#3 Twitter's "@ conversation"

Look at me, Imma tweet freak!

I finished rewriting my Mobile Etiquette article for Mobile World Magazine and it got me thinking. How much do you "like" it when someone intrudes your personal conversation online? You know that it your conversation is public when you "chat" in Twitter and when someone else tag along, wouldn't it be weird? Imagine me speaking English with my friend and you a stranger starts talking to me in Vietnamese (no offence to those who speaks it. Vietnam rules!).


See, told you Vietnam rules!

Recently (OK, not so recently), there is this thing called "@ conversation" in Twitter. You know,

IAmSoPretty tweeted:
Oh-my-own-reflection-from-the-mirror-who-looks-so-much-like-me-but-I-am-much-prettier, I feel like my prettiness level increase again.

IAmSoCool replied
@IAmSoPretty you are so pretty!

IAmSoPretty replied
@IAmSoCool you are so cool

IAmSoCool replied
@IAmSoPretty I know!

IAmSoPretty replied
@IAmSoCool I know too!

IAmSoBeautiful replied
@IamSoPretty @IAmSoCool We are all good looking!
.........................................
.........................................
....many replies later.....
.........................................

Err, something like that. If I accidently burnt the circuits in your head, here's a simple explanation in layman's term: you post an update in your Twitter and people will reply you by tagging your name. It no longer becomes a reply when both of you or more starts to tag you and each other in the conversation, hence, the "@ conversation" is born! Thank God and the creator of Twitter for it! Rejoice!

Back to topic. I understand the chatting in the comment section on Facebook tends to irritate others with the popping notifications. But in Twitter, that doesn't exist. So how much are you bothered when you are "intruded" by a stranger?

Think about it for a moment. Anyone can easily follow you on Twitter (if you do not privatise your account) and after that, the Unknown (substitute for stranger because it sounds cooler) can start viewing your tweets while you are at it. Imagine if you are having this oh-i-am-so-sad moment and your friends are cheering you up. The Unknown cheers you up too. How would you feel?


Err.. Okay, not this kind of Unknown

From my point of view, it will make me feel awkward becauce I don't know this person. If I choose to reply him or her, it's like we are friends but we are not and if this continues to a conversation people will think that we are really good friends. The thing is, I don't want that to happen.

On the other hand, if I choose to ignore the Unknown, it might send the wrong message that I am stuck up because I refuse to answer! And that could translate to other people thinking what a jerk I've become.

So where do you stand in this matter? Conversation in the virtual world seems to blur the line for friendship. It's like talking to this dude after you eavesdrop his conversation!


Yea, the old school eavesdropping.

My solution is simple if I want to avoid that. Click block and repeat. It's definitely faster than brushing your teeth!

I created this! If I find it elsewhere, Imma sue your ass off.

Calv out.

Read more...

Living inside the box #2

5 Mistakes You Made on PSP that Should Never be Repeated on NGP

With the Next Generation Portable (NGP); or better known as PSP 2; arriving, gamers in particular are saving up or begging their parents to but for them. Sad isn't it that you need to spend USD250 or USD350 (3G) just to get such a great device. Your old PSP is obsolete once this is out, right? Useless, thrown to the bin and forgoten. Sucks for you.

Well, for some people, it is entirely their own fault! Come on gamers, you are fooled into getting useless junk for your handheld gaming device! Just look at all the stuff you stick at your PSP. Poor device never stood a chance to see the light ever again. Here are 5 thing your can learn from your mistake that you do to your PSP. You can thank me later.

1. Speakers


The so-called affordable speakers for your PSP is usually priced at USD20. Well that is worth your money right? Hello? Technically, when you get your OWN PSP, what you are doing here is for your personal entertainment. Why would you even bother getting a speaker that makes your PSP looks twice its size or more?

Hey, if bothering other people is your thing, then go ahead. Can you imagine playing some game with your brand new speakers in a train? You'll get angry stares and unwanted attention. When I play my game, I would like to play in peace and not having eyes looking at me from across the train. And let's not forget the fact that your "admirers" will soon take REAL interest in your device. What I meant was, robbery yo. Definitely not the coolest kid in town any more.

2. Skins


Don't act like you are not aware of such accessories. It does exist and always will. Skins are every where and normally people who want to be "different" (oh wow, a condom for your device) will paste this. Yes, again this looks cheap, averaging at USD9 per piece. But once you get hooked to this, imagaine changing the skins over and over and over again. You do know that this is your PSP and not your play doll?

Oh, did I mention that you might get stuck with your current PSP if you want to sell it? I know that I don't want to buy a secondhand PSP with leopard spots on it. Do you? If that's not enough, Malaysian market is selling it between RM30 to RM80. So cheap.

3. Earphones


Noooooo. I am not crazy. I am just talking about the expensive one. The earphone in the picture above will set you back around USD500. Do you really need that expensive earphone? Just go with a good regular earphone gamers. How can you get something that is more expensive than then PSP itself? If you roll on money everyday, by all means, go for it. For those regular gamers out there, just opt for the USD10 ones because that is sufficient enough to provide you with quality sound.

Sometimes you just need to use your head people. If you can plan for your games, why not this? Personally, I use a normal earphone and the volume and quality is enough to shut me off from the real world, having people screaming for my name. Here's one for ONLY Rm99. It is so worth it right? Haha.

4. HDMI Converter

Ah, yes. With the advancement of technology, you would love to see everything crisp in Full HD. Yes, yes, your normal cable don't have such capabilities. Go ahead and buy the HDMI converter. Seriously? Do you really want to do that ? First off, do you know how much it cost to get one of those? It's like around RM200! Do you want to burn a hole in your pocket? Let me help you with that with a lighter, way easier.

Oh, did I mention that it defies the main purpose of having a PSP? You bought a HANDHELD gaming device so that you can carry AROUND, right? So that's all to it. If you want to hook it up to a big screen TV treating your PSP like a controller, just go get a PS3. It has better games that can make use of your wonderful Full HD TV. I mean it!

5. Etc

Well, technically I can write a whole list of things but that would just get on more of my nerves. A PSP is your gaming device. Not a Barbie doll (no offense). You can't just simply get add-ons without consequences. Really.

Waterproof casing? Do you want to swim with your PSP? Sure, hide it in your swimming suit and no one will question the bulge between your legs. What next? Antenna for your PSP so that it looks retro? Come on gamers. After accumulating all the extra expenditure for your PSP that is "worth it" for you, it could be that what you spend is enough to buy you a new NGP.

Living inside the box is a column where the writer writes and discuss his findings while surround himself with screens. Television, mobile phones, computers, handheld consoles, game consoles and anything with a screen comes in mind. You face all these in a daily basis and it may sound like you are trapped in a box (of screens). People wants you to break away from such thing by saying "Think outside the box."

I spend hours in the "box" and turn out OK. I say lets embrace it and hence "living inside the box."

Read more...