Email culture - have we evolved in tandem with the development of the internet? Part 1

One of the most widely used forms of current-digital-age-communication on the internet is the email.

Today, almost every nation is getting wired and almost every netizen who are serious about climbing on the internet bandwagon, has an email account. No internet user can go around surfing any decent site without having an email account if they want to fully utilize the site's function.

According to a Radicati Group study from August 2008, there are 1.3 billion email users worldwide and the numbers are increasing. That makes a tad more than one in every five persons on earth using email. The mailboxes commanded by these millions of users were estimated to number about 1.4 billion in 2006.

Retrospecting on Marshall McLuhan's theory on the Global Village, suggesting that "electronic communication allows people from different corners of the globe to simultaneously experience the same culture", I believe what he meant or prophesized was that it was the email and the internet.

By now we know that the email has helped mankind to communicate, educate, disseminate information and ease business related transactions by leaps and bounds as compared to the conventional snail-mail or even the telephone. In other words the email can assist us to be well informed, educated and be more cultured.

As the internet evolved, the email too got some kind of technological booster with the creation of its by-product - the bulletin boards and the e-groups. The advent of e-groups carried on another level with newer faze such as sites like Friendfinder, Frienster, MySpace and Multiply. These networking sites were meant as a platform for the young to communicate, socialize, post and share photos and exchange ideas.

Then comes Blogger and the independent news portal and the blogging community started to change the contents and the way people read (or were fed with) news and ideas and with whom they communicate with.

Yet as the internet evolved, and as novelty fades on some of the older networking sites, comes newer and more popular sites like LinkedIn, Hi5, Wayne, Tagged and Facebook. Utilization of other less popular pay-to-use communication tools like Skype and Twitter are also on the rise.

Another form of internet tool that is widely used by the younger generation is the chat system - YM, Google Talk and MSN (because most of it are free). Considered the internet's original substitution for word-of-mouth chatting, the chat system has also evolved with Yahoo, MSN and Google going neck-and-neck on the internet technological forefront.

And not to forget, there's also YouTube, Dailymotion and Flickr and a host of other video and photo display sites if you're into blogging of some kind other than text-based.

And of course, I must have missed out something, somewhere, somehow or rather about all the new and exciting networking sites, communication tools, gadgets and the various 'shows' on the planet that is called the internet.

All these illustrate that the speed of information and communication technology in the current digital age is fast-forwarding so rapidly that it is impossible for us to catch-up and know everything about the culture, development and evolution of the internet.

Nonetheless, the email hasn't evolved much, well at least not to me. The functions and the process of using it is still the same, some 15 years ago. Maybe I have used it less then, but an email program is just it, a software, a communication tool. You can even carry it around if you have a laptop connected to the internet or if your mobile phone allows you to use the functions of the internet.

But it is unlike the text messaging system on a mobile phone, as you can't use it to send and receive huge text, photos or video messages.

Right from the very first time when I was introduced to web-based email like the Hotmail and Yahoo! and later pop-mail such as Eudora, Microsoft Outlook and now the IMAP (aah.. don't mention the lousy Lotus Notes), there's not much to getting used to. It's all just plug-n-play - compose, attach, send and receive. All these shows that the email hasn't evolve much.

So, what has evolved with the email? The contents of course, depending on which e-groups, chat groups, email newsletters, news feed readers, alumni, friends or office user group we subscribe to using the email.

The contents of emails that we send, receive and consume (or digest) tell so much about whether we have matured or cultured. If the contents that we send and consume are the common chain-mails, urban legends and jokes that we get over and over again then we are nowhere getting knowledgeable, matured or cultured.

The language or the internet 'lingo' we use. If our command of a language hasn't changed a bit ever since we started to embrace the email vis-a-vis the internet, then we have not evolved in tandem with the times.

So, how do we fare when we ask ourselves these questions?

Kantoi kena pecat akibat komen dalam Facebook

Berita ini sudah menjadi bualan hangat dan bahan berita online, selain dihantar melalui email di serata dunia. Anda boleh baca beritanya di sini dan di sini. Bagaimanapun ini bukan kes pertama kali berlaku. Satu lagi kes juga berlaku di UK. Anda boleh baca di sini.

Sememangnya salah jika kita mengumpat atau mengutuk majikan dan jabatan di mana kita bekerja/mencari rezeki. Bagaimanapun, sama ada budaya pecat memecat ini budaya kerja yang baik atau tidak, terserah kepada budi bicara kita masing-masing.

Gan Pei Nei - the unsung alumnus

Crediting success with attribution has always been the norm rather than the exception. Nothing wrong with that, but being biased or selective towards one’s choice of attributing a success story is an issue that needs to be pondered upon.

In many of the functions I attended involving guests of the School of Communication, the senior lecturers would usually attribute the school’s success with celebrated former students. Among famous names flaunted were personalities in the local broadcast scene like Ahmad Fethri Yahya of TV3 and Daphne Iking of NTV7. Politicians maybe a rare breed of the school, but they hardly get any mention.

Well, maybe because she was on the wrong side of the divide or could be she was never given the limelight by the mainstream media, but one personality that recently attracted my attention was Gan Pei Nei.

A persuasive communications major who graduated in 2004, Yang Berhormat Gan Pei Nei is the Rawang state assembly person of Selangor. At 28, Gan is one of the youngest state lawmaker in the Pakatan Rakyat government of Selangor. She won the seat under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat banner in the 12th General Election on 8 March 2008.

Born and bred in Pulau Gadong, Malacca in 1981, she is the second child in a family of three offspring.

You can red all about her here

Kualiti Berita Kampus semakin baik

Isu kedua Berita Kampus jilid ke 40 yang akan diedarkan esok, Isnin 10 Ogos semakin meningkat dari segi kualiti persembahannya - aturletak, gambar dan designnya dan juga isi kandungan berita. Editorialnya juga tidak kurang menarik dan mengajak pembaca mendamba beberapa isu semasa yang hangat diperkatakan dewasa ini.

Cuma yang kurang ialah dari segi ketiadaan bahan rencana baik dari pihak pelajar mahupun penyumbang luar. Bagaimanapun kekurangan ini ditampung dengan sebuah ulasan buku yang agak ringkas oleh Edmund Ngo. Harapan saya Edmund lebih berani dan pergi lebih jauh dalam mengemukan saranan dan kritikan selain ulasan.

Dua isu lain yang ingin saya ulas dalam posting ini ialah mengenai masalah keselamatan dan kesihatan. Dalam isu BK kali ini termuat 2 berita mengenai soal keselamatan (harta benda) dan 2 isu mengenai kesihatan (Pusat Sejahtera, USM).

Yang pertama mengenai seorang pelajar kerugian hampir RM5000 apabila biliknya dimasuki pencuri di Desasiswa Tekun. Akibatnya mangsa telah kehilangan komputer riba, telefon bimbit dan external hard-disk. Bagaimanapun nasib menyebelahinya apabila komputer ribanya dijumpai semula. Semua ini gara-gara terlupa kunci pintu bilik semasa dia ke tandas.

Dalam isu yang berkaitan, Jabatan Keselamatan akan memasang kamera litar tertutup (CCTV) diluar semua dewan kuliah bagi memantau setiap pergerakan keluar masuk barangan dalam dewan kuliah. Pemasangan CCTV ini bertujuan mengawasi sekiranya berlaku kecurian barang dalam dewan kuliah.

Isu kedua (kesihatan) ialah mengenai Pengarah Pusat Sejahtera, Dr Nurulain Abdullah Bayanuddin memohon maaf diatas tindakan seorang kakitangannya yang bertindak tidak profesional kerana menafikan perkhidmatan kepada seorang pelajar yang datang ke Pusat Sejahtera akibat disengat lebah. Sebaliknya kakitangan tersebut mengarahkannya pergi ke klinik di luar kampus. Kejadian itu berlaku sekitar jam 1.30 pagi pada 29 Julai lalu. Bermula 29 Julai 2009 Pusat Sejahtera beroperasi 24 Jam untuk memberi rawatan kepada warga kampus yang demam sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga kerana kes penularan virus Influenza A H1N1. Bagaimanapun Dr Nurulain berkata tidak sepatutnya kakitangan tersebut menolak memberi perkhidmatan kepada pelajar tersebut walaupun ia bukan kes demam.

Dalam isu berkaitan, seorang pelajar kecewa dengan perkhidmatan yang diberikan Klinik Pergigian di Pusat Sejahtera, USM gara-gara kakitangannya tidak menjalankan tugas mereka dengan berhemah. Pelajar tersebut yang menamakan dirinya 'Pelajar kecewa' menyatakan sepanjang tempoh rawatan, mereka berbual sehingga peralatan digunakan itu terkena bibirnya. Akibatnya bibirnya bengkak. Dia juga menyatakan terpaksa menahan kesakitan akibat cara kerja mereka sambil lewa. Lebih mengecewakan katanya, mereka tidak meminta maaf atas kejadian itu dan menyalahkan dirinya kerana membuka mulut terlalu besar.

Dua isu berkaitan, keselamatan (harta benda) dan (perkhidmatan) kesihatan sememangnya isu yang lapuk, baik dalam BK mahupun dalam Buletin Notes, yang merupakan dua medium utama yang (agak) bebas ketika ini, namun ia tetap menjadi topik yang hangat dilapor dan diperkatakan saban tahun. Ia menampakkan seolah-olah perkara ini tiada kesudahan atau jalan penyelesaiannya, baik ketika USM dalam era yang lama mahupun dalam era APEX sekarang.

Ini juga memberi satu gambaran bahawa slogan 'sejahtera' dan 'kelestarian' yang dilaungkan oleh USM masih belum mencapai objektif atau matlamatnya untuk menjulang cita-cita universiti ini sebagai institusi terulung negara.

Bagaimana mahu jadi 'sejahtera' jikalau setiap pergerakan warganya perlu dipantau dengan CCTV kerana takut peralatannya dicuri. Dan bagaimana mahu jadi 'lestari' andaikata setiap kali staf atau pelajarnya hendak ke tandas perlu dikunci bilik mereka.

Bagaimana mahu jadi 'sejahtera' andaikata pelajar yang disengat seekor lebah disuruh dapatkan rawatan diluar kampus sahaja. Mungkin jika dilaporkan disengat sepuluh ekor lebah akan lebih wajar diberi perkhidmatan. Juga dengan kes 'pelajar kecewa' yang merungut bibirnya bengkak akibat tertonyoh peralatan pergigian disebabkan dia membuka mulutnya terlalu besar.

Bukankah menjadi tanggungjawab kakitangan berkenaan untuk menyuruh pelajar berkenaan menutup sedikit mulutnya, andaikata ia dibuka 'terlalu besar' sehingga menyukarkannya melakukan pekerjaannya? Tidakkah ia lebih 'lestari' jika kakitangan tersebut tidak memarahi pelajar tersebut, selain bersabar dan meminta maaf di atas kejadian tersebut?

Sememangnya tulisan ini seolah-olah marah dengan kejadian-kejadian yang berlaku sebagaimana isu yang dilaporkan dalam BK kali. Namun demikian, itulah tanggungjawab BK, melaporkan apa-apa yang wajar dan mempunyai nilai berita, baik dari pihak pentadbiran, akademik, staf mahupun pelajar - sesuai dengan motonya "SUARA DARI MENARA ILMU".

Dalam kita mengejar cita-cita peribadi dan dalam usaha kita menjadikan universiti ini sebuah universiti terulung, terlalu banyak halangan dan cabaran yang perlu kita tempuhi. Andaikata ada perkara yang kita rasa boleh dilaporkan mahupun diperkatakan demi untuk kebaikan dan kesejahteraan kita bersama, maka lakukanlah sebaik mungkin. Cuma terserah kepada budi bicara kita bagaimana hal tersebut hendak kita 'lapor' atau 'kata'kannya.

Juga kepada orang yang ditegur sama ada dapat menerima kritikan tersebut dengan hati terbuka dan men'tranformasi'kan (satu lagi slogan USM) unsur-unsur tersebut dari negatif menjadi positif ataupun menyimpan rasa marah dan dendam dengan menunggu peluang untuk bertindak balas (agar 'rasa puas' nafsu amarah itu dapat dikecapi), maka terserahlah.

Safety on plastics usage debates - when shall the twain ever meet

Given their popularity in an ever-widening array of applications, plastics are ubiquitous in our lives. From everyday items up to the point when we want to dispose-off food waste into the litter bins, plastics are practically used all the time. Even the keyboards that I am using to type this article is made of plastics.

Imagine our modern living without plastics. Better still, imagine some 'green' or environmental wacko who's so tight-up about not using plastics in their lives entirely. The only place he/she can 'exorcise' him/herself from the 'demon' plastics is to build a tree house in the jungle, and live on 'nuts'.

While this might sound a little far-fetched, there are actually 'green' nerds (in the guise of being sustainable) who thinks humans can actually live in this world without plastics. The only people who had ever thought about living without modern technology in the modern times could rightly be animation legends, William Hanna and Joseph Barbara who created The Flintstones - and their creations can only be materialized on TV screens.

The debates on the pros and cons about plastic usage go a long way, with each end of the divide adamant about their say on its safety or otherwise, especially where food containers is concern. Their 'evidence' and articulation about it can sometimes go into lengthy detail only apt for a PhD dissertation.

Nonetheless, some of the arguments are in the form of warnings which include awareness about which type of plastics that are safe or unsafe. Those which are not were said to be able to leach toxic chemicals known as phthalates and bisphenol A when food or drinks (especially when hot) are served on them.

Experts studying the chemical bisphenol A said they have gathered a growing body of evidence to show the compound, also known as BPA, might damage human health. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials have examined the chemical’s safety, without much evidence showing it’s harm on human health.

While this squabble, which centers around the safeguarding of human health is commendable, the arguments used are more often based on scientific studies done on animals. It is said that animal studies have linked phthalates at high doses to lowered testosterone levels, reduced sperm counts and reproductive defects.

Last year, U.S. government toxicologists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences expressed concern that BPA may hurt development of the prostate and brain. They also recently found "some concern" that BPA, causes neural and behavioral problems if fetuses or young children are exposed. British researchers also produced a study in 2008 that linked high levels of BPA to heart disease, diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities.

In an article titled "Growing Evidence of Harmful Effects From Plastics Chemicals", Dr. Robert Carey of the University of Virginia, who is president of the Endocrine Society, presented evidence suggesting that endocrine disruptors do have effects on male and female development, prostate cancer, thyroid disease, cardiovascular disease. But the statement issued by the society admitted the evidence is not yet overwhelming, although it is worrying.

Apparently, there have been very few studies on the actual affects of plastics on humans, particularly over the long term. Animal studies can't always translate, and neither can lab tests that measure extremely high doses. It is clear that much more research needs to be done on a substance that shows up everywhere, based on real world exposure.

Plastics - To Ban or Not to Ban?

While all the environmental gurus and 'green' aficionados in Malaysia are hell bent about banning the use of plastics, one personality from the plastic industry, Lim Kok Boon of the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturer Association (MPMA) and chairman of the The Malaysian Plastics Forum is going the opposite direction to prove his detractor's 'wrong' stance about its harmfulness.

Contrary to popular knowledge, Lim Kok Boon said that the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association and Malaysian Petrochemicals Association-Plastic Resins Producers Group has reason to believe that studies (mostly government-backed) have proven that there is no justification to the claim that plastics is detrimental to human health. He maintained that the allegation that high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bags, used mostly to pack hot or cold beverages and food, are unsafe is misleading.

All these and a host of other 'proof' were revealed in a letter to NST (3 August). This was in a response to another letter "How safe are these bags" which condemns the use of plastic bags in school canteens written by Dr Zorina Khalid from Sandakan (NST July 23).

Last month, the Penang State Government took the initiative to reduce the use of plastic bags in a state-wide campaign banning its use in supermarkets and hypermarkets in Penang every Monday. The "No Plastic Bags Day" kicked off on July 6, with the Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng going out on a road tour to officiate the campaign proper in major hypermarkets in the state.

However, on July 14 the Star carried a report that MPMA was against the move (No to 'No Plastic Bags Days'). The MPMA also sent in a memorandum to Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng to reconsider its decision of making Monday a "No Plastic Bag Day". It said instead of banning the use of plastic bags every Monday, the state government could consider the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) campaign. Mr Lim Kok Boon, representing the organisation also did not think the current initiative was the answer to a greener environment.

During a public forum on April 19, Lim Guan Eng said the state government had discussed and considered the pros and cons before making the decision to reduce the use of plastic bags every Monday. "We do not completely ban the use of plastic bags on Monday, we just want to reduce it to save the environment," he said. Lim said Penang was the first state in the country to come out with the idea in a bid to become Malaysia's first "green" state. (Bernama, July 13)

On a related matter, today, (4 August) NST carries a report on singer Zainal Abidin from the popular band Headwind announcing his intention to set up a 'green' political party which concentrates on environmental and humanitarian issues. He and his friends - environmentalists who did not want to be named - were dead serious about setting up the political party. Zainal said the group was concerned that the authorities "could not even take the simple step of banning the use of plastic bags".

"We don't want to rule the country. What we want is just one seat in Parliament to make a difference and the necessary noise to make a change in such issues," he said at the launch of the Climate Change Convention 2010 themed "101 ways to save and make a change".

So, if this 'green' party do materialises and members of the party get nominated to contest in the next GE, lets vote for Zainal and his friends, names or no names.

Go, Go GREEN!

Izaham
Imagining Zainal campaigning, singing his flagship song 'Hijau' at the beginning of his speech.

Bila Utusan selektif dalam membuat permohonan maaf

Baru minggu lepas akhbar Kosmo meminta maaf diatas kesilapan mereka menyiarkan artikel 'Takdir Yasmin' kerana kononnya tidak sensitif terhadap keluarga dan rakan-rakan Allahyarham Yasmin Ahmad. Akhbar Utusan pula melakukan sebaliknya apabila Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee tidak mahu memohon maaf di atas sebuah artikel 'Nasib Melayu di bumi Melayu' kerana tulisan beliau yang tidak sensitif terhadap keluarga Teoh Beng Hock. Banyak perkataan geram dan marah, tidak mahu minta maaf, termasuk tuduhan rasis terhadap akhbar lain dalam tulisan ini. Saya serahkan kepada pembaca untuk menilai betapa penulis, termasuk akhbar yang menerbitkan tulisannya adalah pejuang kepada apa yang mereka laungkan.

Hari ini (3 Ogos), The Malaysian Insider menyiarkan berita mengenai tuntutan keluarga Teoh Beng Hock agar Utusan memohon maaf.

Bila kacang lupakan kulit — Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee

OGOS 2 — Saya dikecam hebat, apabila salah satu laman blog menyiarkan semula artikel saya minggu lalu dalam Mingguan Malaysia, bertajuk “Nasib Melayu di bumi Melayu”. Saya dituduh penulis upahan Umno, lupa asal usul diri, lebih Melayu daripada Melayu, Cina tidak sedar diri, rasis dan berbagai kecaman dilemparkan oleh golongan ultra kiasu ini.

Saya mengucapkan terima kasih atas yang respons. Saya tidak berhasrat memberikan respons, kerana malas melayan idea-idea picisan yang menyerang peribadi dan tidak langsung menampakkan mereka ini profesional. Orang sebegini tidak layak dilayan, biarlah mereka terjun dengan labu-labunya.

Lagipun saya tidak pasti sama ada mereka faham atau tidak, artikel yang saya tulis dalam bahasa Melayu, atau mungkin juga mereka lebih memahami bahasa Inggeris atau bahasa ibunda, daripada memahami bahasa kebangsaan itu sendiri sehingga mereka tidak faham apa yang saya maksudkan.

Begitu juga dengan akhbar Cina, China Press dan Nanyang Siang Pau berniat jahat dengan secara sengaja memaparkan sebahagian kecil artikel saya berkaitan Teoh Beng Hock, mengenai anak luar nikah yang dikandung oleh teman wanitanya. Sedangkan simpati dan pembelaan saya terhadap mendiang tidak disiarkan langsung.

Ini menunjukkan betapa rasisnya akhbar Cina. Saya dituntut oleh keluarga mendiang untuk meminta maaf. Terus terang, saya tidak perlu meminta maaf kerana saya berkata benar. Bersekedudukan sebelum nikah adalah haram di sisi agama apa sekalipun. Kenapa agama Islam sahaja yang dipersoalkan, adakah agama lain menghalalkan perbuatan sedemikian?

Sebelum memeluk Islam, saya dahulunya pernah menganut agama Buddha dan Kristian. Kedua-dua ini mengharamkan sama sekali bersekedudukan sebelum nikah. Apakah kita mahu menghalalkan perkara ini sehingga menjadi budaya masyarakat kita? Apakah kita mahu ia turut berlaku kepada anak atau adik-beradik kita?

Justeru, bila saya menulis, saya selalu meletakkan diri saya sebagai rakyat Malaysia atau bangsa Malaysia, bukannya orang Cina. Ini bertujuan supaya pandangan saya tidak berat sebelah atau bias. Jika orang Islam melakukan kesalahan saya akan tegur, begitu juga yang lain.

Adakah kerana hanya saya berbangsa Cina, maka saya patut selindungkan sesuatu keburukan yang berlaku pada bangsa saya? Sudah tentu tidak kerana saya perlu berkata benar. — Mingguan Malaysia