SINGAPORE OR SCANDALPORE?

A reader from Singapore wrote in to complain about how one local newspaper is so focused on sensationalizing stories to make them seem like scandals.

He writes, "Every day when I read it, there is nothing but a headline on sex or some scandal. It's really frustrating and it seems like they are the ones making sex seem so dirty."

While I agree with what they do on a regular basis, it's really part of strategy to sell newspapers. Trashy as they are, they seem to be bending more towards tabloid reporting more than anything. We can't do anything to stop that BUT like I told this reader, you can choose not to buy it.

We can all exercise our right as consumers when it comes to what we read. He says that he reads it everyday! It's because of people like him, ironically, papers like this one thrives.

On the subject of scandals, well they are all blown out of proportion and the readers' letters whom they choose to publish seem to slant towards the critical. "The worse it sounds, the more people want to read about it," one publisher I knew once told me.

If we want to be sophisticated, we need to employ good judgment whenever we read newspapers - bearing in mind that the real story is often never told and it is mostly written with an opinionated view.

"Presenting objective views is a definite no-no when there is an agenda behind a story," my publisher friend would add. In this case, the agenda is consistent with what all tabloids strive for - higher newspaper sales.

We have to be mindful of the fact that selling a newspaper these days is really no different from a shampoo manufacturer who goes all out to promote and make all sorts of claims for boosting their product's sales.

The only difference is that while with shampoos, we often shop around and weigh our options, with newspapers, there is a misconceived notion that they can't be wrong. But they often are.

The scandals in Singapore pale in comparison to what you will read elsewhere. I mean they should not even be categorised as such.

Consider this in Singapore: A young woman who writes about her sexual conquests - that's a scandal. A college girl who has topless photos uploaded on an ex-boyfriend's blog - that's a scandal. A childless couple walk around naked in their own home - that's a scandal. A former actress who had leaked private videos of her having sex - that's a scandal.

I classify them as classic examples of invaded privacy. So what if they want to indulge in such activities in their private time. What is wrong with that? Have they hurt anyone?

It is their bodies and their lives to do as they wish. No one was underage, no one was forced to do anything they didn't want to, no kids or animals were hurt - so what's the fucking deal with this lot of Singaporeans who keep passing judgment.

If I want to get screwed by 6 guys on a pool table on a lazy Saturday afternoon after a friend's birthday party in May 2003 (just for argument's sake), what's fucking wrong with that! If you have your moral laws to uphold, then spend time ensuring that they are enforced in your lives - don't bother about what others do with theirs.

Can't we all just be more tolerant?

Missus Singapore out!