Changing Cultures

by: I-Vonne Lim

 

Touchscreens. I see them everywhere. Gatherings, cafes, malls; anywhere with people. It seems as if touchscreens are man’s new spouse. Agree?

 

Alright, coming from a typical Chinese family, I meet my extended family members usually once a year – Chinese New Year. It is commonly the reunion saturated with lots of food, warm hospitality, snippets of “wow, you’ve grown so much” topic, and some rounds of games like mahjong, cho tai ti, and card games, motivated by a practice of gambling, to raise competitive spirits, and to add to the fun of the whole game.

My last Chinese New Year was rather different compared to previous years, as if it is taking on a revolutionary trend. Guess what? This ‘revolutionary trend’ is initiated by touchscreens.My uncle and family (with two children aged 14 and 11) owns three iPads, and two iPhones.

 

During the last ‘revolutionary trend’ CNY reunion, the whole family was in the living room of the home, all engaged in a game of the touchscreen gadgets. It was a rather phenomenal sight to witness in a I-only-meet-them-once-a-year family reunion. Not only that, walk into restaurants and cafes, and you’ll see families dining, while their kids engaged with Angry Birds, and the youths, Temple Run.

 

I personally feel that touchscreens have made people antisocials. It is undeniable that a whole new phenomenal alleviation of lives has occurred through the penetration of culture by Androids, iPhones and iPads that provide an inarguable limitless convenient access to any piece of information or entertainment.

 

However, an overindulgence in these technologies take your attention off people, and into the virtual world.Some people may say that applications like Whatsapp, Viber and other bridges of communication keep people close. Yes, certainly they do, without doubt.

 

Sometimes, I do feel that an extreme convenience of communication lowers the significance and importance of our conversations. For example, which among these do you appreciate most on your birthday – a wish on your Facebook wall, a text message, a call, a mail to your residence?

 

Notice that I’ve arranged the four options in hierarchy of convenience levels, from the most convenient to the least. The more effort is takes for you to communicate with someone, the more sincere you are, and the more important the other is to you.

 

I believe that these make real relationships – relationships that last. In my opinion, the foundation of a good life lies in the person’s relationships and connections with others. I mean, real relationships.

 

Everybody belongs to a community and society. Why not engage with people, and not our technologies? I believe it is utterly not wrong to add spices of entertainment and great access to information through our handy tech gadgets, but I also believe that there is a time and place to do so.

 

It should take our personal time, not during reunions, dinners, and gatherings, because it simply compromises the chance of us advancing not only our lives, but the lives of others who surround us, whereby a simple encouraging, mind-opening conversation could make such a difference in their lives.

 

That’s what they call, engaging people. It all boils down to living in moderation. That is, to utilize them moderately, hence to have a balanced level of input in our beings, at the same time, using the inputs to make a difference in people, and in the world. It is evident that the new generation are captivated by games on tech gadgets, where games come first before friends. It is sad that these virtual avenues are such  antisocial makers of the young kids today.

 

I wish to not imagine what would become of them in the future. Yes, they would be extremely informed. But perhaps, from the Dinosaurs, to the Ice Age, to the 20th Century, to the Silent World, where the eyes see only one thing – the screen in hand.

 

I look forward to my next CNY reunion, seeing the “silent world” subtly creeping into my family.

Have Faith, for A Better Us.

by Azrina Azman

Few days ago, a friend of mine went to TwtUpIpoh; an event which was held specifically to gather everybody in the community who owns a Twitter account. It was a full blast I heard – just imagine a sea of youth together with live gigs one after another, DJs strutting their stuff at the turntable alongside a number of booths with interesting activities to get your hands on.

Pretty dope if you asked me.

No entrance fee was charged and the foods were complimentary to visitors. In short, the event was really meant for people to have a good time and enjoy themselves.

 

The official poster for TwtUpIpoh which took place at Port Ipoh

However, the event was purposely organized on the same day Bersih 3.0 was held. Reminiscing those days when Bersih 2.0 was held, large number of people took part in the controversial street demonstration including students from various institutions of higher education a.k.a our youths of today. Some of them were severely injured because of major physical violence that came from every angle of their surroundings. TwtUpIpoh is on with the hope that youngsters will opt for the former than Bersih 3.0.

 

The much anticipated rally.

As a token of remembrance from TwtUpIpoh, I received some flyers and postcards consisting images of our late political figures and a few of our home-grown indie rock bands. Upon running through all of these magnificent print-outs, my eyes were captivated by a gold and black flyer which sets out as a small booklet that contains articles about the need to change the nation by a group called Have Faith l Yakin Malaysia. Little did I know, this happens to be their first issue entitled Prejudice.

 

The image of a hand symbolizes our late Tunku Abdul Rahman’s when he shouted that one wonder word, Merdeka!

Have Faith l Yakin Malaysia refers themselves as Nation Builders, aiming to create a society driven by positivity and optimism. They believe in approaching just about anything and everything with maturity and wisdom. Their goal is to seek, unite and nurture nation builders with substance and that they strongly feel our beloved country has suffered enough from negativity, pessimism and cynicism. It is time to revolutionise the mindset of Malaysians to be reasonable and ethical.

Regarding the colours used in this flyer, a lot of people had misguided it as something that is in conjunction with the rally, because of the gold colour, which is similar to yellow. Rest assured, Have Faith l Yakin Malaysia does not have any Bersih 3.0 influences let alone the essence of any political parties, be it from the government or opposition. It is an independent body that was built from the minds of youngsters in voicing out their opinions and perspectives regarding the issues that had arose in the nation.

Their booklet flyer, alongside with poetic yet energetic words; is used as a medium to put out their views regarding specific matters as a way of expression that youngsters too, do care about the future of our nation, national issues on media, and the future of our next generation.

With no pressure from either sides of politics, this body is truly what we can call as ‘the epitome of neutral’ as it is neither presided as a sub-division of the government side nor the opposition side.

They may not possess the imperative experience, exposure or knowledge in identifying who is right or wrong. Yet, when they attempt, they tend to seek only the data that would satisfy our pre-determined conclusion. Without acting profoundly, they scrutinize superficially for the sake of acceptance among our factions.

As the two powerful words in their bid to restore our belief for this country outlined; HAVE FAITH!

*Kindly visit their facebook page at Have Faith l Yakin for more updates. Spread the word.

Twitter – A Virtual Battlefield?

 

 

 

 

By Amira Masri

Of all types and kinds of social networking sites which have been mushrooming into our virtual world, I still think Twitter is the most powerful tool for instant and immediate news. In fact, it has such a prominent position amongst Internet users alongside Facebook. Almost every award-winning organization opts for Twitter as a social medium between them and their users today.

I personally rely on Twitter to know the latest whereabouts and topics to be shared during dinner. There’s always things to talk about on Twitter, thanks to the ‘trending topics’ one often sees at the side of his Twitter homepage. A while back, Twitter has a lot to contribute to the Bersih 2.0 rally, which became the number one trending topic in Malaysia on July 9^th 2011. Malaysia also created a name in Twitter history when #InMalaysia made it to the worldwide trending topic, where Malaysians and non-Malaysians tweeted about what Malaysia has (or lacks of). Just a couple of days ago, a guy by the name of Elmi made it to the local trending topics due to the accusations made by a certain royal prince against him. News can be spread as fast as mere minutes on Twitter. The chain is easy – Twitter user A talks about the latest sale in a particular store, and Twitter user B will probably ‘retweet’ his tweet. Twitter user C reads the tweet and hurries to the particular store and snapped a photo of his cheap purchases to be shared on this micro blogging site, and this chain continues.

All things put aside, Twitter which was originally a one-way communication device evolves into a two-way communication platform. Twitter users only need to use ‘mentions’ to notify a particular user that the tweet is directed to him. Albeit this convenience developed by Jack Dorsey, the creator of Twitter, some Twitter users tend to use their Twitter accounts in another direction, somewhat unlikeable to some parties.

Jack Dorsey, creator of Twitter

What ‘other directions’, you say? The older and more ‘experienced’ generation of Twitter users would be familiar with the way Twitter works as a platform for mocking (without names mentioned) and cyber bullying activities. A person I followed once (which I unfollowed eventually much to my annoyance) had most of his tweets mocking, degrading or making fun of certain people he dislikes. Normally, these bullies would resolve in mocking someone on his Twitter account in such crude ways but not having his name mentioned.

Talking on the victim’s point of view, of course he will be offended and this can go a long way. Well, who wouldn’t be offended when he reads tweets like these:

You’re so fat & annoying, y do I have to c your face every day? Btw, ur bright red shoes r ugly. – @IHateEverybody

No one cares about you, #foreveralone much? – @MeanGirl

YAY THAT SCUMBAG’S NOT LIVING WITH US ANYMORE!! – @IgnorantRoommate

Of course, one would say “Why get offended over tweets like that? He’s not talking about you anyway,” Regardless of whomever the spiteful tweets are meant for, I don’t think it’s anywhere near pleasing to have that on your timeline. Besides, some of those ‘mean tweets’ can be personal attacks to a particular person, too personal until he couldn’t help but feel offended. Based on most cases, the offended would probably come up with a statement as intelligent and as hateful, and then it starts – The Virtual Battlefield, where hateful comments were exchanged between one another, and the worst victim will be third parties who happen to follow both of them.

Crude messages can go such a long way

Using Twitter is basically expressing our thoughts in literal terms in the World Wide Web. It’s only natural when we feel something unpleasant or furious about a thing, and we need a medium to let it all out. I understand how some of the people I’m following tend to tweet things they were not happy about once in a while because it’s only natural to do that. However, imagine seeing ten of those kind of tweets lingering in your timeline by the same person. Don’t think he’s having those ‘occasional bad thoughts’ moments anymore, no?

Nadia Elliza, also known as Adinda Evans was once virtually tormented via Twitter

Sometime last year, the microblogging site once made a history in a certain fourteen year old girl’s life who goes by the name of ‘Adinda Evans’. What happened to be a rather foolish and immature blog post became the most talked about topic amongst Malaysian Twitter users, making Adinda Evans the number one trending topic in Malaysia as of that day.

I would not comment on her blog post (that would require another entry), but let’s concentrate on what other Twitter users did to her. What she did and eventually posted online was wrong, that is true. However, that does not make the actions of mocking her crudely right. Some of the words said by a number of Twitter users were very unruly. Honestly, I pity her as a fourteen year old, having to face such things at a very tender age. She had people who she didn’t personally know personally attacking her as though she had done something bad in their favour.

Now, imagine being in her shoes. Would you like it if someone simply points out your mistake and does not try to help you in improving yourself at all? Would you find it pleasurable if someone starts saying the meanest of words to you virtually and publicly for the whole world to see? In fact, would you find it pleasing to be bullied in the first place, regardless of it being virtual or not.

There was a saying I read in Twitter which goes somewhat like this – don’t venture yourself into Twitter if you’re not mentally prepared. Whoever said that was right anyway. Twitter is building up its name, catching up to the ever popular Facebook. More and more people sign up for an account, and I think it’s time for a calling to the people who use their Twitter accounts as a medium to virtually bully others.

Twitter made YOLO (You Only Live Once) famous anyway, so why don’t you stick by it and spread love instead of hate? Life’s too short to be hating or crying on certain things. Tweet about something useful instead – quotes, sayings, news, events, or even how happy you felt today. People do not follow you to read your endless hateful rambles on a certain person.

*All tweethandles in this article are purely fictitious, and any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is purely coincidental.