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Stupidity of Yaccob re-surfaces in NLB debacle

Confuseous

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
By Howard Lee

In times of crisis, people seek leadership. Leaders calm nerves, set directions, provide clarity and bring people together.

What we have on hand – the National Library Board removing a few books from their shelves – might not be anywhere near a crisis (unless you happen to work for NLB), but amidst the conflict, people sought clarity and assurance.

That leader, however, was not to be found in Yaccob Ibrahim, the Minister for Communication and Information, and the one who oversees NLB as a statutory board.

In his statement, which he had hoped to “explain the Government’s position” on NLB’s actions, Mr Yaccob did anything but that. In fact, what he said did little more than make it confusing for us, and brought our society little closer to understanding where the government is coming from, much less how we can resolve future disputes of a similar nature.

Let us take a closer look at his statement, and realise why.


“Firstly, the withdrawal was not based on a single complaint, without an attempt to assess the merits of the complaint. NLB has a process where its officers carefully consider such feedback, before making a decision.”

If that were the case, then nowhere has NLB revealed to us how many of such complaints it received about the two books in question, or if they have indeed carefully considered the feedback given and weighed it against other or opposing views.

For that matter, what exactly is NLB’s process in assessing requests to withdraw books from circulation? Is their decision based more on moralistic consideration, factual accuracy or any other factors? Do they form an independent review committee to conduct such evaluations, or ask their colleague in the next cubicle? Do they consult experts in the field, or survey members of the public? Do they rigorously test the allegations made against the book, since interpretation of a particular read is always based on context?

You might think that due process is unnecessary given that we are, after all, talking about children books. But such processes need to be in place to prevent abuse of what now seems to be a potentially open system of evaluation, where I can simply call on NLB to remove any book I do not like, based on my own prejudices.

This basically means that the books we have in our libraries are not a curated collection based on good sense and judgement for their quality, but the leftovers from those with the loudest protesting voices. Is this acceptable from an institution that champions knowledge?

Mr Yaccob’s insistence that NLB has applied due process, without actually showing what this process is, is basically asking us to trust that NLB knows what it is doing. Unfortunately, you do not build trust by asking people to trust you. You do so by proving yourself worthy of their trust. For NLB, this means that it needs to demonstrate professionalism, that it is fair in its actions.

We saw none of that. If anything, we only saw a Minister trying in futility to shield one of his agencies from further criticism.

“Secondly, this is a decision only with respect to the children’s section in the public libraries. NLB is not deciding what books children can or cannot read. That decision remains with the parents, as it always has been. People can buy these titles for their children if they wish.”

Of course that makes sense, because those who wish to read about allegedly gay penguins will most definitely be able to purchase a copy for their own reading pleasure. The basis for this fact is unknown, but if the Minister utters it, it must be true.

In truth, Mr Yaccob is effectively saying that full knowledge is only for those who can afford it, because the library, a public institution, would not be addressing the needs of the less wealthy by doing what it can, with public monies, to provide whatever literature it can afford.
On the contrary, should it find any literature that conflicts with the interest of the loudest protesting voices, it is more inclined to waste such monies by destroying the offending literature than to give it free to those who wish to read it.

“NLB has to decide what books should be made readily available to children, who are sometimes unsupervised, in the children’s section of our public libraries. For the adult sections of the library, the guidelines for what is suitable are much wider, and a much wider range of titles are on the shelves.”

Of course, no one should every have the audacity of challenging the right to protect our children from what the loudest protesting voices find offensive. But if that were the case, why not move the material that is offensive to children into the adult section, and let parents decide if they want to allow their children to read such material?

By taking the books out of the library completely, not only is NLB deciding on what books children can or cannot read, by the most affordable means available. It is also deciding on what books adults can or cannot read.

“Thirdly, NLB’s decision was guided by community norms. Public libraries serve the community and it is right that they give consideration to community norms. The prevailing norms, which the overwhelming majority of Singaporeans accept, support teaching children about conventional families, but not about alternative, non-traditional families, which is what the books in question are about.”

Perhaps it is fair that a public institution should be guided by community norms. If so, then the pertinent questions to ask would be, how are norms formed, and who decides on these norms?

“Social norms” do not simply come into existence. They are created by the contest of differing views of individuals and groups that make up a community or society. In such contests, the norm emerges from the majority, who either convince the minority of their values, or beat them into submission. The minority, should they choose to continue resisting, are relegated to the realm of sub-culture.

If the books that NLB removed were indeed pushing for a certain affirmation, or were meant to help those who are seeking affirmation, of a specific view of the family or “lifestyle choice”, then NLB’s action cannot possible be viewed as an impartial adoption of what society regards as “the norm”.

Indeed, as Mr Yaccob next wrote, “societies are never static, and will change over time.” By removing access to one view, NLB has effectively stunted access to and the development of this view, thus preventing a fair contest of ideas.

In other words, by removing some content that is deemed unfavourable to some, NLB has become a participant in the shaping of social norms, but allowing certain kinds of content to enter the public sphere and others to fade into oblivion. Without such content there is no debate. Has NLB merely created its own “community norms”?000000000000000

We saw no due process in evaluating the books. We saw that NLB would rather destroy books than allow others to benefit from them. We also saw how NLB is more than a mere reflection of what society finds acceptable, but an active player in defining “community norms”, by excluding certain views from public debate.

In truth, NLB’s actions have done little to convince the public that it is a professional outfit with the people’s interest at heart, and the Minister’s statment has actually done nothing to help.

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/07/the-explanation-that-helped-nlb-little/
 

Leongsam

High Order Twit / Low SES subject
Admin
Asset
People have to learn the trust their institutions. There will always be differences in opinion but ultimately, the PAP, with it's experience and wisdom, knows what is good for the country as a whole.
 

Papsmearer

Alfrescian (InfP) - Comp
Generous Asset
....... & this traitor with non citizen, non halal sons is paid million bucks salary!!!

Yaacock is one confused fuck, so what is so different from him being confused on the NLB censorship policies.

Yaacock, a confused muslim, married catholic Puerto Rican girl.
Yaacock, a confused singapore citizen, still allowing his sons and wife to hold US passport and citizenship, instead of renouncing.
Yaacock, a confised Minister who is confused on NLB censorship.

Par for the course mah.
 

mojito

Alfrescian
Loyal
If everyone knew how to make firebombs, society will be much worse off when people start experimenting with it. Therefore not all knowledge is good for mankind and society has to draw the line. Kudos to NLB for making their stance clear. Singaporeans are thankful for your efforts in acting as a bulwark against decadence.
 

Confuseous

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
People have to learn the trust their institutions. There will always be differences in opinion but ultimately, the PAP, with it's experience and wisdom, knows what is good for the country as a whole.

Boss,
Thanks for the rare opportunity!
 

Leongsam

High Order Twit / Low SES subject
Admin
Asset
People have to learn the trust their institutions. There will always be differences in opinion but ultimately, the PAP, with it's experience and wisdom, knows what is good for the country as a whole.

Boss,
Thanks for the rare opportunity!

Give me a break. I make lots of mistakes. However, I usually spot them if I read my post again. However, very often I'm working on other things in another window at the same time so I miss some.
 

rushifa666

Alfrescian
Loyal
image.jpg
Enough said
 

sochi2014

Alfrescian
Loyal
Yaboob is a weak Muslim. How could he kowtow to social norms? Social norms are decaying as time progresses. He is compromising his Islamic view with decaying social norms. He is a man without principles.
 

laksaboy

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Well, is this the kind of fucked up leadership you get from the PAP.

Yaacob - Fucked it up at the Environment Ministry. Got moved to the Information Ministry. Continues to fuck it up.

Lui Tuck Yew - Fucked it up at the Information Ministry. Got moved to the Transport Ministry. Continues to fuck it up.

Khaw Boon Wan - Fucked it up at the Health Ministry. Got moved to the National Development Ministry. Continues to fuck it up.

A circus of clowns playing portfolio musical chairs. Well done 60.1% :rolleyes:
 

PTADER

Alfrescian
Loyal

Long winding story from this limp-wristed faggot but stripped of all his wordy and nonsensical rubbish, it essentially boils down to faggots trying to get Singapore society to see butt fucking and debauched faggotism as "normal".

The one common thing amongst all these faggots and faggot lovers is that many of them spent some time living or studying in the West. They worship the West and are predisposed to aping anything that Westerners do. From speaking with fake Western accents to having the "right" to fuck buttholes in the name of "human rights" and "progressive thought".

So these faggots actually think that faggotism is cool and even fashionable simply because a significant number of Western societies have accepted it. Being a faggot and having men marrying men and women marrying women is "progressive". So they claim.

Hence, we are starting to see all these theatrical "coming out" announcements by faggot warriors like Vincent Wijeysingha and his lower ranked faggot followers as though such "coming out" is a badge of honour to be worn with pride and distinction.

My advice to these faggots in Singapore is to look at themselves in the mirror. If you don't look like a White man or a White woman, don't behave like one. Faggotism, whilst tolerated by Asians when it is carried out in the privacy of your bedrooms, is nevertheless neither cool nor fashionable in Asia.

Keep your butt fucking faggotism in the privacy of your bedroom where it belongs and keep it to yourselves.
 

THE_CHANSTER

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
I am more interested to know whether his sons have come back from the U.S. to serve their NS.
Seems to be a complete media blackout as far as this story is concerned.
 

wendychan

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
I am more interested to know whether his sons have come back from the U.S. to serve their NS.
Seems to be a complete media blackout as far as this story is concerned.
why would they have to serve NS if they are american citizens? question is what country are they citizens of?

hear nothing - means buat bodoh?

seen that one before, say nothing, buat bodoh means whatever issue it is doesnt exist
 

Confuseous

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Well, is this the kind of fucked up leadership you get from the PAP.

Yaacob - Fucked it up at the Environment Ministry. Got moved to the Information Ministry. Continues to fuck it up.

Lui Tuck Yew - Fucked it up at the Information Ministry. Got moved to the Transport Ministry. Continues to fuck it up.

Khaw Boon Wan - Fucked it up at the Health Ministry. Got moved to the National Development Ministry. Continues to fuck it up.

A circus of clowns playing portfolio musical chairs. Well done 60.1% :rolleyes:

Their theme song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1fVQGESUTo
 

tanwahtiu

Alfrescian
Loyal
That is why a m&d government make Malaysia forever a 3rd world country, Yaccob is no different.




People have to learn the trust their institutions. There will always be differences in opinion but ultimately, the PAP, with it's experience and wisdom, knows what is good for the country as a whole.
 

Hans168

Alfrescian
Loyal
Yaboob is a weak Muslim. How could he kowtow to social norms? Social norms are decaying as time progresses. He is compromising his Islamic view with decaying social norms. He is a man without principles.

he screwed a non halal cunt........ so what sort of mozzie is he???
 
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