Spot the differences

We all grow up in a world of peace and harmony where we all agrees that stealing is a crime as well as something bad and not right to do.

Guilty as charged. I can't tell you how many I've stolen altogether but officially 1. :p

That being said many are still unsure about how intellectual property works. I.E the image above I just took it off the internet without crediting or informing the creator. Is it a crime or is it simply just unethical? Image from weheartit.com

I might have credited to weheartit.com but is that image originally from that site? Did they purchase the image from a stock image bank? Did they shoot it themselves? Are the models paid? I am not sure but if you want me to place my money on it I would say nope, it is not originally created by them partly because weheartit is a platform where users upload these images and very likely this user got it from some where else, added the word and do a mash up. So based on that, this edited artwork do belong to the user but what about the original photo?

It's hard to keep your images truly to yourselves once you upload it online isn't it? In case of "stealing" it means I take it from you but if in the case of the internet, you still have a copy after I "took" yours so is that still stealing?


Here is one of my favourite clip about cyber awareness about uploading things that make you regret. #LeakForJLaw

Despite being a online content creator, such rules are still very blur to even myself less said a mass audience right? So it's either you learn it the right way or the hard way.

Game Time - Spot The Difference 

Here's two pictures that I took off the internet from two different sources of the brand new Singapore Sports Hub taken during a media tour. Can you tell me the difference?

Not sure if you could tell the difference because there seems to have no differences at ALL.

Magic! 

I wouldn't jump into conclusion about who has stolen whose image here simply by the time of upload but I guess as reader you guys can link the dots yourself. Naming and shaming ain't usually my style especially when I have no "facts" about who is right or wrong but I also saw this conversation that went down on Twitter which kinda pisses me off a little.

Please don't "bro" me unless my dad fucked you mum or your dad fucked mine. I'm really not a fan of the whole "bro" culture.

So @HelmiSulaiman here did not claim that Patrick stole his image nor did he show remorse that he have stolen Patrick's image (I am assuming he did here). Neither did he said that he didn't know that it's not right but yet he was pretty sarcastic about the whole incident despite how Patrick handled this in a very civilised manner. I would probably tear him a new one or maybe just blog about it. oops.

Everyone starts off on the internet as a "n00b" and to me there is no shame of not knowing you made a mistake if you ask me. We all make mistake but trying to pull off a fast one just ain't cool. It's a small community here and sharing is the only way to build a stronger community together.

Oh, and how did I jump to conclusion that Patrick is the rightful owner in this case? I can't, I am simply assuming but also because our friend Helmi decided to switch his identity on both instagram and twitter multiple times there after. Guilty conscience much? And that is also why I did not even bother to mask out his handle or picture because it's no longer there.

Conclusion

We only get better building onto each other's idea and technology and that is the beauty of open source / internet but I guess there is no hard and fast rule on what is right and wrong on the internet these days especially with all the blurred lines. I would even say that these days no ideas are original, even the iPhones are built on the idea of our 1st phone, our 1st mobile phone, 1st color screen phone, 1st touch screen phones isn't it?

We all learn from mistakes and I should not, in fact I can't prove that Helmi in this case made a mistake but I guess he could have taken it with open mind and not be such a pain in an ass. Stealing intellectual property is a crime, plagiarism is a crime and in fact I've seen people failing their degree paper because of that. So the next time you are going to take something from someone without asking, at least credit it back. If you didn't, at least be gentlemen about it when caught because Mr.Smithbig brother is watching you. 

image source: blackathlete.net

If you are interested in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram images rights, check out this article. Not the most updated but one of those that is easiest to understand. 

Mr.Smith, sharing is caring but stealing is just retarding (I can't think of a better rhyming word)

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Crafting Your Twitter Bio.

*Disclaimer: This post is in no way trying to insult anyone. Simply for laugh. If anyone is offended, please let me know and I will add you to the "I am offended by Smith" list and wait for review. In any case, Sorry in advance.

I am not too sure how much attention do you guys pay to the little introduction of yourself on Twitter or better known as the Twitter Bio.

I actually do pay a lot of attention to it. Not just everyone's else but also my own. I always seems to have problem filling it up not because I am too awesome and have too much to tell but it always seems so difficult to find the right tone.

I wish to tell you what kinda person I am, I want to be quirky and put up something funny which is totally irrelevant but at the same time I feel like there is a need to brag a little about myself in order to impress someone within the shortest time.

So I thought what the heck, why not let me try putting myself into some templates of famous Twitter accounts in the local scene to see how I sound like?

                                                       ----------------------------------------

Of course! I'll start with the Blog Father. @MrBrown 

Smithankyou aka Jiahua Leong, Sexblogger of Singapore. Bathroom Poet, MRT Traveler and YouTuber. Loves Selfies and Basketball. Uncle of Joy, Faith & Luke. (Really, my nieces middle names are really Faith and Joy too.)

Local Blog Queen - @Xiaxue 

Bastarding now comes in 7 inches

Top Food Directory - @LadyIronChef 

My job is to make you horny.

Who else other than our local face of Twitter - @Ladyxtel

Product Director @MeGuideU for Singapore. Wrote @OmySG. Loves being l ame and enjoys fermented wheat. Always talking.

 An interesting local name in the local scene - @estellekiora 

Love-maker, #Girl Finder, #Sexy Creature, Aspiring #Entrepreneur & #SG Top #Lifestyle #Blogger 2014 aka Humsupman. I want to make the world a hornier place!

Must be one of my favourite follower, Miss Singapore - @Valerie__Lim 

Bipolar. Fatness fan. Best Lifestyle blog 2014. BMT Platoon 2nd 2004. singapore blogger smithankyou.com Instagram @Smithankyou 

Local real director - @jackneojackneo

Blogger of Thai Pub Culture, Why is Pandora So Popular, Story of Alvin & Yuki... Blogged 1187 posts. Uweekly Singapore Called me The Unicorn

 What if I were a brand? - @StarhubCares 

I'm here to pissed you off: 9am - 11pm from Mon - Fri | 8am - 12pm Sat & Sun excluding PH. Visit Smithankyou.com & read my nonsense.

 What about copying something from my friend? - @Hpility 

@Smithankyou's Official Twitter | Smithankyou.com | IG: @Smithankyou

 What about being like one of Singapore's hottest man? - @TommyWee 

Product Director. Independent influencer. I support hot girls and underdogs. Fat but improving. Say hi at Smithleong@gmail.com, Linkedin/Instagram@Smithankyou

----------------------------------------

I guess at the end of the day there is no better way to brag talk about yourself in your own way. Nothing of these really makes me feel like myself or even close. Some are just too much for my style while some are just too direct and "meh" to me. Which one do you prefer or do you have something you can come out with which is better for me?

What is your style? Humble? Show off? Direct? Your favourite quote?

Here's me for now.

If you are not following me on Twitter yet, see you there!

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Technology and the Social Media Revolution

“Geocities me!” It’s not a phrase that rolls easily off the tongue, like “Tweet me!” is it? Maybe that’s why (a) nobody in the history of the universe has ever said it, and (b) why Geocities doesn’t exist anymore (except in Japan, for some reason). And yet Geocities was the great-grand-daddy of all the social media we use today, launching way back in the Stone Age of the internet, 1994.

The Technology of Social Media

The social media revolution has been enabled by two main developments – the spread of wi-fi, and the development of portable devices. The first internet-enabled phones weren’t a lot of fun to use, with nasty monochrome screens and slow connections – and we’re not really talking about that long ago.

Look where we are now though – smartphones and tablets with amazing HD screens, super-fast connections, and every kind of social media you could want; from tweets to pics and entire life histories, available 24/7, on something that fits in your pocket. But don’t forget, in 10 years time it’ll all seem clunky and boring, as we’ll all have 3D IMAX implants in our eyeballs.

Twitter

People either love Twitter or hate it. It usually takes a while for people to start following you at first, and many new Tweeters give up in frustration. But stick with it, start following interesting people, and you may eventually find it pretty rewarding. You’ll soon learn to avoid the people who are using the site for marketing purposes. It’s even been involved in real social change in some countries.

Facebook

Facebook is probably the king of social media right now, having kicked MySpace off its perch a while ago. By September last year there were more than a billion active Facebook users worldwide. So what keeps the site expanding? There’s the social aspect of course; simply keeping in contact with friends and family. But that social theme is continued in other ways as well, like gaming. Games are massively popular on Facebook and other sites, and people looking for farming simulators, puzzles, casino games like poker and blackjack or even baccarat rebates from various sites can find the stuff they need easily and quickly.

Photo Sharing

Instagram is the leader in photo sites for now, and its free image filters and sharing abilities allow users to link up nicely with Twitter and Facebook. Pinterest launched around the same time, and exploits a slightly different niche, offering a virtual pin-board for users to display images and other themed content.

As the technology gets better and faster, social media is bound to keep growing. Just be careful what you post – the internet is full of examples of things people have shared and then wished they hadn’t!

(Images courtesy of cultofmac.com, theguardian.com, wallnest.com)

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Instagram Vs Twitter in Singapore.

One of the many questions that my friends like to ask me cause I am the "Social Media Guru" to them. They like to ask me question about different platforms like what is Path, what is Weibo, what is Plurk and so on and so on and what is the major difference. If everything is about Social and sharing and showing and telling, why do we need so many platforms?

My answer is simple, it's like language, it's like showing love, everyone has to find their own poison.

And the next question that very commonly raises from the rest will be what makes a platform better than the other? Or a more direct question will be "Is Twitter dying? I don't see a lot active users locally on this platform as compared to Instagram right? Isn't it the same?"

Well, it's same but different. Both Instagram and Twitter allows you share both text and pictures but what is the major differences?

To help layman out of this, I have this mantra

"Twitter's primary function allows mainly 140 characters while Instagram is to tell a thousand words." 

And now with Instavideo function you simply tell people almost a million words with one upload. (Depending on the frame per seconds but you get the drift.

So there you go, I've told you the difference between the two functions but what makes the main difference in attracting crowd? Why are there more active users on Instagram locally > Twitter?

Simply because

"Everyone has something to show but not everyone has something smart to say."

Fact-ed.

Some examples of stupid Tweets I got off the internet which is not local. We know what our mum always tell us, when you have nothing smart or nice to say - don't say. Same advise to these people.

And you know what they say about "If you don't sound good, at least look good." (Actually I just came out with that.) #AsSeenOnInstagram

So why am I not surprised there are more active users on Instagram? You can show your nails, your tits, your shoes, your food, the sky, the sea, the sun and the whole instant gratification with the like function as compared to Twitter where people go "I don't know what to say." "I don't sound interesting." and no likes!

Agree?

Mr.Smith, spending too much time lurking at hot girls pictures on Instagram.

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Did you buy twitter followers?

Hi, I am rich and I would like to buy you as my friend. Can I do that in real life? I guess not but can I do it online? On twitter? On facebook or even youtube channels?

I've always been ranting talking about this issue over twitter and to some of my friends on the social media scene. I seriously hate cannot agree with people who buy followers. Before I go on, this is one of the many available links that you can buy "friends" from.

In fact one of the most popular platform is started by none other than the famous Mark Zukerburg. Known as LIKE STORE. You have no idea who Mark is? Nope, he is not the founder of Facebook but he is the founder of like store. Read more about Mark here. 

Anyway, my point is why do you want to buy followers and buy like? Are you really that desperate to get friends or look famous? I will probably not blame most of these people who really buy it but more often I blame the marketing people(yes, including myself) which indirectly causes this to happen.

FYI to readers who has no idea why I am blaming the Marketing people, it's because very often our clients/bosses would like to know if the return of investment(ROI) to a certain bloggers is worth the money and on top of the clicks on their blog, what we will normally do is that we will actually estimate  calculate the number of reach/read base on their number of followers/readers/likes/fans on all the platform a blogger is on and than we will compared to our traditional media rate card from traditional media to give each blogger a "pricetag". 


For example, a certain size advertorial on certain magazine gives you 300,000 reach for $2,500 for an issue which is 30 days and than we will take a blogger's reach for example 5,000 reach and we are paying him $250 for an advertorial and if you multiply the reach by 6 and the price by 6 it is actually cheaper than going to traditional magazine where you still have to provide artwork and such which adds up the cost. Thus a blogger with higher reach will make be more "valuable" in that way. 


Please do not quote me that this is how everyone calculates the price or this is an industrial standard but I am just giving a daring assumption here but the idea is around there and because of this, it causes the bloggers to be very numbers sensitive. And of course, I am also not saying that more numbers of followers mean you are more influential or talented in anyway.

So with all these "wannabes" how can we identify who is really popular and who is not?

There are a few ways to identify and I am not saying that I am 100% right but this could be one of those signs that you can read.

Suspicious looking followers. 1 might be a bot, 2 might be coincidence but if it's a back to back of 50-60 numbers of more followers who follows a lot and very little followers and they all looks similar to what not on the list, they are most likely purchased followers.

There are also some other signs like - "list", "date of joining twitter" and even "number of tweets".

Let's take a look at some of the REAL popular local tweeple. Of course I am talking about Xiaxue and Mr.Brown.

Both of them are the Queen and GodFather of blogging and twitting in Singapore and they each have 100k and 60k followers respectively. They are both listed over 1,000 times, join twitter for more than 3 years at least and twitted around 20k +-.

Let's take a look at some local celebrities who are on twitter. Generally they are popular and on traditional media which makes them gain followers easier right?

This is Nat Ho and Joanne Peh and each of them has 18k and 28k followers and they are listed around 281 times and 418times. As they are celebrities, they do not even need to tweet a lot to get followers cause they are celebrities.

Even for Ex popular blogger Dawn Yang. She has some decent numbers.

And what about some normal users?

This is Mr. @CTHam, my good friend from twitter who has a very balance number of following and followers. Member since 09, listed 139times for twitting about things like photography, politics and humor.

Let's take a look at some of the accounts which I find it very very questionable.

From the way on how I look at it according to how I analyst what we have before, this person has 46k followers but only listed ONCE. He tweets less than 200 times and attracted 46k Followers. Is he a celebrity? NO. 

Member since '11 which means this acct has been around for less than 18months. Listed 8months tweeted 174times and has 174k followers which is even more than XX. 

This person twitter 37k times, listed 31times and has 22k followers. Not a celebrity. Not a "popular" blogger but has the same number of followers like a celebrity. Does not even tweet interesting stuff and more like using it as an IM and chat. 

Some of the account above looks really questionable but what about this one? 2k followers, 6k tweets, has been around for awhile but I'm not too sure how real this is either as I remember the numbers kinda hike overnight and this account do have some very weird followers. 

I guess you guys pretty much get what I am trying to say here. I am not trying to name and shame anyone because I didn't and neither am I encouraging you guys that numbers is important which is why I am paying attention to it but what I am trying to say here is that people who are on this platform long enough can easily identify you if you are real deal or not. There might be a lot of clients who are ignorant and you might be able to get away with it but in a long run are you sure this is what you want? 

Moreover, there are many sites who can track your followers gain graph as well. So if you have followers gain consistently of 166 per day OR a sudden jump of 5,000 followers, it is pretty obvious you are doing some magic there. 

Remember, enjoy twitter and social media fun, do not get caught in the number game of getting yourself more "popular". You can buy followers but can you buy friends and become really influential overnight? 

Mr.Smith, Why make yourself feel good only on twitter? you should really make youself feel good like... go fuck youself already.  

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Twitterverse in Singapore is just ...

Things had change. And the single word that best describe the situation now starts with D and Ends with a G.

Anybody in for a game for hanging with friends ? D I _ _ _ _ _ I _ G. Yes, D I S G U S T I N G.

Things started slow for local Social Media scene I suppose and I shall not say that I am a pioneer but I can easily say that I am one of those who jump onto the bandwagon a little wee bit earlier than the mass. And what puts me off recently is that the Twitterverse is lacking of love. Lack of this little bit of 人情味 as compared to maybe two years back.

Back than Twitter is like a little kampong to me where everyone tries to make friends with one and other and follows one and other, we help each other by RT-ing important tweets, showing support when one is down, meeting up for random dinners, showering each other with #FF / #FollowFriday.

Today, Twitter is like a developed country where everyone is for themselves and trying to create controversy and trying to get more followers yourself and it once again become another big rat race. People are using tricks to get followers, enabling bots to do auto tweets, trying to have more followers than following, trying to get free deals, putting hashtags all over to get the attention, only attending events with exclusive invitation and maybe even putting others down to make oneself look good. More and more bloggers spotted on twitter using it as a form of branding/advertising, spamming nothing but their own blog or related tweets, worst still, influential bloggers using it as a tool of cyber bullying ganging up the others and maybe a lot of brand jumping onto the bandwagon and talks about their promotion and get 5,000 or more followers within the first 3 months and than gone mum after that because contract ends with the agency.

I ask you people.

WHERE IS THE LOVE  ? 


The golden rule to me of social media is that it is not like(or rather not supposed to be) traditional media where it is a one sided media. Social Media is form in a unique manner by two words. "Social" and the other word is "Media". The word "Social" comes before the word "Media" for a simple reason, it's Social that brings the word out, it's Social, it's Love that make things go round. 


What went wrong? Is it because when the "country" got bigger and things just get harder to manage? Is it because how community managers and brand managers has shaped the society to become as such? Is it because local media is giving social media too much attention? No, I take the last question back, our country IS giving social media TOO MUCH, WAY TOO MUCH attention. I do know that listening to feedback is important but going through tweets and facebook comment on national TV is just too much. Every possible prints or TVC comes with a "Follow Us" or "Find Us On", FUCKING GOD DAMN IT, KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YOU ARE DOING AND STOP JUMPING ON AND DOING IT FOR THE FUCK OF IT. 


Fine, social media spaces are still shaping itself as the time goes by and we are suppose to be able to accept the changes for how it is but I seriously ain't enjoying where this shape is going. It's no rocket science and I can foresee what it is going to be like down the road. There is no right or wrong of how you use each tools, it's always about the perception and where you are standing and watching. As for now, I do not like what I am seeing from where I am standing. Although I am a marketing person, although I do lavish on social media as a source for my work but I do hope to see the glory days where it's love we are showing. That is almost a lil impossible for now and the least I could pray for is it does not go any further into the ashtray. 


No, I do not need 20,000 followers, all I want are friends. No, You do not need 20,000 followers cause your tweets stinks. 


Mr.Smith, very very disappointed ...

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Twestival SG 2011 - Sticker

Twestival is around the corner and I've added the sticker on my blog and so should you !

Turn your head right to check it out. >>>

Thanks scookys for the awesome design  and read more about it on Penn Olson !!

Tweet. Meet. Give

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Do You Like MAGIC ? - A #TWSG11 Preview

To live up to the name of a Stinson... ( Watch HIMYM to get the joke) I know MAGIC !

Let the Video do the talking.



(P.S : sorry a lil gan cheong cause it's my *cough* virgin time doing it)

Anyway if you like what you see ( or maybe even if you don't) , there will be more at Twestival !!

What is Twestival? Check out their website for more information! http://singapore.twestival.com/

Anyway if you thought that the above magic looks kinda familiar, it's because it's the same trick which my teacher performed on XiaXue 's guide to life at Secret Skills

Watch from 7min and 30sec onwards if you can't stand watching the whole show. : P

Xia Xue Guide To Life: EP 86

Yes, knowing magic is AWESOME because 73% of girls love magic and will do ANYTHING to know the truth !!!

For Example ?

(Read from bottom up)

Yes, come to Twestival if you like magic or @clicktokill in jap sch girl outfit.

Mr.Smith, I KNOW MAGIC !

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Dos and Don'ts of Social Media Dating.

Online dating has always been something which is happening around us. Regardless of the old skool mIRC > Friendster or even recent years twitter or facebook. It's happening and it's nothing to be ashamed of. I have a lot of couple friends who met over internet and are awesome couple and the only difference is it's a different platform. So what's the secret to getting hitched online?

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Saving Doggy Crystal ! - The #TweetDog Adventure

As some of you who follows my tweet should know that we have already return Crystal or more commonly know as #TweetDog for the past few days over the twitterverse.

Here's what happened, Crystal ran loose when the owner opened the door. According to the owner,Mrs Lim it's not uncommon for Crystal to pull a "Prison break" but she normally ran around the block or just the lift lobby and never to the other side of the neighborhood. Mrs Lim last saw Crystal at 9am on the same day which means Crystal was already missing for 12hrs when we found her. That explains why she was all thirsty when @Melpig offered water.

Facts about Crystal - Crystal is actually 11 yrs old ! Which means she is 77 yrs old in Planet of the Dogs !!

How did we know who to send to? - Owner's Daughter-in-law , Sharon saw my blog through a friend and contacted me. Look ! Social Media Save the Day !!

Anyway I would like to thanks everyone who retweeted my tweet and making it happen.

The dog saving mission was made possible thanks to everyone especially @Melpig who foster her for the nite and even feed and groom her, @keongsterz who drove us around, @Chris_Goh who spent time helping out and carry her around. And also other tweeps like @appleyay, @seraphina22, @kuey_lapis, @Goshprincess who actually offered $ to feed Crystal if we never could find Crystal's real identity. and @Hai_Ren who offer lots of suggestions and ways of getting lil Crystal home. Hope I didn't miss out anyone. = P

Anyway here's some pics of the Trio picking up Crystal and sending her back home !



Lil Crystal !







YAY !



@Chris_Goh feeling emo having to say good bye to Crystal.

Believe it or not, thanks to Crystal my blog actually has a all time peak hit of 400 + just in a few hours. Social Media is really helpful !!

Should we have tweetup to visit lil #TweetDog ? hehehee

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Food Review - Everything With Fries ( Fast Food )

I did a little food review sometime back about "Everything with Fries" and @keongsterz pretty much fall in love w that place. Just when you thought things couldn't get any better, it just did. We have got this place in a more accessible place with a brand new concept !

FAST FOOD - EVERYTHING WITH FRIES !!

I went down Orchard Central with half a mind expecting to get something same off the menu of the branch at joo chiat but I was pretty impress I must say. They got a brand new menu waiting for us !




@The_LGM was very impress and can't wait to order. The Counter girl was really friendly ! ( and cute too)


And they actually have different bread for different kinda burger. Nope, you do not get to mix and match the burger and bread. It's just a FYI.


Keeping the image of chalkboard !

Enough of how the place looks. The food I had.


- Cha Siu Burger ! ($7.90) + ($4 to make it a meal with Drinks and Fries)

- The description off their flyers - Layers of tender japanese style cha-siu, soft egg and miso sauce in a special handmade bun.

- I say - It's like eating ramen in a bun but no ramen. I really like it !! The Cha Siu and the egg. The egg and the sauce works really well. The taste is very rich but not too thick. It's a lil too small in size if you ask me.

- My Final Say :


- Butterscotch Shakes ($4.90) and Salt and Vinegar Fries ($2.90)

- This is the part which works like the restaurant where you have a few different flavor of fries. It's good... It's nice...



- Lamb Burger for Ah Dum ! ($6.90)

- The description off their flyers - The best lamb burger ever. Marinated with middle eastern spices topped with garlic cream cheese tomato concasse and caramelised onions.

- I say - great meat patty ! It's worth eating but not exactly the best I've tried I suppose. But the sauce taste pretty normal to me due to the tomato base.

- My Final Say :

Ahh.. and yes.. while we were there we actually bump into another group of tweeples !!



I did a little interview and ask them if the food were good.. Mr.Kueh_Lapis had an...



Wadever you call it.

Anyway if you guys are interested to check out this place it's actually at Orchard Central - #01-24/25 which is behind Epic Center.

Follow them on twitter too !! @EvrythingwFries

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