To blog or not to blog in Tunisia
April 8th, 2007When you first join the Tunisian bloggers community, you get very excited about sharing your thoughts and opinions and discussing them with some intelligent young fellow citizens, and you almost begin to feel free.
But after a short period of time, you see that you have to face the same old habits that you are dealing with in real life. A few hundreds of bloggers may not be representative of the whole Tunisian society, but they aren’t so different from your neighbours. At this point, you have a choice to make: continue to be free and accept the consequences, or just forget about the entire “enriching communication” thing.
In what we call “the Tunisian blogosphere” you can meet some individuals that will tell you a lot of interesting things, come and discuss important and serious subjects with you. You can also find people who are just sharing some of their day-to-day little stories, sometimes funny, sad, moving experiences – or things they like, music, videos, jokes, news, technical information etc. And you have those who don’t have a blog of their own, but who write comments every now and then.
Everything is OK!
Then comes the day when you publish something about religion, women rights, sex, or the Middle East crisis, and you prepare yourself to have trouble. If you are ready to deal with conservatism without getting mad, and accept to be treated like the devil, the ugliest prostitute on earth, or a traitor, you can take the risk.
You have to understand that for some of your “new friends”, you CANNOT have a different opinion; you just have to stick to the traditional and socially acceptable views, for your own good. If they are polite, they just try to get you back on the right path, explaining to you that you, poor thing, don’t understand or don’t know the truth, and that you must be saved before it’s too late.
You still can have the “chance” to be left alone and have your little discussion with the few bloggers that share your views or at least respect them. But then come the I-Don’t-Have-A-Blog-But-I-Want-To-Insult-You non-bloggers. These are trouble. They always have something to say, long theories, very well-argued speech, but they never consider creating a blog. They always have an opinion better than yours, and you are a coward and a real piece of shit compared to them. You are serving the American propaganda and you are a dangerous manipulator. You can also be a very disgusting perverse. Sometimes you can still have some respect and be an ignorant pathetic poor little thing.
And if you’re not used to be treated this way, you may ask yourself “What the hell am I doing here?”
The truth is that these people never learned to argue, and when they don’t accept your point of view, they just attack you, judge you, and insult you, as if it was the only way for them to prove that you’re wrong. It’s easier for them to drive you crazy and frustrate you than to have a real conversation.
You know that. But can you bear it? Do you really want to blog this way? And what is blogging anyway? Should you just share your favourite music and forget about the rest, or try again and again, with some others, to protect your right to have opinions?
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It’s a question of , whether you are strong & willing enough for the sake of the truths you believe in –to get attacked by a majority or otherwise just float with the stream of acceptance (where ever it floats to) it’s always harder to swim agains the main stream, to have opionions ‘a rebour’
It depends on whether your need to protect your right to have opinions is important enough for you to not sell it to convenient opportunist mentality & so gaining the respect of the few with the same goal, of or otherwise having the respect of the herd masses that are just following thoughtlessly the mainstream beliefs, rules & morals
If you run with the crowds you’re always respected & have lots of trivial friends – if you deny to follow & have your own mind, your own opinion – the pack of wolfes (or herd of cattle) of course quickly turns against you-
It’s just a question whether you’re strong enough to stand for your convictons!
I get this one SO often! I don’t get it. I’ve never even been to the U.S!
You should try again and again. My first experience with blogging was horrible. People attacked me, mocked me, challenged my views and I really felt isolated and alone in this bad experience. But I knew that it was going to be educational and thus rewarding. And then I came with a bigger idea, why not extend this experience, and make people start blogging as part of a community rather than being isolated like this? That’s why Mideast Youth is here, to ENCOURAGE people to accept all the challenges and if they ever face big issues we are all here to support and empower them.
I love this place and without it I wouldn’t have the guts to express a lot of my opinions. But I learned from the best, and those are the members here. They really taught me a lot. I learned how to argue from them and I’m still learning a lot from all the posts I read here.
Nadia,
I really like your post, it has alot of quality and style ….. as for ppl challenging your views …. I look at it in a positive way …. in order to get the best out of you, you need to be challenged, even if you consider the person stupid or ignorant ..etc
Esraa
we all know your propaganda, so no need to explain it more
did you really felt alone?
@Heimo: I totally agree with you. Sometimes it’s hard to stay strong and face it, especially for me ( i’m not proud of it but sometimes stupid attacks make me cry because i never get used to it, i’m always disappointed feel totally disrespected) but I cannot just follow the crowd and stop saying what I really think. When I felt too bad, I just took some time off and did “light” blogging, but I won’t give up, and I’m really happy to be here with you because it’s giving me a reason to believe that we can have a place where ideas can coexist and learn a lot from each other like esra’a said
@Esra’a: you know what ? some stupid I-Don’t-Have-A-Blog-But-I-Want-To-Insult-You guy came to my blog and accused me of launching an american propaganda when I posted something about our new Dis-Moi project!!! And I spare you the accusations about me waiting for a new dictator for my country and I don’t know what other kind of bullshit. I’m really tired of that kind of stupid comments!!
@bashar: thanks! I’m making a lot of efforts here because I’m used to write everything in french. I’m glad to know it isn’t too bad
I’m really challenged all the time, because I feel really bad in these situations and it is exhausting to fight all the time. And asking myself these questions makes me feel better about what i’m really doing
Yes Nadia your English is perfect, no need to worry.
Haha I am not surprised that he would say that! Why doesn’t he read the first post to understand who started it? Here we have no funding or anything, we are all Middle Eastern and we are all doing this alone together, I don’t see any propaganda anywhere! Pffft. And I love your ..
Hahaha.
Adding you with us is one of the best things I did! I am very glad you have a big and solid position here.
I read your post and honestly I don’t know why you chose the Tunisian blogosphere as an example and then you just lost yourself in generalities. The issue you raised can be applied to every blogosphere in the World Wide Web be it tunisian, fidjian or manghoulian…I am just perplexed!
She is Tunisian and she knows that particular blogosphere the best, you can’t generalize on the entire blogosphere because certain things do not apply. In different countries, people blog for a variety of different purposes. Better to be sure than to generalize!
Hannibal: esra’a answered your question. I’m not very familiar with other blogospheres and I cannot talk about something I don’t konw, even if I’m sure these problems are common, and that’s exactly what I’m saying at the beginning of my post, so I’m totally aware of the “generalities” in my post and I’m not losing myself in them. the objective here is just to confront my environment with things that happen in other environments and see if there are any different details. In addition to that, it’s MY own perception.
I’m sure you’re perplexe just because I’m talking bad about “our” blogosphere, typical tunisian reaction
that’s a thing i should have add. I expected that some tunisian blogger will come and say exactly what you’re saying, and I had a moment of hesitation, but I also decided that I am free to share this perception if I want to. So let the others say if it’s the same in their countries, there always are differences as there are things in common.
That makes a difference I didn’t know you are Tunisian and my confusion was not because you kinda criticized the Tunisian blogosphrere but at the way you presented the issue thinking that you are not Tunisian of course I was wondering how a non tunisian is criticizing the blogosphere you ought to be well-aquainted with it to criticize it anyway that is now a solved issue. My reaction was quite normal and your post is far positive than this comment left by another Tunisian blogger on the Tunisian blogosphere you will be surprised! Read this comment under the title: “La belle et les ennuques
Par BIJU”
http://www.pointblog.com/past/2006/12/22/tunisie_contre_la_censure_de_blogs.htm#comments
I just looked at your blog there & oh – it’s in French – I slightly understand it, but could never comment there in French – may reading it helps improve my really bad (3 semesters in evening school) French..
@Hannibal: Oh sorry, I thought you recognized me beeing a tunisian blogger as there is only one Nadia on the tunisian blogosphere and I’m writing here under the name Nadia (Tunisia). I guess you’re not familiar with my blog. It’s Ok now the confusion is cleared
Now about this link, I already read that post, actually the author emailed it to me when I was helping with the Blank Post Action, and it’s really really agressive and disrespectful, especially in a context when we were hardly trying to unite the bloggers for that day. This guy is full of hate and thinks he’s better than the rest of the tunisian bloggers because he is kind of ‘criticizing’ the regime. if you want to know my point of view, I don’t see that personnal attacks instead of constructive critics are serving the country, and the truth is that a lot of bloggers are saying important things, but just in a different way. This is another chapter that should be treated separately, and I did once on my blog, about the relationships between the tunisian blogosphere and “some” of the dissident bloggers and activists.
@Heimo: I hope you’ll be able to enjoy it
Nadia,
Hi, I was in Tunisia in January this year. I understand all you have written. I stayed in Hammamet about an hour away from Tunis. Listen to Nadia she speak sense. I met young men in Hammamet who were never likely to find wives ever. Not because they were ugly merely because they name was wrong. Tunisia is a strange place. Many in North Africa compare Tunisia to Isreal because it has developed more than it’s neighbours but without any resources. Nadia, why do you give a fuck about bloggers, blogging, computers and shit. Why? Your neighbours, Libya need YOU! Where is the art from Libya? Nadia, focus your attention on something better. Think about Fatma Charfi in Swizterland and the work she is producing. Go and meet up with Sami Ben Ameur in Tunis this month. Go down to Hammamet and meet Baker Ben Fredj or his wife Nadia….there is a life for you out there that consists of people not fucking bloggers. The artists from Algeria need YOU! Bring the work from Algeria to Tunisia….Bring the work from Liby to Tunisia….the world needs YOU NADIA…fuck blogger and busy yourself working. Meet people you respect. That you feel are worthy of your respect. Go and meet the artists from Tunisia/Algeria and Libya….make this your mission.
Love you.
Joe Pollitt
African Painters | http://www.africanpainters.blogspot.com
Hi Joe
You may be right about getting myself busy with something more interesting. But the fact is you cannot forget about your own people, even if they do crazy things and frustrate you. Bloggers are just a part of this society, maybe not representative enough, but again they are not so different from people I meet everyday. So putting them aside is just like giving up the whole communication concept. I may need to meet more interesting and talented and respectful people as you said, you sure are right about that, but I cannot talk only to these people as if the others don’t exist and aren’t my fellow citizens too. It’s just like your family, you may be angry with them, but you don’t leave them, and even if you do, something is always missing from your life
I understand dearest Nadia. Is it so difficult to go to Tunis and visit Sami Ben Ameur’s Exhibition?
Everybody has to grow up my love.
Joe
Joe
I’m not saying it’s difficult to see anybody in particular, I’m just saying it’s not a solution to all what I’m talking about in the post. Leaving the blogosphere has nothing to do with growing up. You can grow up AND stay close to your family, as you can grow up AND keep blogging to stand for your convictions. I think growing up is also to keep fighting for your ideas, not running away.
I’m already in Tunis and I saw an announcement about the exhibition you’re talking about, I’ll see if I can make it
Nadia: my apologies! how come I didn’t find out that you are Metallic naddou? shame on me
I am impressed by your french posts and I am all the more impressed by your english too! keep up the nice work!
Hannibal@ Thysdrus
@joe: In your fury, i didn’t get your exact point about blogging, but i felt you are like against it, so i find myself obliged to tell you that blogging changes, not only things, but also people.
I am a new blogger, but an old fan of tunisian blogs, they make you think different, see different, make your knowledge wider and deeper, enhance your patriotism, they make you travel in your place… For me, blogging is a lifestyle, i get my news from blogs, i read very very well written articles about everything,i assist to debates, i am making new friends via blogs…
I am here in Cairo since Aug 2006, and thanks to some blogs i knew and met extraordinary people, this is on the personal level, on a more practical and live level, blogs allow us to promote artists, writers, talents, and this is something…
I think that a blogger can change (somethings/persons) in the world behind his screen and keyboard…
And all i can say to you is wait some few months and you will be 1000% convinced by a colossal event with blogs involved…
Believe me… blogs change lives….FOR BETTER !!!
Néjib Belkhodja | The Artist | The Prophet Has DIED
This is merely a whisper being sent out to the world about the genius of the late, great Néjib Belkhodja. He lived amongst us for seventy-four years and consumed life and lived like so few. He had integrity, something that is lacking in the world today. He set such high standards for himself and others around him. He was the man to teach the world about the power of art and the way in which we should conduct ourselves in our lives. It is difficult to put into words the importance of this man. He lived an outspoken existence with courage and conviction. The word Prophet is a word that best describes the giant that is, Néjib Belkhodja. During his lifetime he was a Nation builder and a world guide. He was often ignored and marginalised yet still he bore the troubles of his Independent Nation on his shoulders. His work is so important, to see it and understand it will change the way you see yourself and all that is around you. Throughout his life the Leaders were fully aware of the power of Belkhodja; a man who would not be broken by the State or who could not be used as a political toy. He suffered enormously throughout his life, humiliated and disregarded by the Nation. On the 16th June 2007 in the Medina in Tunis I heard such pitiful tributes to a man of such stature who, at the end was honoured by hyocrites. He died virtually penniless and his work is jailed in Banks and Five Star Hotels around his native country of Tunisia. You wont see the work of Belkhodja in any Museum around the world. No. His work is too powerful to be released by his jailers. He sheds light on all the World Leaders. He opens our minds to what is the function and meaning of Art. His work develops Nations and his contribution to the world is beyond compare. His departure from this world has come at just the right time; when the world needs him most. Here is a man, who belongs to us all and in his lifetime has shown us the meaning of generosity. His work introduces us to poets and architecture, to calligraphers and musicians. The subtly within the work is breathtaking and he puts into place the order in which art should be seen, heard and spoken.
Born in 1933 his mother was Dutch and his father Tunisian. He grew up in the Medina in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, North Africa. For those that don’t know what the Medina is, it is the heartbeat of the city, where all the aristocracy resides. It is a walled city within a city, with narrow streets as arteries and huge colourful studded doors, which break up the continuity of the whitewashed wall. The Medina has it’s own language, it own specific architecture. The Medina is the untouchable heart of North Africa. The reason Belkhodja chooses to focus his work on the importance of the Medina is that it is the heart of life. It is beyond the control of modern dictatorship. So his work is about the spiritual heartland of the World. The significance of the Medina in Belkhodja’s work is constant. For nearly forty years he focused his whole artistic life around the idea of the Medina and his work reads like a biblical message to us all. His work is invincible and belongs to us all, to cage it would be a travesty of justice. I would like the World to stop for just 2 minutes to Honour the Life of Néjib Belkhodja | 1933 – 2007.
Personal link is EDITED due to spam violations.
Nobody wants to talk about Néjib Belkhodja. This man is more important than Picasso. You just cannot see what is infront of your face. Look again my child. This man should be celebrated. Tunisia has created one of the greatest ever artists that has ever graced the earth and what does she do…..fuck all. Shame on you! This is a relatively new Independent Country….Support those that have really made a difference to the way the world thinks. Don’t listen to your Leaders. Please I beg you. Start to think for yourselves…Nejib Belkhodja is a giant and you have tried to crush him. I really hate this blog…I’m surrounded by fools.
Joe Pollit,
Your comments will be spammed from now on if you are posting articles and links that have no relevance whatsoever to the post at hand. This is your final warning. If you wish to discuss what you are discussing, do it in the forums, and stop annoying us with your constant irrelevance and disrespect. If you hate this blog so much; there are plenty more where you are allowed to be an irritating spammer. This one is not one of them.
Hello joe i’m najet belkhodja ’s friend nadia do you remember? the qirl who didn’t want to eat if you see this send me a message i have to much to talk with you. love
greetings…who is this
Hi,
visit my blog: http://fundus.blog.de
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