Shanmugam cites trolls, unreasonable attacks and lack of time on Facebook

[Leepotism]

Why it's limiting to engage on Facebook: Shanmugam


by Alicia Wong
Updated 12:38 AM Aug 04, 2012

When it comes to engaging online, Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said he starts with the perspective that "people have very little interest in what I do in my leisure time or what I eat".

As such, on his Facebook page he talks about the events he is involved in or articles he finds useful. Sometimes, he engages netizens on policy issues. On occasion, he does put up posts on 'softer' issues, and about his dogs, he told TODAY in an interview earlier this week.

While he finds most of the engagement "productive", in that both parties' views are shared, Mr Shanmugam points to two "limitations".

The first is time. With his many responsibilities as a minister and Member of Parliament, "the amount of time you have for online engagement is extremely limited", he said.

The second would be the "trolls" who "deliberately seek you out in order to attack you unreasonably", he said.

"I wish I can do more but I don't have the time," said Mr Shanmugam, citing how having an online discussion on serious issues would be helpful.

On occasion he takes the engagement offline by following up on certain cases. "But I don't have the capacity and time to deal with it if my Facebook were to become an open Meet the People Session," he added.

 

[Jumong]

The second would be the "trolls" who "deliberately seek you out in order to attack you unreasonably", he said.

Maybe there should be a Kangaroo court in cyberspace to protect these high profile SCs from losing an argument to online laymen.

 

[laksaboy]

What's the matter, Shan? A high and mighty lawyer/politician can't handle a few trolls online?

Please get off the Internet.

 

[Leepotism]

Maybe there should be a Kangaroo court in cyberspace to protect these high profile SCs from losing an argument to online laymen.

PAP IBs are always on the prowl in cyberspace.

 

[Dreamer1]

Minister Shanmugam is telling the truth,those engage with him on his face book are truly not worth his time and effort.
I sincerely hope that Minister Shanmugam would engage here in sammyboy where the intellectual level is quite high most of the time,extremly high at some of the time,he might be here as an observer already.
I do understand that he has very heavy responsibilities as Minister for law cum foreign affairs.people here are generally not very happy with his performance so far.

 

[Dreamer1]

Minister Shanmugam is telling the truth,those engage with him on his face book are truly not worth his time and effort.
I sincerely hope that Minister Shanmugam would engage here in sammyboy where the intellectual level is quite high most of the time,extremly high at some of the time,he might be here as an observer already.
I do understand that he has very heavy responsibilities as Minister for law cum foreign affairs.people here are generally not very happy with his performance so far.