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Friday, August 26, 2011

A Facebook conversation that illustrates the perils of copying and pasting status messages, or sharing links, without studying closely those messages or links-2

Commitscion Ankana Sinha (Class of 2009), who works as a brand manager with ProNature Organic Foods in Bangalore, graciously consented to let me reproduce this discussion we had on Facebook earlier today:


Worth a watch. Not sure how much of it is authentic though...

www.youtube.com
See the real story of Anna Hazare , checkout what his ex-colleagues have to say about him. You will be shocked to hear the real truth hidden from all of us.
19 hours ago ·  ·  · 


    • Ramesh Prabhu If it's not authentic, why is it being passed on?
      15 hours ago ·  ·  1 person

    • Ankana Sinha Maybe because we just like controversies...
      2 hours ago · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu Ankana: Please read this post and, afterwards, let me know what you think. Thank you. http://goo.gl/3IUkd

      engageentertainenlighten.blogspot.com
      This blog is for students of Commits, a media college in Bangalore, where I teac...See More

      50 minutes ago ·  · 

    • Ankana Sinha I have read this one. I will need a very long conversation with you on this. I shared this link because it was interesting, not because I believe it or subscribe to it.
      45 minutes ago · 

    • Ankana Sinha And I did try making it clear in the status message with the link.
      44 minutes ago · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu ‎1. If you don't believe in what you're "sharing", or if you don't subscribe to it, please make that clear in your status update. Your status update said, "Worth a watch".

      2. There will be lots of stuff on the net that could be considered "interesting", but before "sharing" any of it, please think twice. You may be giving unnecessary, and wrong, publicity to something that has no merit, or, worse, is blatantly untrue.

      41 minutes ago · 

    • Ankana Sinha It is worth a watch because those people are saying something interesting...I also said in my status that I doubt its credibility. Not once have I said it is true. Not once have i urged the viewers to "spread the message". I trust the viewers to use their discretion. Do you believe everything that is "thrown" at you?
      33 minutes ago · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu How do you know who these "people" are? What is their background? What agenda are they promoting? Who has made this video? With what purpose?

      My concern is that your friends, who have faith in your judgment, will believe what they see in this video. And that is not right if this video is a propaganda film.

      I have what I think is a healthy scepticism -- partly because of my nature, partly because of my training as a journalist -- so, no, I don't believe everything that is thrown at me. In fact, I don't even read such emails or watch such clips because I am deeply suspicious of their intent.

      28 minutes ago · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu And you did not say you doubt this video's credibility. You said, "Not sure how much of it is authentic though...". That gives the impression that you believe some of it is authentic. How would you know that?
      24 minutes ago · 

    • Ankana Sinha I don't think it means I believe it is part authentic. I am questioning its authenticity...it could mean that all of it is not authentic.
      22 minutes ago · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu My request: Please don't pass on anything that is not authentic. Please don't fall for these propaganda scams.
      21 minutes ago · 

    • Ankana Sinha ‎:) okay, granted.
      20 minutes ago · 

Sunday, August 21, 2011

"Chaicoffeeidlivadatomatrsoupsipsaaay!"

Samosapedia claims to be the definitive guide to South Asian lingo, though at first glance it appears to be more like the sub-continental cousin of the US-based Urban Dictionary (you will see what I mean when you check out both websites).

Definitive guide or not, Samosapedia is definitely an idea whose time has come. Don't we all want to know how to "have a bucket bath" and aren't we on the lookout always for "cheap and best"?

As for "Chaicoffeeidlivadatomatrsoupsipsaaay!", here's the entry from Samosapedia: SipsayAugust 05, 2011, Word of the Day
Most people who've traveled on the Indian Railways would agree that the best part of the journey is the endless barrage of food that comes your way.

Depending on what region of India you're in, your choices might range from hot hot idli-vadas wrapped in banana leaves and newspapers, to steaming peppered tomato soup served in styrofoam cups, to chai/coffee, to SIPSAAAAY.

"What are sipsays?" you may ask. It took me a while to figure this one out. I would hear "Chaicoffeeidlivadatomatrsoupsipsaaay" bellowed as the vendors breezed pass our train cabin and always wonder what that last item was.

Why, of course! Chips! An adaptation of the English word for "chips" or, as the Brits would say, "crisps" "sipsay" are those delightful deep fried, salted, spiced slices of potato/jackfruit/banana that we all love to munch on!

Next time you're on a train and you hear "sipsay", stop the fella and grab a few. Then you'll really be able to sakkath majaa maadi on your journey!

Vendor: "Chaicoffeeidlivadatomatrsoupsipsaaay!!!!!!!!"
Child: Amma, I want banana chips!
Amma: OK mole. 

You know where to go now for your daily dose of chutney.
  • Thank you, Satish Perumal (Class of 2011), for the tip-off.

A Facebook conversation that illustrates the perils of copying and pasting status messages, or sharing links, without studying closely those messages or links-1

Commitscion Noyon Jyoti Parasara (Class of 2007), who works with Mumbai Mirror, graciously consented to let me reproduce this discussion we had on Facebook earlier this week:


Noyon Jyoti Parasara
Interesting news feature. Indian corruption... congress and all involved


This video is banned in India by Youtube...Please spare some time to watch this video and share as much you can...its an explosive report on Indian corruption which has never covered by Indian Media why? a big question mark..this is self explanatory why Congress not in favour of JanLokpal bill..
Length: ‎6:48
Friday at 12:20am ·  ·  · Share


    • Ramesh Prabhu Is this authentic? Or is this a propaganda clip? Does YouTube actually ban videos in India? Is that possible, Noyon?
      Friday at 10:29am · 

    • Noyon Jyoti Parasara Sir youtube can ban videos according to geographic locations. Certain videos are not available in India.
      Talking about facts.. Vadra is indeed a part of DLF as well as Unitech. There were reports in ET and some DNA.
      Friday at 10:35am · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu First question: Who decides on banning certain videos?
      Friday at 10:49am · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu Second question: Who produced this propaganda film? When there's no "author", what does it say about the credibility of the work?
      Friday at 10:50am · 

    • Noyon Jyoti Parasara It should be a propaganda feature considering it is quite lop-sided. But then sir, propaganda is not always lies...
      Friday at 10:53am · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu I agree. But please leave it to propagandists to publicise their propaganda. Journalists have no business asking people to watch this propaganda film.
      Friday at 10:55am · 

    • Noyon Jyoti Parasara But sir, any such feature is worth watching. Propaganda or not... would you not agree? Even if it just means to know what Propagandists are up to. And what information they can throw forth. To use it in the newspapers is where we could use restraint...
      Friday at 10:59am · 

    • Noyon Jyoti Parasara About youtube - the producer, the govt or the producer can decide
      Friday at 11:00am · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu Sure, experienced journalists, who have a healthy scepticism by training, should watch all kinds of clips (and read all kinds of literature) to be able to better understand the world around them. But they should not publicise propaganda films on sites like Facebook without at least a disclaimer: THIS IS A PROPAGANDA FILM. KEEP THAT IN MIND IF YOU'RE WATCHING IT.

      If there's no disclaimer, people watching this propaganda film will believe what they are seeing -- especially because a journalist is recommending it. Isn't that wrong?
      Friday at 11:03am · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu As for YouTube's banning policy -- can I read an authentic version somewhere? Can you send me the link? I want to see this for myself. I have a healthy scepticism, you see.
      Friday at 11:04am · 

    • Noyon Jyoti Parasara Agreed. Should have added that part
      Friday at 11:09am · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu And the YouTube banning policy link?
      Friday at 11:09am · 

    • Noyon Jyoti Parasara I will check and get a link. I know that they can restrict as I have come across such videos where Youtube mentions it cannot be seen in India. Infact films like Striker were released for free on Youtube. but indians could not watch it.. as the producers had an agreement with youtube. only viewers in US could see it.
      Friday at 11:12am · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu That can happen with "legal" films, like "Striker", but I doubt YouTube has a policy banning clips like the one you are trying to publicise. Please continue the search for the link.

      This is the trap one falls in when one copies and pastes status messages. If you were not sure about the YouTube policy, why did you not act when you saw that line at the top: "This video is banned in India by Youtube"?
      Friday at 11:16am · 

    • Noyon Jyoti Parasara I did not see that line. i just saw the video. I saw it only when you pointed.
      And sir, sometimes you can't fight evil by playing by the rules. :)
      Friday at 11:21am · 

    • Noyon Jyoti Parasara having said that i will try getting to the source of the video
      Friday at 11:21am · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu Don't you see what you are copying and pasting, Noyon? I worry about that. And are you telling me that you are trying to "fight evil" by publicising this propaganda film? I don't get it.
      Friday at 11:22am ·  ·  1 person

    • Noyon Jyoti Parasara The film does have facts. Facts i did not know... i checked that what the video mentioned about his business is not false. How people use those facts is again another matter. And i would like to leave it to them. No censorship.
      Friday at 11:27am · 

    • Noyon Jyoti Parasara But as i admitted, I should have mentioned it is a propaganda film
      Friday at 11:27am · 

    • Ramesh Prabhu Can you send me the links to the facts that you did not know since you checked them?
      Friday at 11:30am


Also read: A Facebook conversation that illustrates the perils of copying and pasting status messages, or sharing links, without studying closely those messages or links-2