Blogger Meet up’s are more than socializing with the pseudo intellects, free red bull and exchange of visiting cards. The advent of Web 2.0 allowed every internet user to easily set up its web blog and publish rants, ramblings and views without the approval of any editor. Some blog about their smelly cat or the latest web application covered in the mashable, a number of bloggers whine about their busy routine (letting it out of the system) while others force their expert political opinion on their readers. Blogger meet up’s allow these pseudo intellects (like myself) to sit under one roof and be in agreement to something for a change.

The latest episode of blogger meet up that took place on Friday March 6^th at Royal Rodale had a similar agenda i.e. activism. Majority of the bloggers that I have the opportunity to talk to started their blog after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination which implies to the sense of responsibility they felt as a citizen of this country. As the blogging culture got popular more and more people indulged themselves in the habit of blog reading and writing. But unfortunately they lost their aim n the way, and started writing about stuff that was more popular then blogging about something they felt passionate about. And unfortunately for the past 3 years politics is the most popular thing in the market. And writing about politics involves the suicide attacks, the insurgency in Sawat and Waziristan, the lawyer’s movement issue and the dysfunctional govt’s of Musharraf and PPP. So tragically speaking the Pakistani blogosphere almost became the replica of the main stream electronic media (Geo, ARY etc.)

I walked in late to the venue with Fariha, Munir and Saqib but luckily got the best seat in the hall. With Teeth Maestro on my left and Jehan Ara on my right I was feeling like a celeb already It didn’t took me long to feel the heat in the air, and the fact that like always Dr.Awab was the target of some non bloggers whose political sentiments got hurt when TM used his right to blog. What I learned that as far as you are non popular and non creative nobody cares if you even post private photos of Salman Taseer’s family. But if you have a following and you have earned that with your writing skills and creativity then you are bound to follow a ‘framework’ or a set of rules that will bound you to express yourself within certain parameters.

Highlights:

1.       Branding Pakistan, Googler Badar Khushnood shared some insightful experiences and emphasised on branding Pakistan on the blogosphere, every forum and especially in your daily life. Highlight the goods and correct the wrongs just not put a question mark on the bad things happening in the country and by pass them.

2.       Corporate Girls: Fariha Akhtar came up with the idea of starting a forum where she will highlight problems and achievements of working class women in Pakistan. I personally find it a very brave initiative as discussing some of the taboo issues can face some serious opposition but I am pretty much sure that constructive matters will be dealt and it will not be a television’s reality show.

3.       Tag places: Another good suggestion coming from Googles only man in the country Badar Khushnood. We all use google maps and similar web applications. Now its time to use these applications constructively by tagging your favourite hangout, local library, park, gym, ice cream parlour etc. I will tag Gulestan e Johars most famous Perfume Chowk

4.       Blogging is no rocket science: Blogging is not limited to wordpress or blogger. If you want to get your voice heard, podcasting is just the solution. But its the responsibility of us privileged to go out and spread the word and enlighten them of their rights and facilities that they can use to help.

5.       Resolution Time: Bloggers were requested to resolute their action plan for this year. Batool Habib resolute to promote Pakistani art and culture on her blog. Shahzad aka dehog floated the idea to put pictures of happy faces and beautiful places of the country, and allow the world to take a peek in the real Pakistan. I pledged to convert more non bloggers into bloggers at least 500 for this year.

6.       Pakistan.wikia.com: All bloggers will contribute to this site and will put up their resolutions on it. Usman Sheikh, a young entrepreneur decided to set up a wiki page to spread Pakistaniyat on the web.

7.       National PR Policy: Salaina made some interesting pointers and promised to roll out national PR policy that can serve as a roadmap for the authorities who are actually paid for this job I am personally looking forward to it.

There was a lot of talk that bloggers should do this and bloggers should do that, my suggestion to them is that if someone is not doing what you like, then there is no point to sit and whine but to contribute to the Pakistani blogosphere. Bloggers like Jehan Ara, Mohtashim, I. Faqeer, Kalsoom, Sana Saleem, Supe etc. have been doing that from day one. So newbies should visit these blogs and learn from the pros.

I would like to thank Rabia, Badar and Salaina (CIO and Google Pakistan) for pulling out another successful event. Wateen for the goodie bag and red bull for free red bull. And after the event we went to bowling alley for bowling. yay!

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