Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Twitter a case of Fatal attraction or twitter a case of a sting in the tale (not tail)?













Social media a formidable foe for mainstream English media?  This blog was posted on 31st Dec 2010.

Today I am revisiting the subject wondering if twitter is case of Fatal attraction or is twitter a case of a sting in the tale (not tail)?

An innocuous platform, bird with an open beak imposing serious and debilitating condition of 140 characters and no more! Wonder what’s become of the machismo and the macho, those who strut their wares of how to beat the system and extend the boundaries. No signs at all, no struggle what so ever caved in tamely, guess this is harsh! We took to Twitter as a fish does to water.
Low internet penetration in India, yet #2 when it comes to twitter usage globally after USA, ahead of Japan, Germany & UK! " why? The partial answer lies in the fact that our media is not credible print & electronic. These two seem to have established academies to train and churn out the best that Goebbels would have willingly given his right arm for. Electronic medium in particular has outdone Goebbels the original propagandists.
What is Twitter? Normally described as social media platform! The meaning differs from person to person some use it for selling, some for connecting with the world, a few for fun and some for sharing knowledge, views and debate. It is a perfect and effective antidote for our self professed pompous, self-righteous, sanctimonious ostensible journalists. 

 
Twitter is also the alterego for many, Twitter is the sounding board, Twitter is for attracting others, personalities from Entertainment Industry announce forthcoming releases, Socialites their pet themes and of course media personalities invite you to view their show on TV and pose questions, more importantly they mock and challenge. Ah last but not the least manufacturing fake tweets by TV channel to influence viewers. 


Twitter has become a personal pigeonhole for Tweeple who block the journalistic fraternity, pelt them with tweets to which the recipients cannot retort directly, this is a role reversal to the utter dismay of the media, has not yet been able to come to terms with.  It is reported that a show hostess last week on air in the course of show stated that she was a hated figure on Twitter, question is? Did she elaborate on her own contributions for attaining such a cult status
An indisputable fact is that people on this forum have tremendous knowledge on almost all subjects are vocal and quick to correct any misrepresentation by the media folks, this leads to debates and often heated exchanges largely civil in nature often ending in Tweeple being labeled by media folks as Internet Hindus, Right wingers, Khakhi Chaddi Brigade, Trolls etc etc.
There are stray incidents of abusive language being employed by a few, blocking is normal. Irreverent Tweets are also a norm, rumors by media, as also misinformation is tried to be inflicted on us, such Tweets are duly deleted with promptness that the mischief does not return to haunt the perpetrator, by way of retweet or be used as evidence to confront the culprit. Tech savvy Tweeple ensure that such tweets are instantly captured and re-posted to the dismay and discomfort of these individuals who tried to be cute on this forum. There is a recent instance of a journo from Economic Times going overboard and posting hateful tweets, cruelly attempting to later justify them as a joke, we did not detect any humor what so ever in those tweets, will leave it to you readers to reach your own independent conclusion. However this was picked up and a blog was posted.
It has been famously said by a Tweeple “Media is a crime scene ensure a screenshot is retained” How true are these words you will be able to gauge for yourself by all the screenshots that are posted below.
Maintaining the decency and also the possibility that some who visit this blog may not take kindly to abusive tweets being displayed that is being avoided though links to such tweets are posted for the information of all those who may wish to read and acquaint themselves with such personalities.
The intention is to keep this blog alive by daily updates. An earnest request to all the readers, please forward screenshot that they wish to be published here and for the abusive tweet please do forward url.
In conclusion a few journalists in the West have had to lose their jobs on account of intemperate and offensive tweets, I am hoping that this post will ensure erring journalists in India are also dealt with in a befitting manner for their misdemeanor.   



Latest update on 18th July 2011
Said one disgruntled tweeter, “The problem with 24-hour news channels is that after a point, my desensitized attention glazes over and starts making fun of the news script.”- Mumbai serial blasts: How Twitter trumped TV channels




Latest update 06th Nov 2011




LIST OF ABUSIVE TWEETS: 

1.Click this link for tweets  Women Abused by this man
Tweets Uploaded on 23rd June
Tweets Uploaded on 17th June
Tweets Uploaded on 15th June latest exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I welcome a debate and discussion on this…As always, please keep your tone civil, your language polite…no sweeping generalisations please and no personal abuse.  Thank you.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Congress launches its Anti Anti-Corruption campaign Cart before the Horse





































 
 The circus must end Barkha Dutt, Hindustan Times June 10, 2011
Must confess did force myself to read this article even when it suffers from obvious deficiencies. Author is not credible due to transgression of professional ethics as brought out by Radii tapes. Definite taste of staleness, and fatigue on account of predictability of thought process; However must concede an effort has been made to rely on literature by quoting from various books, does not add any value to the subject. Those who wish to peruse the article or the comments posted in response may follow this link. The circus must end - link.

Commencing a blog is always an exercise which consume a large part of time, this time round luck was on my side when Mr. Neeraj Bhushan a friend posted this tweet
 “In India, civil societies are working as opposition. Will Non Govt Organizations then run my government tomorrow?”
There was further bonanza in store for me where this blog is concerned; congress party decides to launch an Anti Anti-corruption campaign of its own. Understandable congress and the UPA-2 government have only corruption as evidence that it is in existence.
“Senior Congress leader and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee hit out at Anna Hazare and Ramdev over the civil society's anti-corruption movement, accusing them of undermining democratic institutions and did not spare the BJP either.”  Link.
June 25th 1975 is still fresh in our memory which was a shinning example from congress of strengthening Democracy in India by declaring Emergency and arresting all politicians from opposition parties.
The other relevant articles that have appeared on this issue have been placed for the convenience of the readers so that they may form their independent opinion on this issue.
MK Dhar writing on Scams in India and also how there were riots all along the history- Sir, are you from the Mars? This is India. The Mother of corruption rules the country. The riddle was complicated. To my pleasant surprise he rattled out that Janpath to Rajpath, Ballimaran to Bhindi bazaar everyone is required to be pleased with graft money. How can you get the black money back from abroad? The Mother of corruption has stashed away billions herself. Link
POWER AND POLITICS. UPA needs to drop arrogance and get real. Offence is not always the best defence. Delhi’s ruling establishment is learning it the hard way. For the past few weeks, the UPA, the Congress and its megaphones have gone cacophonic with questions over the colour of the movements led by Anna Hazare and Ramdev against black money and corruption. Link

RACE COURSE ROAD. UPA II in a tizzy over transparency. For the UPA government, transparency is the new survival mantra. Defence Minister A K Antony’s credibility eclipsed that of his colleagues when he said the nation was going through a transparency revolution. Link
Insolent Congress- A democratic government’s constituency covers the entire nation. Our democracy will lose its vitality if our main political parties and their governments show no respect for diversity, dissent and dialogue—also for the rule of law.  : Link
Stop turning India into a circus - Every second child in India is malnourished despite thousands of crore rupees having been poured into the world’s largest child welfare programme, the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). If the government can be blackmailed into rescinding Parliament’s sole right to make laws, how about blackmailing it into ensuring that no Indian child goes to bed hungry at night?  : Link
Congress' Midsummer Folly: Rajat Sharma-History is witness to the fact that a democracy cannot be run on the strength of sheer brute force. Only those governments last, which listen to the voice of the opposition and of those who criticize peacefully. It is now up to the Congress to choose between oxygen and an acid.  : Link

Baba attack highlights Congress’ schizophreniaWhat is our experience? Any feeling that security measures did not adversely affect human rights has been disproved with the brutal 5 June midnight crackdown on 20,000 sleeping protestors at New Delhi's Ramlila Ground. They were participating in yoga guru "Baba" Ramdev's hunger strike against corruption. In what is described as India's "Tahrir Square", nearly 5,000 policemen including Rapid Action Commandos, who should have been battling armed Maoists, forcibly chased away unarmed men, women and children.   Link

In conclusion we Indians should be asking at the very minimum these three questions of ourselves, as also from Congress and UPA government.

1. Should congress and the UPA government be agitating against the anti corruption demand or should eradicating corruption be its target?

2. Why the disquiet about the participation of the civil society in the movement and demand for being involved in the process of Jan Lokpal bill?

3. Explain what makes National Advisory Council and its members acceptable?




I welcome a debate and discussion on this…As always, please keep your tone civil, your language polite…no sweeping generalisations please and no personal abuse.  Thank you.