There was a time when I considered countries like the U.S. and the U.K. as "free" countries. Countries such as China used to scare me because the government was so powerful that the slightest hint of dissent will result in your imprisonment. Back then I was lucky enough to believe in a black and white world, where the Western countries were the good guys whereas dictatorships such as the Chinese government were inherently evil.
As I learned more about the world, I discovered things are never truly black and white, only in various shades of grey. Nonetheless, it was not difficult to convince myself that the Western countries come in much light greys than my own Motherland.
I can no longer say that.
I have read news reports stating London has over a million surveillance cameras in operation. I have heard complaints that the British government is becoming Big Brother. My impression of the country is that ever since 9/11 and especially the London bombing, it had enacted laws that substantially empowered law enforcement. I can't say whether the police is abusing their newly acquired power, but it nonetheless scares me, the way the Chinese government scares me.
The situation in the U.S. is a little different but just as worrying. I have read many articles about students getting suspended for doing the most trivial thing -- doodling a gun for example -- as well as people getting arrested for the most ridiculous reasons, such as standing around on the street. My impression of America now is that the slightest nonconformity will set off alarms that can get you into trouble. Since I generally hate conformity and might even unconsciously strive to be different, this makes me feel uncomfortable if not down right afraid.
I think "free" countries are a lot less free now, and most of the erosion of freedom occurred after the 9/11 terrorist attack, usually under the guise of security measures against further terrorist attacks. If you think about it, these security measures would have come in force regardless of the Coalition's achievements in Iraq, the so called "War on Terror". If this war really is about getting back our freedom, then we have lost miserably, even before the first soldier set foot in Afghanistan or Iraq.
We were defeated the minute we began to trade freedom for security.
Tuesday 30 October 2007
Sunday 21 October 2007
Meaning In Life
I used to think no matter what I do there is no meaning to it.
I could make a lot of money and buy a lot of stuff but sooner or later I will die and can't enjoy them anymore.
I could help other people by directly giving them assistance or through money donations. However these people will eventually pass away, no matter how much help I provide.
I could invent something, either a physical object or an abstract theorem that people can use or invoke for generations to come. In the end though I suspect the human race might die out so maybe my invention or discovery will be forgotten.
That was the old thinking, and it was wrong. I assumed an action I undertake must have repercussions in the infinite future for it to have meaning. This is far too restrictive.
If an action can make me happy now or at any time during my life, it should be meaningful enough for me to carry out the action. This is not a remarkable discovery; a typical person might even think I am crazy to be so narrow-minded in the first place.
Whatever others might think, this realisation have turned my life around. Things I previously deemed pointless are now worthy of my time and attention. Helping people does not seem like such a lost cause. Getting a "normal" job like everyone does is becoming a sensible rather than meaningless idea, although I won't completely rule out the possibility of doing something highly unusual.
Life looks a bit brighter now. Just a bit. Like by one tiny light bulb. That's a lot if you used to be in complete darkness.
I could make a lot of money and buy a lot of stuff but sooner or later I will die and can't enjoy them anymore.
I could help other people by directly giving them assistance or through money donations. However these people will eventually pass away, no matter how much help I provide.
I could invent something, either a physical object or an abstract theorem that people can use or invoke for generations to come. In the end though I suspect the human race might die out so maybe my invention or discovery will be forgotten.
That was the old thinking, and it was wrong. I assumed an action I undertake must have repercussions in the infinite future for it to have meaning. This is far too restrictive.
If an action can make me happy now or at any time during my life, it should be meaningful enough for me to carry out the action. This is not a remarkable discovery; a typical person might even think I am crazy to be so narrow-minded in the first place.
Whatever others might think, this realisation have turned my life around. Things I previously deemed pointless are now worthy of my time and attention. Helping people does not seem like such a lost cause. Getting a "normal" job like everyone does is becoming a sensible rather than meaningless idea, although I won't completely rule out the possibility of doing something highly unusual.
Life looks a bit brighter now. Just a bit. Like by one tiny light bulb. That's a lot if you used to be in complete darkness.
Saturday 13 October 2007
Friday 5 October 2007
Another Telemarketing Story
Every time a salesman calls I tell myself the best thing to do is to keep the conversation short, that I should cut them off and tell them I'm not interested. However, as more marketing firms outsource their staff to India, I can't resist giving them a chance to pitch their sales so I can challenge them back. This time is no different.
The call started with the presumably junior staff pitching their mobile phone plan to me. She asked me how much I spend on mobile phone each month. My answer was $10-15. She then elaborated on the plan, which costs $22 per month and includes a free Motorola V3x RAZR. Words came out of her one syllable at a time and at regular intervals, which made her speech as natural as Ananova.
She also didn't listen. Right after she finished reading the plan, she transferred me to her supervisor, who immediately began to sign me up by asking for my name. I told her I didn't commit to any purchase. She replied the deal was beneficial because I am currently spending $30 on my phone. Huh? I corrected her and assured her I have never spent more than $20 a month in the past four years, which is a fact. I also informed her politely the free phone is of no value to me -- I had to restrain myself from telling her the RAZR is sooooo 2005. Realising she had ran out of reasons for converting me, the supervisor hung up.
Now for the analysis/rant.
Persuading me to buy anything I don't really need is certainly one hell of a task, but I doubt I am alone. I think my generation is more wary of salesmen and their pitches because we have experienced their naggings since we were kids. We are also better educated so it is harder to mislead us. We know that if a deal sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Based on the above it is a bad strategy to outsource call centres to India because the staff there has poor English skills and little motivation. If I pick up the phone to a telemarketer who cannot communicate effectively and doesn't care enough to initiate a sincere, two-way conversation with me, what would I think about the company that hired the person? Do I really want to transact with that company?
The call started with the presumably junior staff pitching their mobile phone plan to me. She asked me how much I spend on mobile phone each month. My answer was $10-15. She then elaborated on the plan, which costs $22 per month and includes a free Motorola V3x RAZR. Words came out of her one syllable at a time and at regular intervals, which made her speech as natural as Ananova.
She also didn't listen. Right after she finished reading the plan, she transferred me to her supervisor, who immediately began to sign me up by asking for my name. I told her I didn't commit to any purchase. She replied the deal was beneficial because I am currently spending $30 on my phone. Huh? I corrected her and assured her I have never spent more than $20 a month in the past four years, which is a fact. I also informed her politely the free phone is of no value to me -- I had to restrain myself from telling her the RAZR is sooooo 2005. Realising she had ran out of reasons for converting me, the supervisor hung up.
Now for the analysis/rant.
Persuading me to buy anything I don't really need is certainly one hell of a task, but I doubt I am alone. I think my generation is more wary of salesmen and their pitches because we have experienced their naggings since we were kids. We are also better educated so it is harder to mislead us. We know that if a deal sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Based on the above it is a bad strategy to outsource call centres to India because the staff there has poor English skills and little motivation. If I pick up the phone to a telemarketer who cannot communicate effectively and doesn't care enough to initiate a sincere, two-way conversation with me, what would I think about the company that hired the person? Do I really want to transact with that company?
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