The Pakistani Spectator

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

My name is Luli and I am a 22 year old university student from Melbourne, Australia, studying Journalism. My site is Nothing You Confess Could Make Me Love You Less and was created almost by accident. In the beginning it was used for mostly personal entries, but later turned into a place where I attempt to fuse a mix of journalism and my own opinions on the world.

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

I’ve been writing since I was 16 and my style is almost the same, except now I word things better and I understand writing more. I definitely have changed a lot but my ‘voice’ has stayed the same which I think is very important in order to keep it feeling real and for people to be able to relate to me.

 

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

Finding people linking to my site is always very flattering and the debates that come from comments make me feel like I’m kind of making a difference in the world, albeit only a tiny bit. The relationships you make with other bloggers are also very rewarding. I think blogging really changed my writing for the better, it gave it a purpose and finally an audience.

 

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

I try to reply to every single comment I receive, to encourage the reader-poster interaction. In journalism, there is often little interaction between you and your reader, and that is a big part of the reason blogging is so much better. Blogs are the way of the future and they embody everything that the net is about, action and reaction between many different types of people who you ordinarily may never come across. I try to read fellow bloggers’ posts daily and add something to their own discussions, and I’m always looking for new bloggers to read.

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

I think the politicians are yet to realise the full potential of the technology available to them. We could be voting online by now, and in a range of topics that we are usually denied a voice on. It would be a huge step for democracy, we would finally be getting more of a say in all of the issues affecting our lives and is definitely a viable option. If we can trust the net with banking, why not voting?

Also, I think blogging is huge for politics. Especially considering the bloggers often update their sites and are in the know before even the official sites. We can get up to the minute updates on the situation in Palestine, the last speech of a candidate in the Presidential race, and what is happening in China on sites that are often less biased and more inclined to speak the truth. It is a huge leap forward for freedom of speech, which is essential to a working democracy.

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

Yes, definitely. We are more informed and more inclined to take action, whether that be joining a group, attending a rally or simply posting a reply on someone’s site. People who may not have bothered to speak up before, now find that they can with ease and so there’s much more interaction.

 

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

My site is highly visual and colorful, I get a lot of fun out of turning my posts from slabs of writing into entries that are distinctly my style, that have my look, illustrated in my own special way. Also, my voice and beliefs make my blog uniquely me. Its centred around things that I love and that are important to me, whether that be liberal attitudes to politics or the anime styled pictures and lyrics from favourite songs I like to include.

 

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

My outspokenness has often gotten me into trouble and provided me with opportunities. Sometimes people don’t want to hear what you have to say, but silence is consent, so its important to raise your voice when you believe in something.

 

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

I can’t think of the happiest moment in my life, so it probably hasn’t come yet. I’m still young, theres plenty of time. I have happy memories, but no ‘happiest’.

The gloomiest moment in my life was when I felt I was on the brink of failure, in every aspect of my life from friends, to family, to study and work. I’m susceptible to bleak pessimism, but thankfully I was strong enough to work through it all.

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?

1. Palestine - I’ve always wanted to visit or live in Palestine. I want to see what all the fuss is about and I also aspire to be a foreign correspondent there.
2. Tokyo - I’m very much a big fan of Japanese culture, from gyaru girls to anime, and a holiday where I get to experience the urban Japanese lifestyle would be amazing.
3. Anywhere in Latin America - I’d love to go in summer and explore the scenery and cities, and do a lot of partying!

 

What is your favorite book and why?

My favourite book is Crescent by Laurie Devine, which is no literary classic by any scale, but a romanticised view of Lebanon with a healthy injection of politics during the period of 1950 to 1980. I first read it when I was about 15, and it opened my eyes to the Middle Eastern conflict, which is an issue that is constantly a driving force behind my writing. This book always makes me cry, and I always enjoy reading it.

 

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

I think the first thing I notice about someone is their eyes, which will always let you know what kind of heart someone has.

 

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

Thankfully no, considering how sensitive I used to be when it came to my writing when I was young, because I probably could not have survived it. But I’ve always felt that I could write well, and defining myself as a writer has helped me to feel like I know who I am as a person. I’ve always known I wanted to be a journalist.

 

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

Book deals, advertising, job opportunities. I’m aiming for the last option, myself.

 

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

No, I think blogging is like any hobby, you have to make time for it. It is very time consuming, putting together posts and keeping up with the blogs in your circle. But I love it, and I can’t imagine ever wanting to give it up, unless I got writers block.

 

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

Bloggers can educate people on the many issues facing the world, and they can do so with compassion, honesty and intelligent debate. Because blogging is such a personal thing, being able to inject a topic with a sympathetic view towards humanity, and a caring attitude, can inspire more to do the same. It also humanises causes because you get to read and interact in a dialogue with posters on an equal standing point, and see things from a point of view you may not have realised existed. Bloggers can suggest methods of helping, through donation or protest or other forms of action, and they can lead the way by setting an example for the rest of the world.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
My favourite five in no particular order are:

Gullybogan - http://www.gullybogan.worpress.com/
This Devils Workday - http://thisdevilsworkday.wordpress.com
Club Wah - http://clubwah.wordpress.com
Alpine Opinion - http://alpineopinion.wordpress.com
The Bullhorn - http://thisisthebullhorn.blogspot.com

 

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

I wrote a post on the state of democracy in Australia and said that we had nothing more than an elected dictatorship, which got a lot of comments and debate. But my most popular post was one about the television show Big Brother, I think because of the picture of the pretty contestant I included.

 

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

My perception of Pakistan is that it is a highly populated and sometimes politically volatile Islamic country, and a growing economic force in the east. Pakistani people I have met have been lovely and accepting.

 

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

Most bloggers are unique, and portray a different vibe or voice in their writing, so I wouldn’t say I was stunned by only one, when most bloggers I come across surprise me in one way or another.

 

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

Something that strikes me is the lack of materialistic attitudes from developing countries that was always very humbling, as opposed to somewhere like Australia, where I live, that people are judged upon what they own in comparison to who they are. It says a lot about the dominant ideology of today.

 

What is the future of blogging?

Blogging will be the journalism of the future. People will reject sources that deny the right of reply and whom act as ‘experts’ or authoritative sites. People will want to read the truth from those who are there, who are like them, who ask for their opinion.

 

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

It hasn’t affected me that much, because I’ve kept it a secret from those who know me offline. But I do feel bad when I have to lie about having a blog, which is mostly when close friends ask me what I’m doing at that particular moment, or something. I try to keep my offline world away from my online world because I don’t want to feel like I should censor my writing to avoid judgement. I’m more confident with my writing now though, and also with voicing my opinions.

 

What are your future plans?

Finish my degree, keep blogging, somehow force myself into a journalism position at a like minded paper or television station. I want to always keep my integrity and never compromise my beliefs, and somehow help those who are in need of it, through humanitarian work.

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

Don’t be afraid to speak your mind, remember the words of Martin Luther King, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’

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