On the growing number of applications for the usage of the Speakers' Corner, SMU Wee Kim Wee Centre Director and Associate Professor of English Literature Kirpal Singh said that "In the old days – 14 years ago, even up to about four, five years ago – the myth was that if you said something that was a bit out of turn, or that the authorities didn't like, you'd be caught, arrested, lose your job, end up in prison, all kinds of things. Now I think that myth has been 'exploded' because of all the blogging and Facebook notes that go on, and the tweeting that's around. All these noises are convincing people that it's okay to make noise. People today are bolder, they're also better educated and they're more willing to engage on national issues and causes that are important to them."