Car Accident Case Closed: Kenny Sia Fulfils Social Responsibility

The wait is finally over.

Kenny Sia has eventually fulfilled his social responsibility as the most popular, automatically rendering him as one of the most influential bloggers in Malaysia as well.

Link: http://www.kennysia.com/archives/2007/05/trauma.php

Previously, many commentators in his blog remarked that he should not post the photos of a deceased in an accident, to respect the unfortunate who passed away in a car accident in Kuching. He was coincidentally at the scene.

For more information, you can read these in sequence before proceeding:
http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com/2007/05/not-unethical-pictures-of-car-accident.html
http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com/2007/05/consumerism-and-car-accident-pictures.html

and The Drifter's Rants blog entry: "The Kenny Sia Controversy"
http://knytan.blogspot.com/2007/05/kenny-sia-controversy.html

He remarked in the comments section in one of the links above, requesting me to check my mail:
http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com/2007/05/waiting-for-kenny-sias-reply-car.html

We discussed with details on the issue at hand and came to a conclusion. You can view his blog for the outcome, and get to see the "Public Service Announcement". The announcement proves that he acknowledges and undertakes his social responsibility to send the right message to his viewers and loyalists.

*~*~*~* Public Service Announcement *~*~*~*
Please note that kennysia.com has received permission from the involved's direct family to publish the photos of the car accident on this website.

kennysia.com wishes to advise anyone reading this entry that not everyone may wish to have these photos published as such. If you encounter a potentially fatal car accident in the future, please always ensure that the victims are safe first and foremost.
*~*~*~* Public Service Announcement *~*~*~*

In his mail, Kenny described at length that he indeed tried his best to save the victims involved with the skills that he had. Diagnosis was performed to decide whether the victims have died or otherwise. The photos were taken after rescuing all potential survivors of the tragedy.



With this, the confusion is cleared that he placed the importance of a rescue operation before photography.

Typically, I do not find the publishing of the deceased kid with protuding legs appealing. Since the family of the victims have given him the permission to publish (I have seen the letter), it would be acceptable as well.

My condolences to all related to the tragedy.

Previously, an issue was made out of this because many commentators (that includes me) dislike the fact that the combination of Kenny Sia's supporters' remarks and the content of this blog entry tend to justify that everyone in this world would be able to accept to see the pictures of their loved ones being photographed and published in such a way in a blog.

It is indeed untrue. As my blog is a socio-political blog, I feel the urge to note this to Kenny and he has agreed that everybody should be sensitive to anyone involved direct or indirectly in any form of tragedies. If those involved dislike the pictures of them or their loved ones to be photographed, then the photos should not be taken. Similarly, if those involved dislike such publishing, then their photos should not be blogged for all to see. This is an ethical thing to do. It is a human right of the deceased and its relations.

He has stated his agreement on the "sensitivity" part in his public service announcement as a token of social responsibility. Considering that a chunk of his viewers are teenagers of pre-teens, he has shown a good example in this case alone. Before we perform deeds in a tragedy, we should consider the consequences and emotions of all involved.

Kudos to him for this case alone.

P.S. Bear in mind Sagaladoola Blog is a socio-political, arts and art-music blog. The content is different than those of kennysia.com . Sagaladoola Blog had never written or interfere in kennysia.com issues except for this case, as there are issues of social ethics, rights and responsibility involved.

Next: Institute of Global Ethics, Princess Diana and the car accident tragedy. How does Diana and the Kuching car accident case tally? An analysis shall be provided....

Waiting for Kenny Sia's Reply: Car Accident Not "Unethical" Issue

On my article on Kenny Sia's pictures of the deceased ("NOT" Unethical Pictures of Car Accident from Kenny Sia), I received the comment below

Kenny Sia said...
Sagaladoola,I have sent you a message to your gmail. Please check.
Kenny
Monday, May 21, 2007 4:34:00 PM

I have since made a reply to Kenny. I am waiting for him to come back with a 'socially' responsible answer.

Hope he thinks ahead.....

COMING SOON .............

Consumerism and Car Accident Pictures of Kenny Sia's Blog

A continuation from my previous article:
"NOT" Unethical Pictures of Car Accident from Kenny Sia

Link: http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com/2007/05/not-unethical-pictures-of-car-accident.html

Please read the above before proceeding.

Let's see what the man has to say in his blog:
http://www.kennysia.com/archives/2007/05/trauma.php

-----------------

KENNY SAID: The guy is the real hero because...? He chanted some Muslim prayers to a dead girl? Please explain why you think the man holding the dead girl after we have already ascertained that they were no survivors is a real hero.

COMMENT:

This is the photo.

Link: http://www.kennysia.com/images/photos/2007/20070518-3.jpg

Yes, he is a hero. He helped the victims in need, dirtied his hands while SOMEBODY took picture for his blog (consumerism).

-----------------

KENNY SAID: I took photos during my father's funeral as well. There is nothing wrong in that.

COMMENT: The pictures that he took wasn't funeral photos. Wonder why he answered it this way.

-----------------

KENNY SAID: There is no need to ask. It is a news item. Does newspaper need permission to ask when reporting the news? For God's sakes, the family is grieving you still wanna ask that type of question? And for your information, The Borneo Post posted the news item on their website first before I did. Do you think they asked?

COMMENT:
This is Borneo Post picture, no blood, after the accident. China Press posts similar pictures as Borneo Post.
http://www.theborneopost.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/00002004.jpg

This is Kenny's picture of a victim, with blood, leg and pain. Taken EXACTLY at the accident scene.
http://www.kennysia.com/images/photos/2007/20070518-6.jpg

So, which picture will make the family suffer the most? You judge yourself. Are they the same genre of pictures? No, right?

He hasn't quite replied that if he were the one involved in the accident, would he be able to accept it that we are taking his picture provided he is dead.

If he say it is ok, then we can understand where he is coming from.

So far he is avoiding the question. Wonder why?

Is he doing it for consumerism? Is his blog getting money for hits? Will this kind of pictures generate hits?

-----------------

KENNY SAID: I helped before I took any photos.

COMMENT: Refer pictures above and read below on consumerism and whether he can accept his photo being taken in that way (read above).

-----------------

KENNY SAID: In this situation, if they are still alive they would be crying, or screaming, or making movement. If they are unconscious then they are in no danger of becoming dead. As long as the area is safe (ie, no danger of the car blowing up), it is perfectly alright to leave the unconscious inside the car.

COMMENT: An unconscious but STILL alive person would not be crying nor screaming nor make any move. An unconscious person MAY NOT be a dead person. Look at his answer. That is how he assumed they are dead. Guess what, he said he had first aid skills. He has not answered us on how he made the diagnosis on whether they are dead or otherwise. Wonder why?

Keep on snapping pictures for consumerism and blog after that.

He said he panicked, but the strange thing is, his pictures look perfectly well. Perhaps, panicky makes good pictures.

-----------------

KENNY SAID: You can name me EVERY SINGLE code of ethics that press photographers follow and I can prove to you that I followed EVERY SINGLE one of them. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF THEM.

COMMENT:
Let's read what comes from NickTay's blog:
http://the-reflector.com/?p=1838

Journalist Creed: http://journalism.missouri.edu/about/creed.html

Sentence 1: "I believe that the journalism which succeeds best — and best deserves success — fears God and honors Man; is stoutly independent, unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of power, constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient, always respectful of its readers but always unafraid.... "

Sentence 2: "I believe that no one should write as a journalist what he would not say as a gentleman; that bribery by one’s own pocketbook is as much to be avoided ....... "

Perhaps, we should all read and understand what Sentence 2 REALLY means. Perhaps, Kenny should tell us that those pictures on his blog is not available for consumerism? From what I gather, Kenny gets some money from his blog, not sure, maybe a rumour. How did Kenny get the Samsung X something something to take the pictures by the way? You tell me.

-----------------

Ladies and gentlemen, should we capitalise suffering? Can we justify it is OK to take pictures of the dead (without the face, but with blood and body) draw hits for our site and use it for consumerism? Is it ethical to do so?

If you were involved in an accident, would you want to have such photo of yours taken and be used for consumerism in blogs?

The picture: http://www.kennysia.com/images/photos/2007/20070518-6.jpg

Should we respect the dead and the family of the deceased? Is it tasteful or distasteful to do such a thing?

I do not know, you decide and judge.

The meaning of 'Consumerism':
1) A materialistic attachment to possessions
2) An economic theory that increased consumption is beneficial to a nation's economy

Link: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/consumerism

"NOT" Unethical Pictures of Car Accident from Kenny Sia

Some Commentators asked:

When you are dead in a car accident, do you want pictures of yourself taken and published in a blog? Pictures of everything, your leg, your car, your blood. Everything but not your face?

Ask Kenny Sia, he and some of his supporters said it is NOT unethical to do it. Does 'NOT unethical' means 'ethical'? Close but not really the same.

Read his account and comments:
http://www.kennysia.com/archives/2007/05/trauma.php

He was there during this accident:
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=19021

For Example, I would assume that if I were to (touchwood, only an assumption, example) see them (Kenny Sia and supporters) involved in an accident, they would not mind their photographers being taken and put in a blog for everyone to see (provided they are dead and cannot be saved).

Would you mind (the photos and blog) if that happened to you?

Would you mind being photographed like this and published in a blog?
http://www.kennysia.com/images/photos/2007/20070518-6.jpg

Please view the picture above before proceeding. He equate himself to the China Press journalist. Kenny Sia is a celebrity blogger in Malaysia.

It seems China Press only have photos of grieving members of the family and POST/AFTER ACCIDENT scenes. Kenny Sia has the live photos of the event. Taken when live saving is critical. Did China Press provide photos such as the above?

That is the difference.

Quotes from Spider-Man: With great power, comes great responsibility.

I say: With great authority (Technorati's words)/popularity, comes greater social responsibility.

Md Yusoff Othman: Surrealism Within Realistic Photographic Art

I have been searching extensively for some Malaysian artwork which would fit my taste. There are many but this particular artiste really caught my attention.

His name is Md Yusoff Othman, an artiste-lecturer in University Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor.

For more detailed information about him, please view it here:
http://www.nngallery.com.my/cof/102/

Let's take a look at some of his pictures of a recent exhibition here:
http://www.nngallery.com.my/cof/102/work331.html
http://www.nngallery.com.my/cof/102/work330.html

I particulary like this piece themed "Gelora Sebutir Batu" taken at Sungai Pisang, Gombak:
http://www.nngallery.com.my/cof/102/work332.html

There is a big stone in the middle of the picture surrounded by water. By the side of the water is the trees.

Looking at this image, It feels real to see the colour tone of the stone and the trees.

Perhaps it is the colour scheme of the waters, or maybe the position of the stone makes it surreal. The edge of the waters meeting with the land at the middle right of the picture resulted in the effect as if the stone is actually not on water but floating in clouds.

But, how can we have trees above the clouds?

The trickery of mind somehow blurs the distinction between real and surreal. The mind believes it is real but bordered on "suspect" upon second look. However, the piece still stands a realistic piece.

An example of a good selection of scene with both features in mind before photographing.

Hope to see more from him.