what happened to monsterblog (1)
In conjunction with the new cabinet line-up, I thought I’d finally plonk my arse down to write this post for those curious as to what was Monsterblog (monsterblog.com.my) and what happened to it. I personally don’t think it’s that big a revelation, but I understand that people deserve to know, for some of them have been faithfully visiting Monsterblog, leaving constructive and valuable comments while at it. Bear in mind that I reminisce based on my involvement and my point of view, which may or may not differ from other people’s experiences. For their sides of the story, go ask them lah. Also, by writing this, I’ll have to talk a bit about my current company. Which is a bit blah, because ideally I’d like to keep work and blog separate. Happily my boss is a cool cat.
Sometime in 2006 (don’t remember if it’s the first or second quarter), I was invited to join a blogging project. The concept was to be something like a community thing, which would eventually evolve into an all-in-one on-line magazine; with sections for news, societal issues, entertainment, food, IT… a very common sectioning decision. I don’t know the exact details, but Mack Zulkifli (one-time owner of brandmalaysia.com) who was either friends or acquainted with some top people at New Straits Times (NST) brought this blogging project over to NST, with the reasoning that NST would have the resources (such as archived news, talent such as photogs etc) to help out the project.
As far as I know, ShaolinTiger, Sultan Muzaffar, minishorts, Kimberlycun and Peter Tan were roped into the project before I went into it. I think Paul Tan and KY too, but I can’t be sure. The truth is that it has been a couple of years since, and no one remembers exactly exactly exactly what happened. After a while, kinkybluefairy and tigerjoe were brought in, and the bloggers line-up was complete (at that time).
My first meeting/ discussion on the project was at NST, where i found out that the blog would be called ‘monsterblog’. At first I was like, huh wtf… then I found out that NST already has a ‘moNSTer’ project, hence if we wanted to go with them, the blog would have to be monsterblog lah. My first thought was of the Monster recruitment thingy, which is big in Singapore and US (and now making its way to Malaysia), but whatever lah.
I won’t bore you with the details on how monsterblog was set up; domain and all. JARING was involved in the project to provide infrastructure, so the hosting part was settled. How to make money leh? I think the idea was to capitalise on on-line advertising at that time, with grandiose plans of cross-advertising between eMedia’s assets, NSTP group printed material etc etc. More points: 1) there was no black and white involved; 2) the bloggers involved will not receive money until ads are up, running and making money; 3) we were bloody excited about the project.
End of Part 1 because I have work to do.
** Click here to read Part 2, click here to read Part 3.
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Teasers!!!1111!11
I only saw the movie Monsters Inc as I thought you were in it!
Obviously a different project.
LOL. End of part 1 because I have work to do.
Eh…this isn’t “what happened”..it’s just a prelude. Can’t wait for part 2. Quick. Quick!
Part 2 is gonna be real hot and spicy but I will let Suanie tell it.
moo_t: hehhe wait la.. besides me having other things to do, there’s the small matter of trying to remember details
dabs: har har
simon: so easily amused, heheh
davidlian: ar? i said to explain how mblog came about mah . your teacher never tell you to write introductory paragraphs one meh
peter tan: z0mg stop promising what i am not going to deliver!! trouble maker you
can’t wait the gossiping of Part 2.
the good, the bad and the ugly..
whooo.. now we got something to flame adi. :p
WHAT? You are not gonna include all the juicy bits?
frostier: ar? flame peter!
peter: ya. after i grill you, then you become juicy. can?
i have ur picture!
but im lazy to send =p
come grab it from my blog!
Oooh, I’m finally getting the my question answered
Yea, Paul Tan was in, that’s how I found monsterblog, and subsequently your blog.
nst has money okay, when they said that they’d only pay us when ads are up bla bla bla i knew it was rubbish from the start. if they wanted to start something like that properly, they should pay contributors from the beginning. that’s why i wrote a couple and thought fuckit, wasting my time.
G0nna be Awesomeeee
leongsoon: you aren’t the only one la.. i keep getting emails asking me wtf happened hahahha
joyce: i’m with you
thanks for the answers, Suanie. Sorry to be impatient. As it turned out, it does require some coherence to your story and you needed the time for it. Though, no need to wait till forces that be are tame before you post this lah … hehehe. And who put that monster picture recently at the site? maybe your account will be good there too … if you want curious minds be appeased. Its good for freedom of speech in Malaysia where people know what happened.
hawaiichee: heh actually the new cabinet was just an excuse. i’ve been meaning to blog it but personal life just took over, and posting pictures is relatively easier than having to sit down and remember details and ask everyone involved what else they remember
i did a mynic search, someone by the name of ‘arsyan’ took it over. who knows, who cares, good luck to him
(but the photo was cute)
Oh i see, you have no control of the domain anymore. Thanks for putting so much effort to ensure an accurate and detailed account was out since it can be a sensitive issue. Thanks and of course for all your time in monsterblog previously. Many returns for the goodwill invested.