Interview with Blogger Zahid H. Lilani

By The Pakistani Spectator • Dec 18th, 2007 • Category: Interviews • No Responses

Zahid H. Lilani blogs at My Life Dump.

Could you tell us what made you decide to blog?
I like to write and I like to talk. I believe I am interesting when it comes to certain topics. I tend to have a twisted view on things but happen to be an optimist. Reading other interesting blogs doing commentary on things I really like made me feel that maybe I can do the same thing and share my views with people. I also have little interest in web programming languages and design standards and having my own blog allows me play around with few elements and maybe learn something new and worthwhile.

What do you think sets Your blog apart from other blogs?
I don’t talk about just one topic but I try to talk about things that might be interesting and at the same time give out some information that is useful. Basically, I am trying to be Jack of all trades, master of none. I am not predictable, I tend to take sides every now and then and surprise myself and my blog readers.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success, what would it be?
I get bored easily, I want change, not just change but something better than present. This keeps me entertained as well as adds to the adventure in my life that leads to interesting discoveries and at the same time allows me to learn something new.

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?
Hawaii – A cruise

Vancouver – By Train

Greek Islands - A cruise

What is your favorite book and why?
The Kite Runner - Khalid’s vivid imagination and excellent writing style made the book a definite page turner. It captures the innocence of childhood and the agony of adolescence and makes it shine. At the same time, it engages a dialogue for a better future.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
If the person is just crossing by, I usually don’t judge the person or notice anything unless the person has a tattoo. If I am introduced to someone, I see if the person makes eye contact or not and how polite or engaging the person is during the conversation.

Do you think Pakistani politicians could benefit from the social networks and things like twitter?
Pakistani politics is in stone ages so using social networks for Pakistani politicians would not make sense and it would be a waste of great communication tool. Pakistani politics works by feeding misinformation to already illiterate population and social networks change that dynamics as information is exchanged at the speed of light and misinformation is debunked before it sees the light of day.

How Pakistani bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
I make around $10-15 from my blog but as I run quite a few websites, I do make enough to pay for my car’s monthly payment. I am in U.S., for me $10-20 is basically 6 cups of starbucks coffee but for someone in Pakistan, that could be mean survival for few days. Pakistani bloggers can definitely benefit from blogging because there are not that many quality Pakistani bloggers out there who blog with passion and take blogging seriously. At the moment, I am not sure about the demand but I know the supply is not there and until that happens, blogs like Pakistaniat etc will be raking in quite a few dollars. When it comes to technology, supply creates demand. No one needed facebook, it was thrown on to us, now we are all hooked, at least I am. Blogs are no exception…

Do you think Pakistani bloggers tend to remain somewhat self-centered and really don’t go out of their shells? Is it the oriental style of blogging, or they are still unsure about it?
Pakistani bloggers are afraid to experiment, take risks and talk about something that would be challenged by others. Pakistani bloggers have to talk about their cats and dogs, talk about how the taxi they sat in the other day had worn out cushion etc and let the readers know that life is much more than talking about Musharraf and bragging about some tourist spot in Kaghan valley.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
Not really, all you need is to be an effective communicator. If you can collect your thoughts and organize them into few words that get the point across, you have a successful blog.

What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?
Advantage would be that you know what’s new with the company, its upcoming projects etc. Disadvantage, it is not objective, you could be mislead.

Does it pain you or proud you that we have made a history by electing a uniform general as our president?
No, it is not something to be proud of in 21st century, we can do much better. I guess this question reached me little late, he just took off his uniform. The point is, power is intoxicating and people with the best of intentions seem to lose their will power and end up becoming Musharraf. Nothing surprises me anymore, history was made only in 1947, after that it was all politics gone wild.

Do you think this whole emphasis on blogs and whatever online is a significant indicator to show that the web, the social web, is becoming a very important social force?
It is shaping how we view things, now it is not like one person is writing a column and you sit and read it and ask yourself “how come I am the only one who thinks this doesn’t make sense?” Now you can find people who might be speaking your mind and that helps shape opinion to a point where it becomes a strong force and leads to change.

What do you think where the Pakistani blogosphere is right now?
It just graduated from Kindergarten. Sitaro sey aagey jahan aur bhi hain!

Who are your top five favourite bloggers in Pakisan?
Top five would be difficult, I have top two:
Pakistaniat.com – Adil Najam

WatanDost – Hassan Abbas

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger in Pakistani blogosphere?
I haven’t come across any Pakistani blog like that so far….

What is the future of blogging in Pakistan?
I believe it is too early to predict anything as I mentioned earlier, we just graduated Kindergarten. If it flies like the way it has elsewhere, it will definitely make people who use cyber café’s to hook up with girls think about usefulness of the Internet.

In political respect, can we say blogging a ‘democracy of message’?
Blogging is “speaking your mind” and democracy is “freedom of speech”. They go hand in hand but blogging is dependent on democracy and not the other way around. Democracy is from grass roots level and has to be experienced from within to be able to present it forward in the form of blog. Blog is a one man show, democracy is not. Freedom of speech means using speech responsibly for the betterment of the society and that makes blogs a two edged sword.

Can Pakistani blogosphere play any notable role in the forthcoming elections, if they happen at all?
Blogs can do what newspapers can’t by reaching a massive number of people without using trees. It is now more than important to shape and polish Pakistan’s view in the west which can be achieved using blogs. Blogs impact a younger generation that has been neglected so far. This younger generation is not interested in talking about wars with India during the last 60 years every time an Indian is sitting across the table. Just imagine what would have Iqbal achieved if he were alive today and could blog…

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
I blog when I have time and when something hits me to an extent that if I don’t let it out, I can’t think straight. Unless I am talking to females online, my wife doesn’t mind so there is peace on that side of the puzzle.

What are your future plans?
As far as my blog is concerned, try to update it more frequently with content no one else seems to be talking about. In career, get my Bachelors in Accounting, get an MBA and sit for the CPA exam. In life, try to be a more effective communicator and an ideal husband.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
Educate yourself in both good and bad and remember that there are two sides to every coin so don’t believe in what you think, burn some brain cells and investigate.