media and more.
Here is one funnily sad incident, once someone random got all over me and called to shut down my blog. I wasn’t bothered because at that very moment I knew that I’m doing something right.
Just to confirm, I will not quit blogging, I will not quit my style and I will continue being authentic. I do it dirty but at the least keeping it real, so give me some credit!
Many thanks for the Think Up GCC team. I mean they’ve published my piece …
Think Up, always up!
HI Aliya, i am establishing a debate club in my uni I will be VERY VERY honored if you will be my guest and do some “pressing people’s buttons” in your free time. Please tell me when it will be the right time to you coz we are thirst to minds like you. Waiting for ur response.
Hey drop your email .. alia@emaratist.com
Beautiful
True that most blogs are bedtime stories hehehe… but i bet you these guys won’t even understand what you wrote..
ah… oh well.
Another great post.
Dirty or not there is only one way that is ”keep it real” and u have been doing an outstanding job at that , so who cares about haters and ” wanna be’s ” we (readers ) can tell who is gold and who is a shiny copper ! And hell yeah u r a golden talent hands down !