It's said that the rich have a different set of rules to live by than less affluent citizens. They have the means and resources to get what they want, and as well as not having to fret about bringing home a monthly paycheck, they also don't have to care if they are liked or disliked. They have friends in high places.
But last August Jakarta high society was rocked by scandal. A blog, purportedly written by a society insider, started out by giving tips on 'How to Be [sic] Socialite'. The first 10 requirements to make it in society - including wearing the most ostentatious designs, marrying rich and being accorded front - row seats at major fashion shows - were benign compared to what followed.
Very quickly things got nasty. In a camo, gleefully bitchy style mixing Indonesian with choice smatterings of English, the writer (it was never clear if it was a he or she, an individual or a group) went face by face through the photos in a society magazine. The poison penlaid bare alleged affairs, dark family secrets and other indiscretions, and, most shockingly, named names.
A supposed "friend" would prod the writer to tell more (again it was never clear if the friend existed, or was none other than the blog writer), and the venom continued to pour forth. From tycoons to entrepreneurs to the children of former national leaders, nobody was spared as closets were flung open and dirty underwear (most likely silk) was washed in public.
News of the blog spread, and it was briefly one of the top 10 visited blog sites in the country. It was copied and sent by email around the city, followed by socialites and also those from the outside looking in at their world.
Eventually, the blog author went a bit too far and dished too much dirt. The dignified silence of those who were being attacked, and their friends, ended. Angry posted comments speculated on the identity author of the blog, and also made threats to "silence" him or her if the viciousness continued. After initially refusing to back down, the writer caved and pulled the blog (copies of it reportedly still exist in cyberspace).
The blog and its author created a lot of waves in a brief two-month period. The writer is still unknown to this day. But if anything, the sordid, scandalous episode demonstrated that the rich do stick together in times of trouble. And they get their way.
But last August Jakarta high society was rocked by scandal. A blog, purportedly written by a society insider, started out by giving tips on 'How to Be [sic] Socialite'. The first 10 requirements to make it in society - including wearing the most ostentatious designs, marrying rich and being accorded front - row seats at major fashion shows - were benign compared to what followed.
Very quickly things got nasty. In a camo, gleefully bitchy style mixing Indonesian with choice smatterings of English, the writer (it was never clear if it was a he or she, an individual or a group) went face by face through the photos in a society magazine. The poison penlaid bare alleged affairs, dark family secrets and other indiscretions, and, most shockingly, named names.
A supposed "friend" would prod the writer to tell more (again it was never clear if the friend existed, or was none other than the blog writer), and the venom continued to pour forth. From tycoons to entrepreneurs to the children of former national leaders, nobody was spared as closets were flung open and dirty underwear (most likely silk) was washed in public.
News of the blog spread, and it was briefly one of the top 10 visited blog sites in the country. It was copied and sent by email around the city, followed by socialites and also those from the outside looking in at their world.
Eventually, the blog author went a bit too far and dished too much dirt. The dignified silence of those who were being attacked, and their friends, ended. Angry posted comments speculated on the identity author of the blog, and also made threats to "silence" him or her if the viciousness continued. After initially refusing to back down, the writer caved and pulled the blog (copies of it reportedly still exist in cyberspace).
The blog and its author created a lot of waves in a brief two-month period. The writer is still unknown to this day. But if anything, the sordid, scandalous episode demonstrated that the rich do stick together in times of trouble. And they get their way.
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