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The unrevealed trauma - Dubai Women's College - Higher Colleges ...

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48 49<br />

week for his blog. To him, this is<br />

necessary in order to reach more<br />

people and be noticed. Two of his<br />

articles have been published by<br />

CNN’s Arabic website.<br />

It is not only writing that matters.<br />

Al Zubaidi stresses that quality<br />

is what makes a difference.<br />

“Regardless of the small group<br />

of local bloggers, the majority lack<br />

the general knowledge, which<br />

is reflected in the quality of our<br />

blogging.” He also criticizes the<br />

lack of richness and depth in<br />

topics. “Unfortunately, most blogs<br />

I encounter lack the experience<br />

and sophistication needed to raise<br />

issues integrated with solutions.<br />

Instead they are simply posted<br />

complaints with discussions.”<br />

To obtain a higher quality of<br />

blogging in the country, bloggers<br />

need to embrace principle values<br />

combined with knowledge. Al<br />

Kaabi believes that the local<br />

bloggers need to enhance their<br />

blogging ethics. This includes taking<br />

responsibility and having<br />

the capacity to examine topics<br />

from different angles.<br />

In spite of these weaknesses<br />

affecting blog quality, there are<br />

other major factors limiting its<br />

expansion. Suhail believes that<br />

blogging in the UAE does not get<br />

the needed media attention. This<br />

explains the rare blogging forums,<br />

or annual meetings in recent<br />

years. Al Muhairi stresses that the<br />

local media needs to show more<br />

collaboration with bloggers and<br />

social media. “Some of our newspapers<br />

and magazines still treat<br />

bloggers as aliens, where actually,<br />

they should give them some space<br />

to participate.”<br />

This is exactly what the majority<br />

of interviewed Emirati bloggers<br />

have asked for, even through their<br />

blogs. <strong>The</strong>y all share similar beliefs<br />

that with better attention and<br />

care, there is possibility to grow<br />

stronger. Al Kaabi looks foward<br />

to having a blogging council,<br />

gathering UAE bloggers to discuss<br />

related matters. This will also<br />

enable bloggers to engage with<br />

society by launching initiatives and<br />

activities relevant to Emiratis.<br />

In addition, Al Abdouly seeks<br />

more blogger rights. “I hope bloggers<br />

will receive moral support by<br />

having similar rights to journalists<br />

and media people.” This, he explained,<br />

will help them interview<br />

public personalities and participate<br />

in important media events and<br />

meetings.<br />

TO OBTAIN A<br />

HIGHER QUALITY<br />

OF BLOGGING IN<br />

THE COUNTRY,<br />

BLOGGERS NEED<br />

TO EMBRACE<br />

PRINCIPLE VALUES<br />

COMBINED WITH<br />

KNOWLEDGE...<br />

Providing bloggers with their<br />

needs will not only benefit them,<br />

but also will enable them to give<br />

more to the country. As Al Zubaidi<br />

clarifies, “Bloggers are no less<br />

important than authors or writers,<br />

so by having more brilliant bloggers,<br />

the country’s profile will<br />

definitely rise.”<br />

Seen as regular people, Suhail<br />

believes that bloggers can more<br />

effectively touch the public on<br />

some issues. He explains, “Bloggers<br />

can tackle the negative phenomena<br />

happening in the community,<br />

and reduce the impact by talking<br />

to a wide range of readers.” Al<br />

Abdouly asserts that with the<br />

increased presence of blogs, there<br />

would be an interesting variety of<br />

perspectives to grab the peoples’<br />

attention, more than the dull<br />

newspapers.<br />

As blogs vary in types and topics<br />

written, Al Kaabi believes the<br />

gains will vary too. “Having more<br />

bloggers writing articles talking<br />

about ideas to solve traffic jams<br />

for example, or supporting the<br />

government’s initiatives to have<br />

a cleaner environment, we will<br />

have a better community, where<br />

more individuals are aware of<br />

their responsibilities.” He trusts<br />

the country’s ability to take advantage<br />

of young, talented youth<br />

expressing their creative ideas.<br />

Talking about the future of blogging<br />

in the UAE, bloggers had varied<br />

projections. While Suhail sees that<br />

the future might introduce more<br />

brilliant bloggers to the field, Al<br />

Zubaidi believes that enthusiasm<br />

for blogging will lessen, especially<br />

with the temptation of social media<br />

websites.<br />

<strong>The</strong> indelible Dunbar<br />

REEM AHLI<br />

Social network friends. Hessa Al Hamadi/DWC<br />

Sometimes there is no better<br />

feeling than knowing you always<br />

have support from a piece of solid<br />

motherboard and an angelic light<br />

shining through your screen,<br />

welcoming you into a new<br />

community. Pop out alerts<br />

constantly buzz through your<br />

speakers, requesting your<br />

precious friendship, pending<br />

on your acceptance.<br />

“INTERESTINGLY,<br />

SOMETIMES<br />

INDIVIDUALS<br />

ExPERIENCE VERY<br />

DIFFERENT<br />

REACTIONS WHEN<br />

MEETING THEIR<br />

CYBER FRIENDS<br />

FACE TO FACE,...”<br />

How many actual friends do you<br />

really have in this community?<br />

And can you actually know if<br />

what you have is an indelible<br />

friendship? Or is it just a group<br />

of people staring at you from your<br />

screen, screaming for attention?<br />

With the invasion of social net-<br />

works in our daily routines, it<br />

has become easier to meet new<br />

people from different parts of<br />

the world without ever stepping<br />

outside our comfort zones. To<br />

complete this transaction you only

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