Interview with Blogger Will Rhodes

By The Pakistani Spectator • Aug 5th, 2008 • Category: Interviews • One Response

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

My name is, as you can see from the blog, Will Rhodes a 46 year old man who was born in the beautiful country of England. I am now living in Canada with my Canadian wife – and I cannot say how happy I am to be here.

My site – well, it is mainly political as I am a political junkie.

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

Can I grow? Most definitely. I also feel that you can grow as a writer by reading more, much more on of the things blogs have given the world is the amount of text you can read – there literally is something for everybody.

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

I know it is very cliché but meeting other bloggers – and of course, this interview, this is my first. I also think something memorable was being interviewed online by the BBC world service after helping them to write an online book about James Bond.

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

I write daily – you cannot let your readers down, even if I am ill or sick I force myself to write.

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

Oh this one is quite easy and hard at the same time. I think that Barack Obama has to be congratulated for his campaigns use of technology. I have seen a lot of political parties around the world trying to use the internet effectively – but failing because they don’t understand their readers or supporters.

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

I think that they have made it easier for people to respond. People always have wanted to and never have because writing a letter, posting it and waiting are tiresome to people – instantly having your opinion posted gives people the opportunity to have their say in seconds.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

I don’t think it is – I think that it is a place where people can come and have a say on what they feel. To put that into context I never thought I would ever get more than a 1000 hits. I do like the freedom I give to people who are diametrically opposed to my opinion though.

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

The determination to not give up.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

Again, very cliché – my parents dying and the birth of my children. I would love to say something vastly important but I can’t. I am a strong family man.

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?

Hard question because I don’t want to insult anyone. But I would have to say 1. Antarctica. 2. The Brazilian Rain Forest. 3. If I could combine the two – India and Pakistan.

What is your favorite book and why?

It is a compilation of short stories by Isaac Asimov – I, Robot. It was the first book I read of his and that is a very close joint first with Foundation. A trilogy of stories by the same author. I was agog at how visionary he was.

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

Their facial expression. I was taught that in Bahrain.

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

LOL, sorry I have to laugh, but yes there was – my English teacher.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

I think if bloggers are good enough, and with that little bit of luck they can be picked up by a multitude of people who want them to write for their magazine, website, or be a free lance blogger.

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

No. That is an internet myth – I know many bloggers who do many other things other than blog.

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

Very, very interesting question! Bloggers can make the world friendlier by accepting people who are not like themselves. Offer a platform for people to speak – and encourage them to do so – even if, as it may seem at first, you could not disagree with them more. You will find, as we are all human, we all have some common ground and we can become friends.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

Now that is an exceptionally hard question. I would say that MusEditions is one, Tim Worstall, The BBC’s Nick Robinson, Ros Atkins of the BBC and Anderson Cooper of CNN

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

On my blog? Yes – and one that I never in a million years would have thought it – but I did a post about Canadian Tire Money it is getting hits all the time and is viewed many times a day.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

They are a hardworking people. I think that Pakistan is going through changes and those changes are hurting the people at the moment. But – what the outside world doesn’t see is cities such as Islamabad, Lahore and others where you see that not all in Pakistan are goat herders on mountains. Something that a lot of the western press like to portray. Pakistan is a very sophisticated country and is emerging and will grow with the help of investment. Her people are exactly the same as anyone else – they worry about the bills and how to pay them – food and water and the education of their children. Again, something that isn’t shown in the worlds media.

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

I have to be honest and actually say no. I have been stunned by the hate that some bloggers have.

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

Poverty. I do think it is as simple as that. The poor are always the last to see the benefit of an emerging economy – it is, to me, as if they have been forgotten.

What is the future of blogging?

Good question but from what perspective? I, like so many others like me, think that bloggers should be left alone – but, if you look around the world, bloggers are blocked from blog access by their own governments.

The technology of blogging is making it much easier for people to blog – utilising that technology should be promoted. Blogs will keep expanding that is for sure.

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

I try to look for a blog post in just about everything I do these days – my wife has said I am obsessed – she could be right. I don’t think so – because I see blogs as a window into the ordinary lives of everyday people.

What are your future plans?

They haven’t changed. I will continue to seek a Literary Agent who will represent me in publishing my books. I want to be published and that is my sole aim and ambition.

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

My message to them would be that I hope for peace between all peoples on this Earth. That if they can seek out a higher goal for themselves and for Pakistan and that we seek a higher goal for our countries – that we all work together for the peace that we yearn for.

And a thank you, a great thank you for allowing me into their lives for the few minutes that it takes to read this interview.