... Why People With Facebook (Or -Insert Other Social Network Here-) and Phones Never Check Them When We Need To Contact Them

The modern world has been hit by a technology fever and life ain't like what it used to be. Honestly, I don't remember how I survived most of my childhood without phones and Facebook/Youtube/whatever but I guess you don't really know what you're missing unless you've actually tried it. As I was saying, internet and mobile phones have become what are known as "reputed necessities" (Thanks AS Economics) - that is, for all you who haven't been enlightened with this term, things that are not necessarily vital for our survival per-say (i.e. food, clothing, water) but necessary for surviving in the modern world. Some jobs would be virtually impossible without the aid of that handy little thing that we carry in our pockets. Essays would be rather difficult to write if we didn't have Wikipedia (love you) or "scholarly sources" on Google Scholar. Point is, these two things are very important.

As most of you should be aware of now (hopefully, you haven't been living under a rock for the last decade), there are multiple amounts of social networks. These have been developed to allow better communication between people and enables you to keep track and up-to-date with what is happening with people either sitting right beside you, or half way across the world (and all the people in between these two extremes). If you want to see an example of how these things began, please go watch The Social Network. Obviously after  reading this important post.

There is also now the dominance of people in the developed countries with mobile phones. I remember when I was in intermediate, having phones wasn't that common. Now even like 8 year olds have phones. Why not? They're handy. They're small (apart from those huge ugly brick phones that have been rightfully disposed of in society). They're practical. With a touch of a few buttons, wondrous things can happen.

So, what I don't get is why people who have a social network account (and subsequently, have friends on them)  never come online or why people with phones never check their messages or calls. If you've made the effort to create an account, or to buy a phone, why would you not use it? It's the same idea as any good really - you wouldn't buy food and then not eat it. So what's the difference here? The point of having these things is to increase communication efficiency and to notify you of changes or plans. There's little point in you having a mobile phone if we can't reach you in case of a devastating situation. There's also little point in you having friends on social networks if you're not going to talk to them or let them know what you've been up to. Make use of the resources you have as some people in the world don't even have access to these things.

And the most important thing about this problem is that it is so god damn annoying. We want to reach you but it's a rather difficult job. We try to message you, call you or text you to make plans but you don't respond. We try to tell you that there's a tornado coming your way but you don't check your phone. We try to link you to some amazing website that has all the upcoming exam answers (you wish) but you don't come online. You don't have to be addicted to social networks or your phone - just have the habit of coming on to check your notifications or seeing if there's anything on your phone.

While I'm on the topic of phones and annoying habits, I'm also going to point out three other kinds of people. The first type of people are those who are fully aware that there is a Facebook event invite and they choose not to R.S.V.P. We invited you and we want to know if you're coming or not. Have the decency to respond please. The second type are those who receive important text messages or voice mails and don't reply or notify the sender/caller that they have read it or received it. Let us know that you've got the message please. Lastly, the third type are those who post their every action as a Facebook status or a Twitter post. We don't need to know if you just woke up or if your fingernail chipped. Most likely because we don't really care. We will have no choice but to remove your status posts from our news feeds. Sorry =]

... Why Middle-Class People Spend Their Hard Earned Money On Branded Fashion or Accessories That Costs Like 600x More Than A Normal, Non-Branded Thing That Does The Same Job

When we go shopping for clothes or bags etc., we can usually differentiate those shops that are designed for the middle-classed people, and those for the higher-classed people through the combination of its retail prices and the amount of people observed in the shop at a given moment in time (although don't be deceived by some people in the expensive shops who are just there to browse since they only have like 200 bucks, and with that kinda money, you can barely buy a belt there).

The expensive brands that I'm talking about are well known all around the world - Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Chanel etc. Most of their creators have had a tough life and finally pursued their dreams and made a hell load of money. I remember once reading an article about Louis Vuitton, whose dream was to make a living in Paris. He was quite poor so he had to walk all the way there himself. In the end, after doing odd jobs and working with the French royalty, he began designing luggage bags and then the products started expanding into all the things that we see in a LV shop today. (Now, wasn't that a nice little background story?)

Let's first compare the prices between the average shop and the more expensive shop. The women's leather shoulder bags at http://www.handbagchic.com.au range from $50 to $250. The ones from http://www.louisvuitton.com/au/flash/index.jsp?direct1=cata range from $1000 - $3000. I guess it's fair for rich people to buy it since it's rather affordable for them, but for the common people like me, it is extremely expensive.

So why do middle-class people buy these branded things?  The bags basically all serve the same purpose. They all carry women's daily accessories. They all have straps that go around your shoulder. They all have compartments to put little things in. The LV bags aren't magical. You can't pull out an elephant from it. You can't turn it into an umbrella when it rains. You can't do much else with it apart from show it off to the people around you. But is it really worth it? Is that one branded bag really worth 20x the normal retail price of a normal bag? (Yes I know I exaggerated in the title, but that, again, is not the point). Do you really want people around you to think "Hey, that girl looks rich with her LV bag. Oh wait, never mind, she looks like she can't afford food now"?

If you become rich in the future, go ahead and buy these designer things - you'll have enough disposable income. But right now, save your money for more important things. There's no point in you wearing a Ralph Lauren shirt when you're told by the landlord that you can't afford next week's rent. And, if you still continue to buy these products, remember these two points:
1. You're more likely to be targeted by thieves
2. Buy the items that have the brand securely written on the product - as soon as your Chanel metal label falls off your $1500 handbag, its probably going to look like its worth $50.


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I'm also going to add a little bit more here. I'll also never understand why the people who attempt to forge and  make fake branded items usually misspell the brand - Rouph Lauren, Bruberry, Gocci. If you're gonna do this kind of thing, at least get it right. Please.


It has been brought to my attention that this is for copyright purposes. So, new thought: "I don't understand why people would buy something so blatantly fake."

... Why People Drink Until They Can Barely Remember Their Own Name. Or What They Did Last Night/Week

As most of you should be aware of by now, drinking and partying has become quite a big problem in  modern society, mainly in the teenage and middle-aged world. I'm not sure where you're from, but in New Zealand there has been quite a few cases of people dying due to excessive alcohol consumption, retarded actions while intoxicated, driving under influence or a combination of any/all the factors mentioned.  The bottom line is: people are dying due to alcohol. And sadly, it's happening all around the world (maybe not the ones where they can't afford alcohol, let alone food - oh, poverty, why you so cruel?)

If you listen to the song "Get Smashed Gate Crash" (totally obsessed with it right now) by Hadouken!, you get a general idea of what its like. Here's an excerpt of the song lyrics - it doesn't sound too pretty, does it?


People being sick on the landing carpet,
Smoking up in the outside shed,
Passing out in the upstairs toilet,
Getting laid on the parents' bed.

Smashing up all the porcelain china,
We drank the alcohol cabinet clean,
But still that felt minor,
'til we put the Hi-Fi through the TV screen.


So why on earth do people do it? Alcohol does weird things to people. It can make some loosen up, some angry and some sad. It slows your reactions and it impairs your memory temporarily. A little alcohol is fine. I'm not questioning those who have a couple of beers and chill out, or have a few glasses of wine with dinner. I'm questioning those who do like 20 shots and can't walk straight afterwards
(-insert applause here for those who can walk straight afterwards- But that's not my point)

And for all those who don't drink excessively, but you encourage others to do so - you're just as bad, so don't think you're excluded in this discussion.

Why put yourself through that? Does it make you feel good that you wake up the next day with someone completely random next to you, and the sign from the local dairy at the foot of your bed? If you wanted to meet new people, go join social clubs or something - at least you won't be wondering what you two had gotten up to last night. If you want the damn sign so much, go buy one yourself - it'll probably cheaper than the amount of money you had spent on alcohol. If you're thirsty, just drink some bloody water - it's so much more accessible and you, surprise surprise, don't need a license.

Furthermore, if you can barely see clearly, what on earth makes you think you're capable of driving? Has it not occurred to you that you're probably gonna fail and cause the nearest power pole to topple over? Oh wait, never mind, you probably can't even think properly since you've decided to drown yourself with booze.

I don't understand why people would punish their liver and brain just to have fun - it's not all about the alcohol you consume. Drinking and being bad-ass may be "cool" to you but I don't think being cool should be your main concern when you're in a coma. Especially not when you're dead.

... Why There Isn't a Welcome Post. Here it is! Welcome

Welcome to the world where I explain all the things that confuse me. Well, the ones that I can think of anyway. Feel free to share your opinions. I will read them. But it doesn't mean I'll agree with you. Just like how you might not agree with me. Let's just use our own little brains huh?