You can have policies to control information flow but you cannot control human nature much. If they want to fix, they will fix.

It is the bad after-taste that stays with the soldiers for the rest of their lives. Injustice cannot be simply brushed aside by mere words.

have you ever seen where the buck stops? do they really root out the cause? why then do so many people still complain about the inefficiencies of SAF? if they are really so good, why do they even need to warn people against posting NEGATIVELY about SAF? its explicit. NEGATIVE. nothing against POSITIVE posts.

yes i do know what happens. their policies haven’t seen the light of day yet?what policies are you talking about? since when have they started managing relationships with NSFs and NSmen as humans, as people, as valued assets rather than dogs and slaves? what has seen the light of day are clear directives that warn against blogging negatively about SAF. the OSA is a joke. they determine what contravenes OSA and what doesn’t. If they want to punish the serviceman, OSA or not, they will cook something up to punish the serviceman, regardless of how meaningful the comment is.

and didn’t the recent AIMS thingy remind you about SAF and their fear of their dirty linen being washed in public?

perhaps. =) thanks for visiting and leaving your comments!

But I get what you mean, I’ve read comments about how the radical progression of the new media has led to a need for increased openness to such events and I agree. Nothing’s really safe from the Internet anymore.

Now about Mindef.

Yes, I’ve served in Mindef, and yes, I know that there are people dedicated to find this bloggers. Yes, you are also right about how these blogs get sent off to the appropriate department for punishment, but I am also aware that several policies appear and/or being planned behind the scenes to root out the cause of these blogs, i.e. middle management etc. That is why I ask if you know what [b]really[/b] (didn’t want to capitalize, but you get the emphasis) know what happens. I find it extremely unfair that you would judge MINDEF or any fellows that work on these policies just because their policies haven’t seen the light of day yet.

I apologize for my misconception with regards to the blogging though, must be because I usually see these posts when I come along.

i have an extremely low opinion of MINDEF. many of them are the epitome of the useless civil servants, content with sucking taxpayers’ money, being completely inefficient, stupid and simply waiting to slack or knock off at 530.

please. the news article caught on ONLY when news spread around HWZ and sgforums. i will stake my life and bet that if nobody said anything online, MINDEF will not say a word too.unfortunately for MINDEF, the world is greater than their gombak base, which means news get around much faster than before. the mainstream media no longer has a monopoly on information, unlike the past.

i do. =) there are people dedicated to looking for blogs, and once they find them, and find out the identity, they will send it to the appropriate department to TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE BLOGGER. is that what you meant? taking action against what the blogger said? yea sometimes they investigate, but usually will end up covering everything up. you already said it. its like cutting the weeds and leaving the roots in the ground.

for someone who used to serve at MINDEF, i am surprised that you do not know of people dedicated to doing such things. to whom do you think i am really criticising then?

i don’t think i constantly blog about it. i only wrote two articles about it before. and the bitterness? trust me, i know how MINDEF works. and the bitterness comes off from MINDEF’s end once they find out that they are caught with their pants down again. and don’t you feel that punishing people just because they can once they find out that these people have negative views about them, and aired them in public, are totally unreasonable and draconian?

I think you are being rather stronghanded on your criticism of Mindef. You seem to label them as anyone that is unwilling to accept any form of criticism at all, which is true only to a slight extent.

Recent news articles have already shown to an extent that MINDEF is increasingly beginning to hang their dirty linen. A week ago, there was the case of the army recruit being beaten up in camp. Just today, we have the story of parents suing MINDEF because of compensation issues.

Do you really know what goes on in MINDEF? Do you think that people there look for a negative blog, send it off to the appropriate department, and leave it as it is? Do you think that they are content to sit on their bums and let such problems resurface again? It’s like cutting the weeds and leaving the roots in the ground. Give them a little more credit. I will reveal this much, I used to serve at MINDEF. I am familiar with what is going on behind the scenes and their policies, and I know what they actually do.

Which also begs the question, who do you think surfs the Internet to find these blogs in the first place? Who do you think that you are REALLY criticizing?

You constantly blog about how MINDEF only knows how to clamp down criticism, and also seem to emphasize on the punishment that happens to such defaulters. I can almost taste the bitterness coming off it. Have you been on the blunt end of the stick before?

there are many things we do not know. intellectual ability can only go that far. what matters is how we use the intelligence, and that’s known as wisdom. and to acquire wisdom, its crucial that one reads as widely as possible. =)

thanks. have a great day too. =)

I read your comments in theonlinecitizen.com and you are right in that many people view things at one angle instead of looking at it in all perspectives.

How do you know if you’ve been brainwashed by information from overseas? Again you are right!

You see, our MOH (as well as other countries’ health authorities) has been brainwashed by USA’s FDA to accept that:
1. Cows’ milk is healthy
2. That the current food pyramid is healthy

No, don’t rub your eyes. I did say “brainwash”!

And you are also right. To get your facts right you have to read. So I urge you to continue doing what you said is “CORRECT”. I invite you to read more here with an inquisitive and enquiring mind cos with a closed mind you don’t gain or learn anything (I enjoy learning and sharing with you):

REAL STUDIES AND CONCLUSIONS with regards to Cows’ milk http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15741380?dopt=Abstract

Cows’ milk related to allergies http://www.nutramed.com/children/kidsmilk.htm

Bovine treatments in cows threatens our health
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/bgh.htm

Rat Poison (fluoride) added to milk by LAW
http://www.notmilk.com/ratpoison.html

Yes, you are right we’ve been programmed to think that flouride is good for bones, but did anyone tell you it’s bad for the body?

Health authorities once approved mercury fillings for dentistry. NOW it’s banned for good cos people TALKED!!

If you think everything that Obama or Lee Hsien Long do will benefit our nations, think again. They may or may not use this knowledge to their advantage. For all you know they are drinking milk and eating aspartame everyday to increase their likelihood of getting heart attacks and disbetis.

Someone who doesn’t know how to take care of their health interests CANNOT take care of yours!

Be aware of politicians who give their monies to organisations who have no care for your life nor your health!

I wish you a very good and throught-provoking day and may the light guide you in every way you wish for!

wouldn’t that be even sadder? If they have truly learnt their lessons or absorbed the feedback or frank criticism given, and made the efforts to change their systems, why do they have to continue to force people into that closet?

Everybody just serve and f**k-off (SAF).

That is the reality of life. The Army fears that the injustice suffered may translate into words in the form of blogs, In the old days, we just TCSS about the “special” treatments among ourselves and forget about it once the ICTs or NS are over.

But the new media offers a reach far beyond the fences of the army camps. Words that stay in record, even after one walks past the guard house.

anyway, i hope you are kidding about your “long holiday” post.