nice so u thought the BBC might have an issue with the whole snot out of the nose analogy? nicely written..maybe see some discussion not including phallic references or death threats?

interesting. i recieved a few ‘friendly’ calls my self. what were the nature of the threats? looks like someone higher up is monitoring these blogs.

Let’s not lose sight of priorities here. That Samira chick from Chechnya is a BIRD!

Sophist,

An impending marriage, thankfully, hasn’t dulled your finer appreciation of priorities in life ! BTW, are you going to have blogger pews set aside or what?

sophist getting married? budu ammo.

nice one Indi :)

congratulations on the impending marriage Sophist.. must be a very understanding woman ur wife to be.. hehe..

did indi do the right thing with his bbc post – might have been better to take this opportunity to appeal to the world to intervene in Sri Lanka and stop the killing. then again his whole blog is about self-promotion.

musings about how difficult life is for the arrak boy whilst he feels persecuted and says nothing really.

there are other bloggers that should have been asked including some that even started peace blogs. still what to do in Sri Lanka it’s a dog eat dog world no?

why wasn’t nittewa asked? he’s a good guy and always tells the real story.

sophist is not getting married he’s getting hopeful – nobody would marry that short fat dumpling, truly what are u talking about?

Sorry – i’m confused, I thought Nittewa was a reporter … what’s this to do with Morquendi? Is that an alias? As for Ranil – yep sure he lost because all people do in Sri Lanka is betray each other. Not just Tamil and Sihalese but Sinhalese and Sinhalese, brother and brother. IT’s disgusting.

When the JVP shit was happening, the level of betrayal was just evil. Still it happened then and it happens now. What is really scary is how much it happens within the same ethnic group. I don’t think that Sri Lanka can recover from this. We are an Island and there is no where to run to from what we do to each other. So … Stop da Killing.

Indi is not qualified to speak about anything or anyone. We’ve been watching him for a while at Barefoot. He jumps around from bandwagon to bandwagon all the time. He says he has Tamil friends but when we as expats have tried to include him in certain things he just shies away. I think the guy is ineffectual. He is however, what we would call a polite racist, he’s also a bit of a pushy opportunist.

There is a lot of talk about how he is a peacenik but like a lot of Sinhalese he is not really interested. He is as we say in German a Dumkopf. The rich in Sri Lanka especially the children of the rich who are Sinhalese are I agree with some of the posts not prepared to put there money where there mouth is and say just party.

Meanwhile the country is completely ruined. It is a joke to the international community and a, how do you say, pariah amongst all. The fact that on this blog indi.ca has never discussed with honesty about the killings commited by the Sri Lankan army is the one reason why the BBC should not have asked this playboy to make a comment for bloggers and for Sri Lankans

I will look up the Morquendi blog, maybe it sheds some light on the bitter comment about but yah as we say in German
…

well done, Indi. Can’t in any way find fault with the above.
please keep writing, your a breath of fresh air for most of us.

Stopdakilling – if you have something worthwhile to say about any blogger’s opinions say it. That’s all it is, at the end of the day – an opinion from just one blogger. Attack the argument and not the man.

The Benevolent Dictator was right to nominate Indi to the BBC because his is the most popular blog in Sri Lanka and moreover Indi has done more to promote blogging in this country than anyone I am aware of. He has done this through the iTimes, which he is the editor of, the setting up of kottu.org which is mostly his baby, and by influencing and helping many bloggers to start their own blogs. One of these blogs is the excellent http://www.lankapapers.wordpress.com which discusses and summarises the daily newspapers – a dire need in Sri Lanka today, where each paper has it’s own biased stance.

If you have any objective arguments lets hear them, ja wohl?

Also, Stopdakilling, you said:

“The fact that on this blog indi.ca has never discussed with honesty about the killings commited by the Sri Lankan army is the one reason why the BBC should not have asked this playboy to make a comment for bloggers and for Sri Lankans.”

True, Indi has not commented on the recent killings in Pottuvil yet. There may be more than one reason for this. Maybe he wants to see the SLMM report before deciding. Maybe, he’s just been too busy lately.

Either way, I have a post about it on my blog and Indi’s the reason I started bombing, so he is indirectly responsible for it.

*blogging

A Freudian slip there, eh Ravana? Hee hee.

Hell’s Dire Agent – you can mind your own beeswax. For this public exposition you will not only be relegated to the blogger’s pew but it will also be placed in the deep recesses of the vestry where mice feed upon scavenged pieces of cassock while also giving Morq titbits of news upon Ranil’s impending electability.

Stopdakilling. Are you German, or are you an expatriate? How does being in a foreign country become any different from going out and having a drink in Sri Lanka? It is a form escapism, is alcohol. Some of us, Indi included – have a fair amount to escape from given that we live in a country with an economy spiralling rapidly downwards, are afraid for our lives from terrorists on one end and misguided vigilantes on another, are faced with the increasing yet necessary bother of checkpoints every 10 yards and are subject to the rule of people not qualified enough to hold a toddler’s hand while crossing the road.

Nevertheless, a party is a much less permanent form of escapism than migration. You will forgive us therefore, when we are skeptical of the overtures, and bombastic preachings of the expat community who accuse us of not doing our bit and attempt to force some sort of contrived guilt upon us for trying to make the best of a bad situation. We want to stop da killing too. But we’ll try and do it while also living in our homeland.

And next time you see me in the street say hello – I’ll show you short, fat and dumpling like I am you. Fucking Kraut.

*chants* fight! fight! fight!

Actually, I find a sense of humour endearing in a person. Having spent most of my life among those who take themselves far too seriously, it is refreshing to be able to communicate – sometimes with total strangers – without the formality and stricture of the social and/or corporate world.

However, since my personality is on trial here I feel obliged to clarify some matters. There was NEVER any doubt that I would return from England. Who ever told you there was some was clearly misinformed. Correct him/her.

My response (it was one comment, consisting two relevant paras, hardly ‘ill treatment’ or badgering) to Stopdakilling was based on his approach to Indi’s post and other comments and not merely his status as an ‘expat’. While expat views are indeed extremely valid, it is upto those who are exposed to them whether to value their credibility. We will politely agree to disagree on that point. While the opinions of those who live abroad are to me akin to a scientist remotely analysing test results far removed from a laboratory, thereby giving rise to much accuracty and misconception – you choose to accept them. To each his own.

Yes – sometimes I can be patronising, and sometimes I can be condescending. It is a character flaw for which I apologise. I have a low threshold for unintelligent argument. For this too I apologise. Profusely.

Yes I have told Janapathi to ‘go fuck himself’. And on some occassions Ashanthi also. But if you care to analyse my history on this site (which you clearly do) no attack has been unprovoked. I was called a ‘dumpling’. Indi will be the first to tell you that my threats of physical harm are about as real as Janapathi’s insistence that he is not a racist. I have still to take Muba’s bat to Indi’s head. If you knew me at all – except aside from some inaccurate third party information – you would know that I jest. I certainly will not stop that to appease you.

Lastly, I thank you for your obvious interest in me and my activities. Perhaps you could ghost write my biograhpy, as you so obviously know more about me than myself.

Sophist, by your own words (which I chose to accept at face value, something that you clearly cannot do), we agreed to disagree on our mindset about the value of “expat” musings on what you consider to be wholly a local problem. That’s your opinion, it obviously differs from mine in that I perceive the value of a fresh perspective regardless of nationality, place of residence or other limiting attributes. That’s why I didn’t waste any bandwidth revisiting the issue.

I chose to single you out in this instance because three people replied to SdK. There was a difference between Indi’s, Ravana’s and your attempt to answer. In Ravana’s words (not mine), “attack the argument, not the man”. Your rebuttal consisted of an ad hominem pooh poohing of his criticism by saying he’s from Germany or whatever. Three paragraphs of casting aspersions on SdK’s place of residence did nothing to enhance your own view (my original point, repeated ad nauseum).

It is of course your prerogative to assign whatever hidden agenda and motive to my comments as you so wish. I can only assure you that there is no reason for bitterness, rancour or resentment on my part. If such was revealed to you in my commentary, perhaps you may well need to reexamine why such a siege mentality is required on your part. I’ve provided context to my observations wherever possible to distance these comments (whimsical, I agree but with a serious point underpinning it) from the anti-sophist leaning that you choose to spin. You, on the other hand, have replied with .. what, exactly? Google can be misleading? How so? I could assert that Ravana is actually V. Prabha in disguise. Both statements are equally believable :) You’ve shifted your position from replying to a personal insult to “he insulted the collective intelligence of the community and thus deserved what he got” in the case of Janapathi.

Having said that, I apologize once again but merely for overestimating your ability to appreciate how your oft times lucid, well meaning (and sometimes insightful) comments are blighted by your predisposition to … as you say … play the dung beetle.

very entertaining.. ..

sophist: did u mean expat opinions on SL politics or just expat opinions in general? just curious..

And the blogfest is on.

Savi3 I mean that expat opinions on problems as they perceive them are not as immediately credible as they may think they are. I do concede that there are indeed very insightful opinions expressed by expats. However, I happen to think that SDK was not one of them. If Ghostwriter disagrees with me so be it. It is a matter of perception. I attacked the man’s argument based on his location on the same – not his geographic location by default. There is a subtle, yet fundamental difference which Ghostwriter fails to appreciate.

I would perhaps, Ghostwriter – taken your comments in better spirit had your pseudonym been less mala fide in both instances where you used them. They seemed, even before the comments were analysed, of a personal nature. Hence, my somewhat defensive reaction to the same. I do not have the patience and self sacrificing nature of Job.

You may remember, if your googling serves it up, that I vehemently opposed a call to ban Janapathi, despite how tasteless he made himself to me, and some others. His comments were as valuable as Anarkali fans…for the same reason. It is hardly fair, I think, to say that my response to SdK is something via which you can assume the ad hominem, shoot from the hip dismissiveness that you seem to attribute to me without – I feel – just cause. If SdK hadn’t been dismissive of Indi, and of a blog which has made a name for itself, I perhaps would not have been even as dismissive as I was. I maintain, and I will do maintain to my dying day (which might be sooner rather than later given the amount of people who are keeping tabs), that no attack, personal or otherwise is unprovoked. And I have this thing of standing up for my mates. It’s a huge problem.

You accused me of being rude to Janapathi. If you Google industriously you will perhaps understand why.

I think I must once again extend an apology for for having character flaws. It is a failing I cannot deny. I am flattered that you find my comments lucid, sometimes insightful, and well meaning. I also accept that my theory that the population should be culled using an IQ yardstick also will not sit easy with many. It is the sort of thing I say. If it gets to the point of being overly objectionable I am sure Indi will ban me. However, until then you – and others like you – will probably have to suffer the indignities of my character.

I apologise once again that I did not make enough allowance for points to be missed and arguments distorted. Your inability to comprehend is well masked by your pedantry.

I wonder, does anyone ever really win a blog arguement? The discussion would sway back and forth, especially if both are good writers, with each accusing the other of lack of comprehension, or lack of something ad infinitum (or nauseaum, depends on how you look at it). It seems quite easy to pick something inappropriate out of anyone’s comments, and go over and over and over it. Overkill?
Or if you are not a good writer, then attack personally or display such a persistance so as to bore everyone.

Anyway, just a thought.

Point taken mate.

Oh … this just gets better and better – I think it all comes down to who Sophist really is. I think his ghost-writer should be given a new life!

Also, I was thinking that if one spells sophist backwards – one ends up with Tsihpos. Which… well …. it means bugger all really now doesn’t it.

There’s been a few far flung interesting comments and ole skinny legs indi himself having to respond to a few questions about the correctness of him being quoted by the BBC.

Well – at the end of the day – how is it possible that some schumck called indi, who I, along with my dear friend Morquendi (not Nittewa you goose a few comments before) have made famous … how is it that indi … should be the blogger of importance to make comments on all of our behalfs on the matter of PEACE!

So our dear schmindi says – I didn’t ask to be self important, the Benvelont Dictator told me too. CRAP indi – you bloody love it. You swim in it. You absolutely thrive in it. I know now why people hound you about being a peacenik. You give peace a bad name.

Meanwhile around you people die and you get to “comment”on the BBC whilst not lifting one little finger to help anyone but yourself.

As per Sophist, his online persona can be, shall we say, challenging. At one point I couldn’t stand him, but we met and I consider him a friend. I don’t really agree with using someone’s expattiness against them, mainly because outside opinions are valuable. I don’t think having your feet here necessarily makes your head more clear. Regardless, he’s not a bad bugger. Tone doesn’t translate well online, but if you met him in person you might see a different side. Or not.

Sophist-For-JHU is at least well-reasoned and polite, and it’s cool you kept the discussion that way. Sophist may have ‘character flaws’ as he say, but in the end that is character. I’m not saying people shouldn’t criticize him, in fact I’m kinda glad someone called him on the expat point. However, there are literally less than 10 people who I take personal advice from and they don’t comment much. Which is to say, don’t take it personally.

Online personas are characters and sometimes you just need to take them as that. We have, for example, my resident frustrated stalker Ashanthi, noxious racists, and people asking if I can sell them a fucking laptop. It’s annoying on a human level, but as part of a drama it’s kinda fun.

Ghostwriter…I must graciously concede defeat. My girlfriend agrees with you – in principle.

As Indi says it IS my character and as such, isn’t overly appealing to some, just as I’m sure your character may not be appealing to others. I appreciate though, that you kept this critique civilised. And I shall attempt to quell my urge to play the dung beetle with such zealous regularity – you are right in that it would add value.

However, you will also appreciate the difficulty in adopting such restraint in the face of comments like Ashanthi’s.

I think some kudos is in order, even for merely conceding defeat. Alot of bloggers would have just gone on arguing, but you show willingness to look at yourself from outside yourself.
*applause*

We have, for example, my resident frustrated stalker Ashanthi, noxious racists, and people asking if I can sell them a fucking laptop. It’s annoying on a human level, but as part of a drama it’s kinda fun.

Oh Indi – yes that’s right – I’m the noxious racist. So I love Morq (he’s Sinhalese) but I hate you (you’re Sinhalese) and that makes me a “noxious racist”. You are truly an indiot.

I think you should have substituted noxious racist and stalker with “those that give me creedence”. You are an immature prat who thinks that attending a conference in the Philiphines via Nokia in Sri Lanka means that you and I won’t meet across a networking lunch one day, aren’t you? The world is a very small place.

I don’t think anyone really takes Sophist seriously – I think the centre of a blog is the owner of a blog. In this case that is you and how you handle yourself. Calling me a noxious racist has told me more about how small you really are.

Have fun in Manila – my Nokia is already texting ….

PS – I cannot help wanting the person that represented Sri Lankan bloggers and those of us from other countries that give a damn about Sri Lanka to be Morquendi and not Indi. I’m sorry that’s just how I feel.

So – indiot is now trying to turn this into a Tamil vs Sinhalese racist thing.

I suggest we all go and read his bullshit comments to the BBC right now and I think you’ll see why I would like a blogger with a brain and a balance of opinion to make comments. Not someone who thinks that anyone who draws attention to his skinny hairy legs is a racist.

It is on the basis of these petty hateful feelings between neighbours that the pogroms and racism against Tamils has been perpetrated for decades in Sri Lanka. On this petty jealousies neighbour turned against neighbour and justified their actions.

The blogsphere in Sri Lanka has lost a great blogger in Morquendi. You all know it and I’m not going to stop saying it.

He died or what?

Oh be quiet T – sorry I couldn’t really be bothered reading your rant. Pot calling kettle black don’t you think!

I’ll say what I bloody well want to about pograms too .

Sophist I apologise – I suppose you want a pat on the back for taking the time to correct me but to be honest the size of the font on this blog or my ltop is really really small. I’m not sure what the word “wil” is – but hey, I’ll make an assumption, shall I :-)

I stand corrected and was very upset thinking that I had been called a noxious racist. The contrast I draw between love and hate though a bit extreme but you all know Morq is someone very special to me – always will be.

I miss Morq and yes I guess it shows. I think if there is ever to be peace in Sri Lanka we will need people like Morq and not like indi – like it or not, so do a lot of people.

It’s not a rant when you’re pointing out the obvious Ashanthi… and it’s ‘pogrom’ by the way

Plus not reading stuff is what makes your posts drivel in the first place.

It’s tough pill to swallow but it’s the truth, face it Ashanthi Morquendi is just a blogger, he may be the son of god to you, but he’s no more or no less effective than indi at initiating a dialogue… which is the first step in creating a wider understanding. If you don’t like Indi why do you keep coming here?… Sophist doesn’t shit on Janapathi’s blog and we all know his stance on that bugger. At least Janapathi was entertaining in that village idiot sort of way.

There you go again T – anyone would think that janashcpanthi was the only blogger who ever walk the face of the blog…

Don’t continue to ruin your blog cred by being an indi-crawler running down Morq and praising indi – apart from the fact that it’s been done before it’s tedious and boring.

Morq’s not the son of God to me – but he is a blogger with a lot more purpose and soul than you have the capacity to understand. Like it or not indi cannot nor will he ever be as well rounded a personality. This was reflected in his posts and desire to present alternative views – to which the likes of you responded with biggotry and vile.

The rest as they say is history … no need to labour this point – move on …

do you ever feel like you’re talking to yourself? Just switch the proper nouns and you get

Don’t continue to ruin your blog cred by being an indi-crawler running down indi and praising Morq – apart from the fact that it’s been done before it’s tedious and boring.

You don’t contribute anything to the debate Ashanthi, your only issue is that you don’t like me and like Morquendi. It’s tedious and boring. I’m not going to ban you, but it’s a purely masturbatory activity you’re undertaking. I don’t usually respond to your posts cause it’s a personal opinion and nothing more profound. It’s like saying that you don’t like broccoli. OK. There’s nothing to argue about there. You don’t like me. Whatever. No one else cares and it has nothing to do with the issues at hand.

You don’t read anything fully, can’t perceive commas and call people racist cause you can’t be bothered to think about anything complex. You don’t contribute. I hope it’s at least fun mumbling to yourself in the corner. Why don’t you respond about how much I suck and how you love Morquendi, that’d be original.

Ah well – I suppose this is a moment in the history of the continuing story of the blogger named indi who …. by the way – i ‘d leave mastrubation out of it if I were you … from what I’ve heard – you know how it goes, bottle of arrak, long mirror on the wall – indi on his own… a few mins past m’night…. hmmm…. yes, the walls do have ears…

Look – I’ll apologise again, I didn’t see the comma – but that’s this bloody blog, the font size is really small.

I don’t care if I don’t contribute – I’m here to observe.

Please don’t start responding to my posts – let’s not get up close and personal, please!!!

I don’t know you to like you.Grow up and don’t flatter yourself.

I do know Morq and yes I love him like I love anyone who rises above the crap that surrounds them and achieves something for humanity. You are not in the same league as him and you never will be. Ban me if it makes you feel better but gee stop having a tantrum because you aren’t top dog.

If not for you sabotaging Morq at every turn he’d still be out here in the blogsphere… don’t expect me to be give you a pat on the back for trying to put yourself up there and represent us with the BBC. I repeatedly asked you to work with him, I repeatedly asked you to contribute to the peace-blog and you did not.

If you want an accolade go get it at around … hmmm let me see 3 in the morning at some “haunt” of yours, I believe …

Finally – this looks like it has ended in being a conversation between a two people eh indi? All your little minions (employees) don’t really enter into this conversation do they.

Ultimately you are a disappointment to me – that’s all.

And whilst I’m at it – you’re a disappointment not because of your fair skin, chisled nose, perfect vision and “tamil” features (lol) –

but … because you are a stupid prat who has all the opportunity to become someone & somebody that can help Sri Lanka but you never will and you are determined to shoot down anyone that could.

You go take a good long hard look at yourself in the mirror and then ban me!

Jeez Ashanthi you’ve a got a serious case of sand in the vagina?

You’re a joke…

Ghostwriter…even you will forgive this one :)

Ashanthi the problem with hanging upside down and having Morq’s cock in your mouth, is that it makes you talk gibberish incoherently, and you also can’t see any further than his balls (hairy or otherwise).

Aside from Padashow which was a hit, if somewhat distasteful, can you present to us an exhaustive list of Morq’s efforts to improve humankind and their results. If that list is as awesome as you say it is, I’m sure many peoople will be scrapping beneath you for a drop of Morquendian semen dripping from the sides of your mouth.

lol..

Indi – your mother reads this – and I ‘ve meet her, yep true, she does…

Thing is do you care.. not that i’ve noticed.

You’re mother is special but all our mothers are.

As a blogger you’re one in a million – so think you idiot, you are one of a million who has a mother who reads his blog.

Be responsible for what you are and whilst your country disintigrates into compelete chaos can you please stop talking about yourself …

Sorry for the Pssss..esss but can only handle one insult at a time these days…

Look – I refuse to believe the real Sophist (please, stand up, please, stand up) … wrote that comment.

Hmmm … yes well mainly because of the language used and also ,.. the sexual references made.

I care very deeply about Morq. I am not Buddhist but I have to say that my relationship with Morq is.

I miss him on the blog and I want him back.

That’s pretty simple.

He gave S/l blogs a lot of balance.

If you want to crap on and be rude – by all means, this aint my blog. Indi will never threaten to ban anyone who insults me or Morq as “Sophist” just has… but thats indi for you…

I am reproducing this comment from above because I think it’s relevant at this point, and it can safely be assumed that Ashanthi has not read it yet.

“The Benevolent Dictator was right to nominate Indi to the BBC because his is the most popular blog in Sri Lanka today, and he has done more to promote blogging in this country than anyone I am aware of. He has done this through the iTimes, which he is the editor of, the setting up of kottu.org which is mostly his baby, and by influencing and helping many bloggers to start their own blogs. One of these blogs is the excellent http://www.lankapapers.wordpress.com which discusses and summarises the daily newspapers – a dire need in Sri Lanka today, where each paper has it’s own biased stance.”

Also, indi.ca comes up on google on lots of searches about Sri Lanka more than any other blog. Indi’s is also constantly looking for ways in which the mainstream media can be linked to the blogs, so that the moderate voice can be heard louder. (Yes, I know there’s a spectrum of views represented on the blogs, but it is a survival of the most rational and the moderate voice is emerges louder, or at least more convincing. I hope.)

Ashanthi – If you’ve got any objective reasons why anybody else was more deserving, lets hear ‘em. I mean, I know the real-life Morq, and he’s a nice guy, but I can’t remember whether I’ve even been to his blog. It’s just not visible enough.

Thanks for the polite response Ravana. I’ll address a few points.

You’ve reprinted that paragraph up there because you made the assumption that I had not read it. I had read it and I disagree with it. So you’re assumption was wrong.

When Morquendi’s blog as Morquendi was active, it was widely read. Nittewa was also widely read. Not sure which jolly planet you’re living on but you’re obviously not on the same one as Morq!!! So that puts a hole in you’re “Ican’t remember whether I’ve even been to his blog …” statement.

Who’s being vague now and you, unlike me don’t have the excuse of being some dimwit stalking female!

Having said that, you also say you know the real-life Morq and that he’s a nice guy? Well I think Morq would be very upset to hear you call him “nice” and for those of us who obviously know him better than you – nice is not a word I’d use for Morq :-). But hey – that’s a whole other post and certainly not on this blog.

Morq’s blog is not visible to you because like my blog it is abandoned. Or maybe it’s because it got removed from Kottu :-) … banned I believe is the petty childish word that was used.

I have protested quite strongly about indi jumping in there to represent S/l bloggers – I think he knows exactly why. At the risk of sounding like s/nut, Morq and a few others (noxious racists included) the fact is that inid has never been to Jaffna, Trinco or Batti. He has no idea what’s really happening to people in refugee camps, army camps or tiger camps.

Ravanna – nor do you.

However, there are other jounrnalists that do. When you have the inclination machan … make the effort and see if you can find out.

When the Tsunami hit Ceylon I grieved. I was horrified. I was so angry with myself for abandoning my country, but let’s face it my country abandoned me.

When I read some of the bullshit on this blog, my blog and Morqs’ blogs – I’m not surprised that all people want out of Sri Lanka is a news story, a cheap holiday and maybe a bit of underaged sex.

If indi is a future leader of this country and there is every chance he will be (given his socio-economic status around Barefoot and Colombo 7) that’s fine. From most Tamils’ point of view he probably is the best they can hope for as a moderate!

However, he’s just never going to be my first choice. If we talk about peace, we need to realise it will only come from the next generation. If peace is in the hands of indi, his arrak bottle, his ego and curlishness – God help Sri Lanka.

Ashanthi,

There are only two objective points on the issue at hand in your last comment, and I will attempt to deal with them here.

1. Your statement that Indi has never been to Batti, Trinco or Jaffna is both false and irrelevant. There are many bloggers who have never been to Iraq, but they are justified if they hold an opinion on the war there and want to blog about it. Sometimes, distance can give you clarity albeit at the expense of details. In practice, I know that Indi has been to the East. Far more importantly, he has good contacts who do know the North and East intimately who he gets information from. The spokesperson for the TRO is one such person that comes to mind.

2. Morquendi’s blog had not been updated since September 2005 which is why it was removed from kottu. Morquendi instead started Nittewa, which IS on kottu. There was no malicious intent in removing it from kottu. Suggest you research your allegations before making them.

Regarding Ravana’s comments, I’ve been to the East when it was under curfew. We went to a wedding with the late Minister Ashraff, whose convoy was able to break the curfew, and my dad was simply determined to see the place otherwise. It’s beautiful. I went to Trinco when my Uncle was in the navy to see his gunboat and they took us on a tour of the bay. I don’t think either of these things are necessary anyways because I don’t blog as a North Easterner and I make no pretences on that point. I just write my perspective, whatever that is, and I find that’s hard enough. I have tried to support any Northeastern writers I can, like Sarvi, and I try to read what he writes. I also don’t think you need to be somewhere to speak about it. For one thing, the places are full of people who don’t know what’s going on and the demand for physical presence goes against thousands of years of emphasis of knowledge and reading beyond the evidence of the senses.

As to Morquendi, he updated once this August (which I didn’t see) but prior to that he hadn’t posted since September 2005. The only editorial policy with Kottu is ‘don’t break Kottu’. I think it’s listed on the about page. One bad feed can clog up Kottu altogether so I periodically look through them and desyndicate ones that haven’t updated in months. It’s purely a time calculation to minimize the strain on Kottu and the server. There are a lot of blogs on Kottu that I consider repugnant, but the decision to syndicate or not is purely technical.

Ashanthi your argument is the similar to the one I raised to Stopdakilling. Ghostwriter told me where to get off. I still maintain Stopdakillling’s argument was an immature one and thereby justified (albeit very slightly) my denigration of him as an expat. I take that back – but nevertheless still believe his argument is rubbish.

Your assertion (false) that Indi has never been where you would want him to go falls by the wayside, because we have, through discussion arrived at a consensus that detachment does not breed irrelevance. If it did, you – by your own argument – should not be posting here, there or anywhere.

krandor are you an expat…? … as they say in colombo :)

Sorry I’m about 2 weeks late in responding … but just quikly …

I guess you guys all know Indi my centre of the universe is Barefoot better than me. So I stand corrected, he’ll never amount to anything and he obviously has no leadership qualities.

So … the fact that he crapped on about Sri Lanka to the BBC means nothing.

However, equating a connection with the North/East as a result of being a VIP guest is hardly going to qualify Indi as someone who knows anything about the situation on the ground.

Look, don’t take me so personally. I’m sorry I giveyou griefall the time. We should all try and be a bit more constructive given how bad the situation is in Ceylon (Tsunami’s hit Ceylon too btw) and yes the situation is bad except at Barefoot.

I propose to turn over a new leaf and stop being harsh on Indi – how about that?

While you’re about it, try actually checking up on the name of the country Barefoot (and Indi) is situated in.

david,
Ceylon is still the name of the island for many tamils

the republican constituion is illegal

and the tamils weren’t consulted on the name change or the constitution…

thus many tamils say they are from ceylon or the NorthEast of the island of SL

Thanks Ceylon – for explaining Ceylon to DB ex-soldier who writes books – I’m very impressed btw about the book writing skills but it does sound a little bit “Wilbur Smithish”. I might have to buy it, read it and spread the word – and maybe I will Mr Blacker, maybe I will, if you’re nice to me. I happen to know the owner of a very big book distributor this side of Barefoot (!).

Actually – pity none of us get on otherwise I could ask you to send it to me. Are you friends with Morq? If so – I’ll ask him. Still – given you are an ex-Soldier I suppose it is a little biased as Indi hinted.

Re the Ceylon thing, look again, let’s not start any sublime racist shit here. I know exactly where Indi lives and where Barefoot is and you know I do to David.

I sometimes say Celyon, sometimes Sri Lanka – sometimes SL… etc… it’s no big deal.

No need to get your knickers in a twist

Ah – see this why the people who watch and listen to th BBC need to read this blog …. it’s so ..;. hm … what shall I say, full of eloquence and rationale don’t you think.

DB – I shall never read your book unless you personally sign a copy for me, apologising for being a bit up yourself, mail it to Morq … C/o Barefoot and then he can send it to me.

As for me getting my facts right – come now, burgher or otherwise, you know it’s all about ones particular perspective. For example, aren’t we all bloody burghers anyway?

Feel free “to have a go” – it’s no skin of my nose and as always very revealing to all those who might happen to stray towards this blog.

Thanks for getting the frustrated groupie off my case. I think she’s impressed by your book.

And so she should be. A fuck load has happened and I’m still midway. Good read Blacker. I find the way you describe the amount of bullet holes in the dead bodies slightly disturbing though.

On the subject of Burghers, I think when the film comes out I should play Dayan and Tanya should play Sandra. No?

DB – let’s keep this strictly bloggerish – no need to bebe me and no need for over familiarity either. Cheeky sod.

Look – don’t be a goose – send me a copy with an real explanation as to why you wrote the book. I’m sure you could get it to Morq if you really wanted to. In the end all perspectives are valid. War, hatred and predjudice breaks out when people don’t value other peoples background. I do value yours even if I am being pre-juedgemental – after all everyone can change thier mind and your book is in the genre of fiction with your personal experience of facts thrown in. You are certainly in more of a position to talk about the war in SL than any of the other bloggers apar from Morq. So hat of to you. Whether your book is balanced or not is for me to determine if you send me the book and a much larger literary public – if you so choose. It’s up to you.

Re the Burgher wish – what are you on about now? Is this another sublime little racist inuendo. Ah of course, I remember, most Burghers are supposed to be “fair” and were favoured by our colonial masters – yes sure. They also got to run away from ole Serendip when the Bandaranikes went all socialist and nathionist back in the 70′s quite easily back in those days.

Geeish DB, how old are you. I don’t think Sinhalese, Tamil (Hindu, Muslim or otherwise) would actively try and be Burgher anymore. Those days are long gone and you know it.

I think everyone in SL has a disctinct defined identiy. I think the world also understands how complex SL is and this largely due to the Tsunami. I think this is one of our greatest assests.

So no-ones interested in being Burgher David. In the long run lets hope that more people are interested in justice, peace and a little less superiority of one race over another. Burgher or otherwise. What we need now is for someone to pull everyone together. If we ever find a leader/group/movement who can do this, Sri Lanka will truly be an amazing country and there will be no holding us back.

However, in the meantime what needs to stop is people having delusions of granduer – Indi the worst offender, a resounding complaint we get about him. Probably just the booze and pot talking but if we go back to my original comment on this post I feel quite justified objecting to him speaking to the BBC re SL blogging and felt he should have handed over to Morq.

It was only an objection and that’s what the blog’s all about. I was grumpy about it but – hey we move on.

Or … can we …

Hey David, for what it’s worth, I think it’s an excellent read. Must thank that short fart, for the review on Moju, next time I meet him.

Well – I don’t know how I’m supposed to buy it over here !!

If it’s only Rs 890, I don’t see why you can’t buy it for me and say you’re sorry etc … but alright then, I’ll talk to Morq and see if he’ll send me a copy.

As for the interview with Sophist – hmmm, I’ll think about reading anymore that goose has to say than I have to put up with on this blog.

Anyway – good luck with the book and tell your publisher not to be so stingy – you never know who might pick up the book and run with it.

I would like to coin the term “blogoff” in order to describe the arguments people have in the comments section of their blogs.

Wikipedia fame here I come!

Blogoff people, remember, you heard it here first!

DB – don’t be dense, another continent is what I meant when I said the other side of Barefoot. Madre de dios – you are being silly now.

I can see why you kept demanding I go and buy it – well it would cost be Rs.890 as well as an airplane ticket and sorry, no can do, not even for you :-)

OK, Ashanthi. This is going far enough. People are starting to talk. Order the book from http://www.ph-books.com cos it ain’t coming free. I take back the ‘Babe’ part back.

Ashanthi, Here’s the deal. Some burghers are still fair! And judging from what Sophist said, they are still favoured over others!
Thanks for the brilliant idea, Sophist! Not really interestd in playing any character. And David, I’ll do more than kick your butt for that!

Thanks Nick, it helps when you’re a web developer by trade ;)

david, why bother?
they don’t get it anyway.
not the book, i love the read.
just everything. i am talking about the total ceylon and tamil thing. it’s just no use, so therefore, just leave it.
finally the bare truth is that sri lanka is the only country we have, thats it.
if we ever give the tamil people in sri lanka a seperate country by dividing sri lanka, all what will happen is the 50million tamils in tamil nadu will come over and take over their lives. think about it.