The Pakistani Spectator

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

I write about public involvement in decision making. This is actually takes in quite a wide range of different issues, from the tension between different modes of governance and electoral systems to how individuals collaborate on decision making in their own communities, both locally and online. I blog here.

    Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

I think everyone learns as they write more frequently - it forces you to order your thoughts in a structured format and to try and imagine how others might understand your meaning. Having said that, I feel that the most important thing is to get out from behind the keyboard and monitor and to speak with a whole range of different people to gain inspiration whenever possible. That’s where you find opportunities to grow as an individual and as a member of several wider communities.

    I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

My favourite recent post was an interview with an Obama supporter on London bridge - I took a quick photo of him with my camera phone and it came out so well - really capturing the enthusiasm and spirit of the moment. I was affected by the belief of an individual that genuine change can come from those at the top rather than the cynicism that is often expressed towards decision makers in the UK.

    What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

I use RSS feeds to keep up to date - attempt to keep my netvibes page which pulls all of those feeds together in good order. Then of course, I read and comment when I have some spare time.

    What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

In politics, it has to be the Obama campaign in terms of excitement and the interplay between online connection and offline action. This was a very powerful mix and am very glad to see this strong emphasis on online tools continuing. See obamacto for an interesting take on what should happen next!

    Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

I do think that new technology can make people feel more personally connected than ever before, and more able to respond quickly and easily to causes or issues that they are interested in. Not only this, I think that it can supplement our existing networks in new ways which are only just beginning to be realised.

    What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

It focuses on public participation and involvement from a personal perspective. I work for an organistion called www.involve.org.uk which is based in the UK - this enables me to look at public engagement and participation from a more analytical viewpoint during the day - then my blog covers the aspect I feel is often not covered so well - what do these ideas and projects mean for real people in their working and home lives?

    If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

Critical optimism!

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

I’m not sure on this one - life is a journey and I’m usually looking forwards not back!

    If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

I like this question - I’d go to Tierra del Fuego to see lava pouring into the sea, then drop by Venezuela to see the Angel Falls, and then maybe to Dongtan to see the eco city… in a year or two.

   What is your favorite book and why?

I don’t have a favourite - I love reading and lots of books have strong meaning for me - one would be the Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro which is a beautifully written portrayal of repression and decline… I also love Sherlock Holmes stories, and A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth - a real master work!

    What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

The way they stand.

    Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

No.

    How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

I haven’t explored this yet… something to do with advertising. I might start selling mugs with my face on them…

    Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

It depends on how you define ’success’, but I’d venture to say that yes, If you’re going to blog in a traditional ‘article  or diary’ style, and you want a certain number of readers and commenters, then blogging successfully does take time.

    What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

Getting better at making their blogs more reasoned and less vitriolic. Blogging at its worst can be geared towards sniping and ego-affirmation, I find this pretty boring and unfriendly, but guess that everyone has their own likes and dislikes! I do still read Guido Fawkes from time to time. (Famous English political sniper- blogger)

    Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

I don’t have favourites really, but do enjoy reading those who post on global voices amongst very many others!

   Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

Not really - though people seemed to have fairly strong views on this one about citizens vs.consumers: http://cased.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/citizenship-passive-and-devoid-of-erotic-promise/

    What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

I feel like I don’t know much about Pakistan and would like to understand more about what its like to live there, and what a woman’s life is like in Pakistan at the moment. All I see on the news is mentions about political instability - that doesn’t tell me much about what its like to actually live there day to day.

    Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Not one in particular, though have enjoyed a few surprises from various bloggers over the past years. The ones I most enjoy are those which give an insight into a different perspective or way of life, things like Sokwanele or lovetotheworld are interesting to me.

    What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

In a developed country many things are taken for granted, transport, infrastructure, public services etc., in a developing country these things are unpredictable.

    What is the future of blogging?

Some people will take it up, others won’t. I think it will become still more mainstream as people learn how to connect it to other parts of their online and offline lifestyles. If it is useful, and if it is interesting, and if there is time to read and write, then blogging will continue. I hope it will become more internationally connected rather than siloed.

    You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

It gives me a different kind of satisfaction from professional and personal life - straddles the two in a strange way, but in practical terms, just means that I have even less time to eat and sleep!

What are your future plans?

To improve on my blog’s actual structure, and of course, to write more frequent posts! I also hope to connect with more people involved in public engagement internationally in 2009.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Tell me your stories! Everyone has something to tell, even if they do not realise it themselves. I would love to hear your own stories.

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