Social Networking Sites are Fun, except…

If you’re an Internet addict, you would know what a social networking site is. Websites like Friendster, Facebook, MySpace and the like. There are even websites catering to a particular group to assist them network, make friends and keep i contact. As for me, you can see in my side bar how many I have. It can be addictive, especially Facebook, don’t you think so? But despite all this, there is one thing I’m sure you would not be too pleased of. Forwarded messages/chain letters. It is like receiving them via email isn’t enough!

Here’s one which I received in my inbox on Friendster. Take note that I don’t mind the intention, just the wording and the recipient:-

———————————-
Original message from aRe:
> ———————————-
> Original message from satun:
> > ———————————-
> > Original message from Ms may:
> > > ———————————-
> > > Original message from MuhD aMin:
> > > > ———————————-
> > > > Original message from iSmi:
> > > > > ———————————-
> > > > > Original message from mazuan:
> > > > > > ———————————-
> > > > > > Original message from ashal:
> > > > > > > ———————————-
> > > > > > > Original message from zaza:
> > > > > > > > ———————————-
> > > > > > > > Original message from johari:
> > > > > > > > > > Carlsberg baru sahaja mengeluarkan dua produk minuman tin terbarunya bernama JOLLY SHANDY berperisa LEMON dan ORANGE. Malah corak dan warna tin minuman tersebut seolah2 sama seperti tin minuman biasa F&N, PEPSI, Coca Cola, Drinho, Yeos, etc. Apa yang membimbangkan kita semua umat Islam ialah kemungkinan ia dipasarkan secara terbuka dan meluas sehinggakan ada nanti umat Islam yang terbeli minuman tersebut. Tambahan pula perkataan “Contains alcohol” hanya di tulis kecil sahaja di belakang tin tersebut. HARAP SEBARKAN MAKLUMAT INI UNTUK KEBAIKAN SEMUA UMAT ISLAM……………..
> > > > > > > > > > JANGAN LUPA SEBARKAN X G2 ANDA AKAN DOSA SEUMUR HIDUP KERANA MENDAPAT INFO TAPI X SEBARKAN….
> > > > > > > > > > mari lah kita berihat bersama-sama..
> > > > > > > > > > demi islam

Talk about being released late, but sent to the wrong audience! I take wine, shandy, beer, sheridan etc. every now and then. While it is not a practice, I’m supposed to take the wine with bread at least once a week! While I don’t take personal offense, I do find it irritating when I have my inbox flooded with forwarded unnecessary mail.

Another on is the all time favourite “forward-this-before-you-die” mails.

How would you feel? You’ve warned via profile/shout out that you would not like these type of emails/messages. Yet, you find yourself clearing up your inbox of these clutter?

While I do not have these problems in the political simulations - that’s what the forums are for :-p - it’s so common in these social websites. Another source of irritation is one line messages from complete strangers.

Messages with just “Hi” or “Hi how are you?” can be a source of irritation. The idea of a social networking site is that you follow that line with a “Oh, we share the same interests! What type of kata do you like the most? Which one do you find difficult?” or “Corporate writing? Sounds neat. What are your market? Do you do specs? How much do you charge? Have you been writing long?” etc. etc. The difference between email and social networking sites are I have access to your information which are displayed in your profile. (Reminder: be careful of what you put up! Some information should be guarded like it’s your life, e.g. date of birth, pet’s name, first school attended, favourite colour and any other information which can be used to recover your password!) A cliche one-liners indicate that the sender probably did not read your profile. It’s proven when he or she asks you the questions that are already available there.

Here’s another collection of messages (recovered through the history section of this particular website):

25 Mar 2008, 08:00

Sender: Hello Mr.E.T Toyad, good morning. I like you, but why must you be so elusively charming? The reason why i asked is sometimes students hang around the faculty coz they visit the library and meet up friends around there. Perhaps you dont have many friends eh? see you later alligator.

25 Mar 2008, 20:58

Recipient (Me) : I don’t have an ‘E’ in any of my initials… >_>

26 Mar 2008, 00:36

Sender: Ok if u dont have.Perhaps its Aldric Tinker Toyad? May be I got yr first name wrong but Tinker Toyad is definitely you

I know what you are up to..but its ok I am enjoying this exchange of msg. Good nite Mr Toyad

26 Mar 2008, 21:50

Recipient: I prefer to be known by my own name, thank you. I hate living in the shadow of any one else.

26 Mar 2008, 23:31

Sender: Wow! I cant help you there mate! Its your sir name and you`re born with it. If you hate it then ,”..Houston you sure have a problem!!!!” Ha ha ha! Sorry. Perhaps you should visit National Registration Department and have the sir name changed to a new one. May be some English name rather than Toyad or get adopted by some English parent

27 Mar 2008, 15:33

Recipient: It’s not part of my name. It’s not in my IC. It’s not in my birth certificate. How is it part of my name? It’s my family name, but it ain’t my surname…

28 Mar 2008, 01:26

Sender: Oh! Is that so? So who is this Leo Michael Toyad to you? Uncle? or Fathere? or former father? or what? Its ok if you are not comfortable wit it, I understand..

29 Mar 2008, 00:07

Recipient: I fail to see how that information is relevant. >_>

29 Mar 2008, 01:14

Sender: You are just being thick in yr head. That was not an information. Its a statement.Just because he`s a Muslim now you dont hv 2 be UNgrateful brat.we`ll see. You aren`tas ver as you tot.

29 Mar 2008, 23:16

Recipient: How am I being ungrateful? I don’t remember me asking you family and personal details. Did I? Come to think of it, you’re the one who started everything out.For Leo Toyad to embrace Islam is none of my concern. I fail to see how and why I should be a busy-body. So enlighten, O PhD holder, how on earth am I being ungrateful?

What has the world come to? Apparently you should be wary of people who think they know you and feel obligated to correct you of your own history, heritage and lineage. It’s like someone have been living your life for the past (your age) years and you just returned from holiday. As you can see, apparently the sender thinks I do not know my own name. LoL. If you think I’m forgetting my lineage, I recommend interviewing those who are close to me. My relatives, especially.

Haih…

Yes, social networking sites are fun. But virtual reality in no replacement of reality and the real world. You still need to hang out with friends and meet new ones. Conferencing via Y!M isn’t a replacement to attending family/social gatherings. Now, I better halt my blogging spree here and get back to reality - by hitting the bed covers… See you in the morning.