The Epic Video of @melvinyuan getting dunked.

TwestivalSG started off as the brain child of my dear colleague @Calvin_s and spread around the Waggener Edstrom office like wild fire. We all worked very hard and got deeply involved with the planning and organisation of the event. It was pulled together in an amazing 3ish weeks. With the sheer effort and perseverance of all the volunteers at my office, and those who showed up on the day, the event went from just another tweet up to the most epic, most awesome Social Media event of the year. Why do I say that? Let me give you 3 simple reasons.

1) We had sponsors. And not just any sponsors, we had sponsors coming out of our ears. We had a sponsor for prizes (2 Samsung Jets, Vouchers, lots of pack ins and givaways) We had a sponsor for FREE COKE, We had a food sponsor, a Fro-Yo Sponsor, sponsor for the games, sponsor for the Official Underwear (#bumfondle FTW), a sponsor for the tent, an Emcee who volunteered his time, a sponsor for free photos and photo printing coz y’know that’s what all bloggers do… I could go on FOREVER. This event would have been great with just a bunch of us meeting up at a club somewhere to chillax, but with all the resources thrown at us, we had so much more to do, to see and to have fun with.

2) We had a dunking machine. This carnival standby became essential when such Tweet celebs as Daphne Maia and Social Media celebs as Melvin Yuan volunteered to be dunked for charity. The stakes kept getting higher as into the drink they went and a good time was to be had by all.

3) It was all for a good cause. This more than amply proves that the naysayers can rant on and on about there being so much junk out there, there’s no real purpose to it, there’s so much harm that it can cause to those who aren’t careful etc. But this doesn’t distract from the fact that so much good can come from social media, Companies are willing to support an amazing cause, a new and fresh take on a cause; the people who are engaged in social media are willing to join together and celebrate life and spend a day among friends and strangers. This is a powerful force that can and should be tapped and made to work for the good of humanity.

I know that TwestivalSG is but a microcosm of the power of social media, and I also know that it is one of many avenues that people can use the power of social to make a difference in this world and improve the lives of people who need it.

Charity, Singapore, social media, Twestival, TwestivalSG, twitter, Waggener Edstrom

Though the headline may seem like I’m about to go off on a rant about something, but I’m not (entirely). I’m just wondering. Because I made a particular statement to a reporter and it turned out on the news as something completely the opposite. The article in question is available here and basically the point of contention is “who used to update his blog a few times a week in the past, confesses that he now does so only twice a month”. The thing is, I didn’t say that. What I said was: “But generally speaking looking by pure numbers I’ve written maybe 2 or 3 articles less a month” one word difference; complete change of meaning.

I hate to sound petty and picky, but generally I felt the tone of the article was rather unflattering towards me, when taken out of context, my use of “maniac” comes across as slightly deranged. And there is an implication that “Blogging is getting to be a hassle. I think about and write a lengthy post, and then get only three comments,”
Honestly, this then also makes me look like some attention seeking whore. Which I’m fine with when people call me that face to face, but on national newspapers, is simply callous on the part of the reporter.

I know I know, Not a rant. But these are my only criticisms, and though tough, I don’t actually feel particularly strongly about this and am sure that this article will be forgotten in due time. But it seems like the selectivity of the way which the article was written is quite astounding. I was very generous with the reporter, in the hope that the article would come out as balanced, and as comprehensive as my responses in my email exchanges. However the final article *and though mention of me is short* was just not quite up to par. I get it though, after all is said and done, there is no time to make overly thorough checks and clarifications. I don’t blame the reporter, but just wish for a bit more consideration of her presentation of my personality. I don’t expect any apology and will continue to help if and when the reporter asks. But I know that I’ll be more self censoring the next time this should happen, and any research will be poorer for it.

PS. World Nutella Day today. baked the nutella cheesecake brownie as found here. Pics of process and aftermath to come.

bias, censorship, interpretation, media, newspaper, plurk, Reportage, reporting, skew, social media, Straits Times, twitter