Saturday, April 17, 2010

facebook stalkers beware!

A couple weeks ago I joined 人人 (renren/everyone), the Chinese version of facebook. I have, so far in my Chinese life, abstained from all Chinese online social networks, particularly QQ. This is basically AIM, but it's updated with twitter and facebook qualities. From conversations with students, it seems that approximately 1/3 of their lives are spent on QQ. They flirt, get angry with each other, make new friends, all on QQ. This could be said about my life at 15 years old, not 21, as my students are. I often hear stories about students getting on QQ to meet foreigners so they can practice their English. Sometimes I react by lecturing on the dangers of this activity, but usually I just smile and nod. When I meet someone new at school, the end of our conversation usually goes like this:

"Do you have QQ?" the student asks, giggling, hands over mouth (if it's a girl).

"No."

"What?!" the student asks with a look of utter incredulity. Clutching at straws he asks, "Do you have MSN??" almost as if he's asking, "Do you eat?"

"No, sorry. I can give you my email address." I might as well have said, "No, but I do wear diapers."

So, I've decided to meet them in the middle; I signed up for 人人. So far it's been fun to find my students and friends on there and see what their mysterious internet social lives are like. It's also pretty difficult; the enter site is in 中文 (zhong wen/Chinese), which is actually good for Chinese practice. The most jarring part of the whole experience was entirely one-sided. My second friend on 人人 was a girl I know from Beijing. Strangely, after becoming friends with me, she added me to her top friends bracket on the right side of her profile. I didn't think we were that close, I thought, but it's a nice gesture anyway. A few friends later, I noticed that everbody had done the same thing. Hm. I know people like me here, but come on. So I copied the characters above the "Top Friends" bracket, and pasted them into my trusty Google Translator.

"Recent Visitors"

Ahh!! I quickly exited the profile I was currently looking at. My cover was blown! It was like a searchlight finding a thief in the dark, or like someone yanking the bush out of the ground that I was hiding behind. I feld exposed. Mind you, I wasn't doing anything suspicious. I was just doing what people do on facebook, looking at pictures of people and watching their online activity without them knowing... which in all other facets of life would be known as "stalking."

This has totally shaken my view of online social networks. Now, on 人人, if I check out someone's profile I need to be okay with them knowing about it, or I need to leave a comment so that I had a reason to be there. I don't think facebook would ever adopt "Recent Visitors" because it would scare everyone, but should they?



Click for larger picture.



我 (wo/me)

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

yes they should.. but wait no they shouldnt i dont wanna get busted for creepin. i tried to join renren and got really close but the last bit of the account information i couldnt figure out (everything else i successfully deduced and entered correctly except one little chinese box) -christian

Jon Allison said...

wow, you're really good at seduction to get that far! I'm pumped you're willing to try 人人。Here's what you need to do: copy the box that's confusing you and paste it here: http://translate.google.com/#

人人 is really helping me get better at reading Chinese, but if you just want to get on there for the sheer pleasure and rush of joining a new online social network (as we all do), Google Translate will be your bible.

Anonymous said...

RodRlj [url=http://www.mbtjpbuy.com/]MBT 靴[/url] ZlnSov WysCzn http://www.mbtjpbuy.com/ TadOou LeqMuq [url=http://www.snowbootbuy.com/]アグ ブーツ[/url] HvaYpi JnpGcf http://www.snowbootbuy.com/ TxiDnq NcwMvp [url=http://www.monclerjyapann.com/]モンクレール アウトレット[/url] MjvDmp HgqOuc http://www.monclerjyapann.com/ LqqXfk ZwpNho [url=http://www.cheapbootjp.com/]アグ オーストラリア[/url] EtdOae NwaMvd http://www.cheapbootjp.com/ BwdElg ThtSdk [url=http://www.boot2013.com/]アグ ベイリーボタン[/url] XxvCmo FjoTmr http://www.boot2013.com/ IqaFbd ZwvMjg [url=http://www.bootstogirl.com/]UGG[/url] EbiAmf UmvPti http://www.bootstogirl.com/ SntNkz

Anonymous said...

BdnYfu [url=http://cheapggboots.com/] cheap uggs for sale[/url] RuxEiy OdkRdb http://cheapggboots.com/ VbuRnt BkiBjs [url=http://parka2013.com/] canada goose jackets[/url] EevRdz QtwLca http://parka2013.com/ IevRhl KvjGuj [url=http://cagoosehome.com/]canada goose[/url] UwxSls NwkNna http://cagoosehome.com/ BdaWck JpsCor [url=http://jackets-2012.com/] Canada Goose Outlet[/url] BcuNol TpjExp http://jackets-2012.com/ YglQoo EfjWen [url=http://gooseoutlet2013.com/] Canada Goose Jackets[/url] UkpYfe RztMdf http://gooseoutlet2013.com/ MhfIwu FkwGyi [url=http://jacketsca.com/]canada goose praka[/url] EslYfa BsaTvq http://jacketsca.com/ QikLxp

Anonymous said...

ItuIwc [url=http://www.mbtjpbuy.com/]MBT シューズ[/url] AtzGep CriCsx http://www.mbtjpbuy.com/ LrgVwr KkyHcm [url=http://www.snowbootbuy.com/]アグ ブーツ[/url] IfiUpa CiiQqf http://www.snowbootbuy.com/ JlsKmq OniNnq [url=http://www.monclerjyapann.com/]モンクレール アウトレット[/url] QjiPim MvnAsi http://www.monclerjyapann.com/ ZlxMusHwsHcc [url=http://www.cheapbootjp.com/]アグ オーストラリア,アグ ブーツ[/url] AqeFav HibPpw http://www.cheapbootjp.com/ FijAgo QbrSrr [url=http://www.boot2013.com/]UGG ムートンブーツ[/url] EpvXyl KpqBxb http://www.boot2013.com/ LtzVluTaeWqr [url=http://www.bootstogirl.com/]UGG オーストラリア[/url] EwhKao CcsNjt http://www.bootstogirl.com/ IqtHvn

Anonymous said...

QhxQqw [url=http://ukbootshopon.com/]cheap ugg bailey button boots[/url] JqvGlu http://ukbootshopon.com/

Anonymous said...

UlsPia [url=http://ukbootshopon.com/]cheap ugg boots uk online[/url] GgbLhx http://ukbootshopon.com/

Anonymous said...

ahfijg [url=http://www.okmonclerjakker.eu]Moncler Jakke[/url] wcstkv http://www.okmonclerjakker.eu nqutmq [url=http://www.mincanadagoose.eu]Canada Goose Jakke[/url] blavfj http://www.mincanadagoose.eu fjabrj [url=http://canadagoosesjackorr.com]Canada Goose[/url] oazust http://canadagoosesjackorr.com nrisht [url=http://myreplicahandbagsuk.com]Replica Handbags UK[/url] mnwfng http://myreplicahandbagsuk.com cvcqon

Anonymous said...

iadl [url=http://salecanadagooseoutlet.ca]Canada Goose Jacket[/url] ykhh http://salecanadagooseoutlet.ca teyl [url=http://mycanadagoose-canada.com]Canada Goose Jackets[/url] rkzr http://mycanadagoose-canada.com yisa [url=http://salecanadagoose-outlets.com]Canada Goose sale[/url] gexp http://salecanadagoose-outlets.com ugce [url=http://salecanaadagoosejackets.ca]Canada Goose Jackets[/url] jbxb http://salecanaadagoosejackets.ca mixg

Anonymous said...

When we finally go through the concise explaination the saying love, not just in relation to an enchanting connection together with one other, nevertheless being a sensing that is definitely engendered should you have miltchmonkey the best romantic relationship with ourselves too ( space ) and even being a experience of increased unity family members or perhaps man - that turns into much more crystal clear that each one anyone is looking to get in life is actually really like.

Anonymous said...

zabp [url=http://okbeatsbydrecheap.com]Beats Headphones[/url] mhpq http://okbeatsbydrecheap.com ylou vtso [url=http://beatsbydresalesok.com]Beats By Dre Sale[/url] zfcv http://beatsbydresalesok.com xpbn mcaz [url=http://okbeatsbydreus.com]Cheap Beats By Dre[/url] wejb http://okbeatsbydreus.com uxof twbp [url=http://salebeatsbydreoutlet.com]Cheap Beats By Dre[/url] stye http://salebeatsbydreoutlet.com urea

Anonymous said...

In all of the beans family, the black ones provide you with essentially the most bang for the buck. Bottom line: 1,050 to at least one,200 calories the other hour of exercise per day but make certain to never dip below this calorie level for safety's sake phen375 customer reviews to lose weight successfully, you will need over exercise and dieting; you should identify and also to correct your distinct undesirable habits that will cause you to put on weight or help it become difficult to get rid of weight. Remember, if your body is so dehydrated which you feel thirsty, it's already far too late. Marjorie is will no longer a trainer here, but she's still here being a hiking guide and subs as needed http://www.phen375factsheet.com thyroid medication might help reduce levels of cholesterol, but exercise may cause your levels to dip more, although it plays a part in weight management. Workout in stye with the The Honolulu Club, Honolulu, HI [url=http://www.phen375factsheet.com]phen375 reviews[/url] keeping hydrated boosts your levels of energy and helps your stomach feel full.