I suppose this post has been a long time coming. It's like a letter you wrote one hot dusty afternoon, only to stop at the postbox, then dump it into the trash can beside it. Somehow, no matter how long you think about what to say and how to say it, the words never come out right. But they say if flowers waited till everything was just perfect before they blossomed after the long winter, then we'd never see spring at all.

It's been a long time since we started RANDTS. A lot of things have happened since then. We've seen members come and go as well as visitors drop by and leave. We've even had controversy drop by once in awhile for the occasional cup of tea. And still we weathered it all.

By this time, you might be wondering, "What's this guy comin' back all of a sudden? It's not like he cares about the blog anyways..."

That's true. If I'd cared I'd have been posting frequently. Trying to fan the flame even as our heads were repeatedly dunked into buckets of cold water. I'd have been there in RANDTS' darkest hour trying alongside you guys to keep the passion going, keep the momentum up.

But the hard fact is I didn't, did I?

It's like waking up from a bad dream only to see the mask of a killer you thought you'd never see again. The glint of the jagged blade in the darkness, your scarlet blood upon the sheets and the knife. You clutch your belly to find your guts were ripped out while you were in the nightmare. As your life force ebbs away and you fade painfully into oblivion, the killer - mockingly, haughtily, dishearteningly - removes his mask. Then you realize all this while you've been afraid of your own reflection in the mirror. Was I the person who stabbed myself in the back, unknowingly?

What prompted me to write this post? Perhaps the amount of resentment, sadness - disappointment? - that is now plain for all to see on the blog. Even the message on the bulletin board below the ever-changing banner seems like a mockery of the shadow RANDTS has become. But no, that still wasn't what hurt me the most.

It was a friend that I know. Or knew, depending on who you asked. A close friend. A good friend. Many months ago he inspired me, and many others, with a heart-warming tale of triumph in adversity of the worst kind. He shared with us a cheerful optimism that many others in his situation would be hard-pressed to display. He reminded us of the brittle fragility of life, and how each moment we take a breath is a moment to be savored as if it was our last. He told us the tough get going when the going gets tough. He shared with us the power of faith and love and family, and how these continue to be his pillars in life, providing him with the strength to pull through a life most others wouldn't consider worth living.

I saw him as a God, a hero, a true man among men. He inspired me, as he has undoubtedly inspired many others. I was touched by his sheer willpower and spirit, and looked to him as a guiding light when the world is descending into darkness.

It was only recently that I saw my hero give up hope. Not because he was at death's doorstep. Not because he suffered the loss of a family member. But because I failed to commit to the vision that I and two others had created. He gave up because I did too.

How else do you convey emotions in an email? Electrons cannot show you shed tears or distant laughter. Electrons moving at lightspeed don't know the meaning of a smile in a group photo, or the hidden jokes associated with the size of the blade you hold. Electrons shooting around the world and back can only do so much to send a message, but it is memories that do the rest of the work.

Mea culpa.

For awhile I held hands and rubbed shoulders with some of the most vibrant and unique people in the world. For awhile we traded inane stories, sexy pictures, lengthy essays, fiery rants, perfect pictures, informative articles, and so many more things. For awhile I was proud to call myself a RANDTSter...

...and honestly? I still am.

Perhaps it is time we gave this blog a little peace and quiet while we start looking in ourselves and seriously ask what it is we really want out of RANDTS.

Now, I think I know what I want. Maybe not a 100%, but even an inkling's good enough. I seriously have no idea what kind of response I can expect to this post. Regardless, the burden is mine to bear. It was my fault, and for that I apologize. I'm sorry I left in your hour of need. I'm sorry I shirked my responsibilities as founding father of RANDTS. I'm sorry I ignored the blog for so long.

But most of all, to all of you here who've been here with RANDTS and I from the start - especially Albert and Jaspreet - I'm sorry for hurting you, and for that I seek your forgiveness .

Lastly, I have this to say: call me idealistic, but even after the coldest darkest winter, flowers still break through the frost and blossom into majestic beauty, heralding the beginning of spring. I'm here hoping winter ends soon... and that spring will come with the dawn of the new sun. I'm ready to rebuild the ruins of RANDTS and start anew. After all, that's what spring is about, isn't it - nature getting a brand new start?

Thank you one and all.

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This can actually be found in my Archive. But I thought I'd post this here just for fun.
Enjoy!

I found this in Reader's Digest (Can't remember the year it was published though. Sorry) A DJ from Germany came up with this idea to come up with nouns to identify and categorise the people around us. So here are the nouns he came up with. And the ones in purple are the alternates.

Anecdultery = The moment when you are halfway through telling someone a story - acting in the know and exaggerating like crazy - when you realise it was their story in the first place. communitake, theminiscing

Binfidel = A person who sneaks his rubbish into your bin once it has been put out on the kerb, so there's never any space for your last forgotten bag. binfiltrator, coup d'etatrash

Boastbuster = A person who, when asked to guess how cheaply you bought something or the size of your pay rise at work, always pciks a figure so extreme that your story falls completely flat. anecdope, pestimator

Buckstop = The space left between the person using an ATM and the first person in the queue behind them. PINcushion, dough man's land

Cosmetic Perjury = The tactful response required when you meet an acquaintance who has proudly changed their hair, face or body in a failed attempt to improve their appearance. fake - lift, undiscretion

Edgehog = A train or bus passenger who hogs the aisle seat so that you have to climb over them to get to a vacant spot. yobstacle, AisleBeRightMate

Eyesberg = The icy look a teenage boy gives his mother when he wants her to stop talking to his girlfriend. off - peek, frigidglare

Hope - couture = The item of clothing you keep for years in the vain hope you might fit back into it someday. wishfits, martin - luthers (as in, "I have a dream...")

Lovestuck = The moment on a first date when both people want to make a move but are scared of getting a knockback and as a result, nothing happens. pre - sensual tension, ankissipation

Flaparazzi = Someone who is always in the background of a live news report, waving stupidly at the camera. telepathetic, vextra, eyejacker

Knack - nickers = Someone who can't leave a hotel room without taking every tea bag, sugar sachet, complimentary shampoo etc. artful lodger, kleptomarriott

Teararist = A person in the cinema who seems to take ages to unwrap their sweets or open their chips then eats them one by one, oblivious to the noise. tornmenter, weapon of multiplex destruction

Piece de resistance = The last bit of food left on a plate because everyone wants to be polite. gluttanot, remorsel

Moanotone = The faltering voice you use when you ring work to tell them you're sick. ARGGGHcent, phlegmbellishment

Shinterjection = At a dinner party, the sharp kick made under the table you give your partner to indicate that whatever it is they're saying, they must stop saying it right now. shin dig, toed rage

Tortune = A catchy yet awful song that you just can't get out of your head, even after hearing it playedjust once. ABBAration

Suffermore = A person who is always sicker or worse off than you. If you say you are a bit tired, they are exhausted. If you are snowed under, they tell you to try it with six kids. And when someone runs up the back of your car, it is nothing compared to the accident they had in the summer of 1984. hurtuoso, sickophant

Veriflycation = That involuntary movement of checking the fly made by all men as they re-enter a public place after leaving the bathroom. heflex action

So there. Hope you guys enjoyed it.

:)

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Yes i have finally come around to compiling all of my quotable quotes. :D Funny isn't it? How Saying something obvious in a few cool sounding words can make a guy(or girl) seem oh-so-clever and ... well ... wise. ;P So anyways, Enjoy!

P.S. Watch this space as i will be updating it as i continue to find even more clever-sounding things to say! XD!

"I Fear not Certain Death, For for all Death is Certain"

"I am neither a candle to God, nor a rod to the Devil"

"Sticks and stones can break my bones, But i can break yours too"

"Life is a river, Go with the flow"

"A wrong decision now, is better than a right one too late"

"Never defend, For to do so is to lay bare your plans, Attack and do not cease initiative"

"Procrastination is to do yesterdays work tomorrow"

"By Zeus's Iron Balls!"

"Hi Miss, I'm gay, Think you can change my mind?"

"We always ask 'Why?' when 'How?' is so much more fun"

"How am i supposed to know? I just work here!"

"You take the thingamajigger and you connect it to the whatchamacallit and then ..."

"How do you stop a running Bhai? You don't. You just try and get out of the way"

"You feeling lucky? ... Punk!"

"Theres not much more thats worse than getting shot at with a .45 cal Magnum, except of course getting shot at with a .55 cal Magnum"

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Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. How on earth can you explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.

-Albert Einstein-

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Sometimes you wonder how some folks (especially in Malaysia) have the audacity to talk without thinking. Really, judging from the things they type, it's glaringly obvious that these people never really bothered to zip up their mouths for awhile before shooting off it at others. Naturally they also don't bother giving a damn about being polite or civilized at all.

Case in point: check out John Lee's blog, Infernal Ramblings, at the chatbox in the right-hand sidebar.

Now pay attention to the mad rantings of the person nicknamed "joshvinder". Start from bottom to top, right before the nickname 'No Eggs'.

Disheartening, no? With such people trawling the blogosphere and spreading ill will everywhere they end up, it's hardly any wonder why our Information Minister is so anxious to rein in Malaysian bloggers; including the rest of us who had nothing to do with it in the first place.

I thought a forum was for people to exchange ideas, not ruthlessly beat them down whenever they express one that doesn't tally with yours!

It's sickening to be reminded that there are many more "joshvinders" out there in the country right now. On a forum once, I was heckled by another 'experienced' user (by nature of the obscenely huge number of posts he has put up to date) who used a variety of colourful and fascinating words on me due to a disagreement of sorts in which we ended up.

Alright, maybe I was at fault for misreading his message and responding rather harshly - but it was never intentionally done. The next thing I knew I was embroiled in a flame war all on my own! Needless to say, I found out from many other users that he has abused them online many times - even witnessing myself him starting up another flame war with another user of that forum.

And it wasn't just about the issue we were discussing at that point - at times he'd go on to insult our parentage, our heritage, our culture, our education, etc. Basically he took a potshot at everything related to us in an effort to draw us in to the conflict with our own weapons. I was damn near close to breaking. Still, bad experiences that could have cost me my friendships helped remind me that that was the last thing I should do.

I have since stopped posting at that forum due to his insolent nature and coarse language. I thought a forum was for people to exchange ideas, not ruthlessly beat them down whenever they express one that doesn't tally with yours! That defeats the purpose of the whole thing entirely, no?

Any of you here have ever had that experience before? Being heckled online by someone hiding behind a pseudonym? It certainly makes you wonder how some immature people can so freely abuse the rights to freedom of speech which democracy has granted them.

[ related article: Bloggers' Code of Conduct: The Great Debate ]

~verus rara avis~

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I originally put this up on my blog, but since I thought it'd be useful for a lot more people, I put it up here on RANDTS as well. =D

(this guide was written with the help from several sources: WikiHow, Art of Schmooze, Success Training Inc., AskMen.com, Scott H Young and The Winning Attitude)

Don't we all know the feeling of insecurity that some of us get when we're around people? And when you're finally face-to-face with one person, all by yourselves, you're hit with the ultimate dilemma - you have no idea what to say next!

The problem of not knowing what to say to someone you've just met is more than just an embarrassing silence - it can be a severe confidence-breaker for any person who knows it all too well. If you've had this problem for awhile, isn't it time you started taking steps to change things? Here are some handy tips I've compiled from the Internet (what a useful tool it is!), coupled with my own opinions and experiences, to help you out!

Don't Panic

There's always a first time for everything. Panicking isn't really of any use to you because it doesn't improve the situation, but can do a lot to mess it up. Some people are just so nervous that they'll screw up big time that they fuss over their hair, their clothes, their hands, their food, their drink, whether they're standing too far, too close, are they giving enough attention...

Quit worrying! Go over to them, say "Hi", give your best smile - make sure it's not the kind of smile that'll scare people off with your enthusiasm! - and shake hands firmly. Look them in the eyes and introduce yourself to them.

(For those of you too shy to do so, here's a tip: look at the bridge of their nose, the spot exactly between both their eyes. That way, people will still have the impression that you're looking at them. Just remember not to stare.)

Speak slowly and audibly enough for them to catch what you're saying. You don't want to give people the impression you work on a bullet train for a living.

If there are lulls in the conversation, don't fret! Use the pause to reflect back on your conversation so far. Was there anything interesting in the conversation that you've just had? Did you miss something the other party had said earlier? Then mention it and keep the conversation going.

Don't Get Too Personal

There's always a time and place to tell people about your most heart-wrenching breakup to date, and when you're with new faces, it's never that time. Ask yourself: is that really what people want to hear?

When you're around people whom you've known for quite some time, they listen to you speak about personal matters because they already know you to some extent. When you start to get into matters that concern you around new people, they're likely to be a little apprehensive considering the fact they barely know you yet, and already you're opening yourself up for them.

People don't really learn about you from what you say. The way you say things are much more important. How you speak and carry yourself in the presence of others tells them much more about you than an hour-long narrated autobiography would. Unless you've grown up around Madonna and Elvis Presley your whole life, people aren't really that interested in you - yet.

Of course, since conversation is about two parties interacting, you'd better make sure you're learning from others about them while you're busy teaching others about you. On that note, we move on into:

Let Others Do the Work and Take Credit for It

The art of great conversation is not about doing all the talking and hogging the limelight. The trick is that most great conversationalists get others to do the talking for them. Not 'talk' as in the ventriloquist's puppet; 'talk' as in they get others to speak while they listen!

Let's face it, the most interesting topic everyone loves is the one about 'me, myself, and I'. Everyone can't resist the temptation to talk about their own lives to the whole world! Why else are personal blogs so prolific on the Internet? ;)

To get people to respond more enthusiastically to your questions, try asking more open-ended questions. These kind of questions are basically impossible to answer with just one word (unless the other person wants to come across as being impossibly dumb), and start like:

• What did you think about [blank]?


• How did you [blank]?


• What did you like best about [blank]?


• Tell me about [blank]...

... just make sure you don't ask too many questions, or you'll risk sounding like an interrogator rather than a new friend.

When people answer these kind of questions, they tend to give long, detailed answers rather than simple ones. After that, you can pretty much set the direction of the conversation based on what they have just said. Through this method, you'll also be able to find out the other side's interests, and draw them in to the conversation even more.

Of course, looking for something to fill the [blank] parts would be pretty difficult, wouldn't it? And here's where it's important to:

Pay Attention: Be Observant

Sure, anyone can talk about the weather, but how many people would be interested in taking the conversation in a different direction from where you started? Not many, I can tell you that - not unless you combined the weather cliche with one of the questions I showed you above.

Sometimes, the easiest way to start a conversation is also the simplest. Just pay attention to your surroundings. Look for something that's out-of-the-ordinary and worth talking about. Focus on the person you're talking to; what is he/she wearing? Are there any interesting accessories that he/she's got on?

Ask about them - or better still, compliment it (sincerely, if you please - no one enjoys apple-polishing, even if they're the apple), then ask him/her about it: where it came from, for example. Then follow the steps I've shown you before and take the conversation your way.

The Art of Active Listening

Remember that being observant also means being attentive to the other party. Listening is a very powerful act that builds trust and self-esteem. These two things naturally increase as people talk to you more and more. Of course, since conversations are two-way, what you really need is the art of active listening.

Active listening means showing the other party that you've been paying attention. Listen to what they're saying, then pause momentarily (this is important) before responding to them. One effective response would be to paraphrase their words. Therefore, you'd start off with something like, "So what you're saying is ..." and you'd go on to repeat whatever they said in your own words.

(The pause is crucial because besides buying you time to formulate a reply, it also allows whatever the other party has said to sink in a little deeper so you understand them better. Plus, it shows people that you're taking them seriously and you're not just eager to get a word in for the sake of it. If you find you still don't know what to say, you could ask them to clarify what they've said, and take the conversation from there.)

Also, while they're busy talking, use occasional nods of the head, and say "Yes" or "I see" or "That's interesting". The idea is to show people that you're paying attention to them, and not thinking about something else. It's a ridiculously simple tool to get conversations going and to build new friendships.

Tell Great Stories

Some great conversationalists keep a database of funny and witty anecdotes in their head that they can relate in a conversation to lighten the mood and perk up their other party's attention. However, there's a key to just what you should say and what not to say in order not to wind up with a bored listener (or worse, more) when you're done.

1. Make sure your story is interesting. Have at least a few interesting points to share in the course of your talking. Make sure it isn't long, unless you have more than one interesting point to tell. Space the interesting bits out to break the monotony and keep people hooked.


2. Put the most interesting point at the end of the story. Your story should build up to the inevitable climax, not degrade gradually till it becomes a boring tale.


3. Keep your story personal. Stories about yourself provide a unique insight into your characteristics and personality. Thus, you shouldn't talk about stories that happened to your friends or relatives, i.e. persons whom the people you're talking with wouldn't really know (the world isn't that small - yet). Most people don't really care about people they've never met before. Since you're there in front of them, introduce yourself to them - in a more interesting way.


4. Make sure you know your stories well. Pausing to recall a part of your story detracts from the overall mood and doesn't reflect well on your part. Practice reciting these stories, and slowly accustom yourself to get the timing and emphasis right. Have several interesting anecdotes on call that you can use in conversations. One advice: don't grasp for stories. Grasping includes questions like "How was your day?" These questions should be kept as a last resort.

Be Confident!

The most important part about the whole thing? Confidence. Without the courage to go up to a person and put all that you've learned into action, everything goes to waste.

Some things to keep in mind to keep up your self-esteem and boost your confidence:

1. Dress up a little. Comb your hair (or muss it up stylishly, whichever you fancy), put on some bling, a little cologne/perfume. You don't have to go overboard on style, just make sure you look good. People tend to react more favorably when they have a good first impression of you. The easiest way to gain that would be to present yourself properly.


2. Wear something you're comfortable in. It doesn't matter whether it's a formal or informal event - make sure you wear something that suits you, that you like. Make sure it looks presentable, though!


3. Body language is important. Stand straight, smile, and just be yourself. No point putting on airs and trying to be somebody you're not. Not only do people quickly see through this trick, they'll also get the impression that you're someone who isn't comfortable about himself.

The above three things help you to present a better image to the world at large. Also, when you look good (and know it), it helps you a little in being a little more daring, a little more confident. Coupled with the positive reaction from others around you, you'll naturally feel comfortable about yourself - and that helps in getting conversations going.

And When it Ends...

Of course, not everyone is bound to succeed all the time. Hell, I've had my fair share of awkward moments too. But remember, always keep in mind that failure's never a barrier to achieving more. It's only a sign you need more practice, and need to try more!

If you did get a conversation going - even if it was only for a short while - then kudos! You are that much closer to being a great conversationalist. Before you part with your companion, shake hands, smile, and say thank you before moving on. The least you can do is leave politely. Never think you can't do it. Most great conversationalists were not born; they were made.

Conversations with new people shouldn't have to be something arduous, like a chore. It should be something fun that we look forward to, like a challenge to be overcome. The important things to keep in mind are to keep your cool and refrain from talking too much about yourself. Get others interested in you by getting them to do the talking, then listen attentively to them. Share interesting anecdotes with your partners, and dress well to give them a good first impression.

Hope this guide helped you out, and good luck in all your endeavors!

Note from the blogger:

This is my first How-To guide. Comments and feedback from all of you would be really appreciated. Is there anything I could improve on? Do you have any requests or suggestions on other How-To guides you'd like to see? Please comment and help me improve my writing. Thank you! :)

Cheers,
Jared

~verus rara avis~

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Most of you would think the reason for me discussing this is because of the question of the NSTP Sdn. Bhd. vs Jeff Ooi/Ahirudin Attan case [read Bloggers Sued: A chronology of events]. For those of you who aren't in the Bloggers United movement (or have not been keeping up-to-date with the progress of the case), the link leads to Research on Malaysian Bloggers.

Well, that's partly the reason why. But the main issue in that debate was, "Are bloggers liable for slanderous/defamatory comments posted by readers on their blog?"

Here I'll talk about a new issue that's cropped up in the international blogosphere (that's right, folks, we're taking the war out of the country), starting with the Kathy Sierra incidents [read Death threats against bloggers are NOT "protected speech"].

Now the issue at hand has shifted (though not really in Malaysia) to the conduct of bloggers/commenters online. To think that people would go out of their way to shut someone up online by posting death threats against her (and it isn't just all talk - there were a few 'disturbing' pictures) is horrifying.

Hence, to counter these anonymous users abusing the freedom of the Internet, people are already uniting in a concerted effort to draft a workable and acceptable Bloggers' Code of Conduct. One such draft can be found at this link (complete with badges for people who obey the code or choose not to follow it): [read Draft Bloggers' Code of Conduct]

...will the proposed Bloggers' Code of Conduct build a free, regulated blogging environment, or impose a totalitarian iron rule of law?...

However, the blogosphere has not united behind this movement completely. There are some bloggers [read Segala: Do we want a code for blogs?] who say that it's up to the blogger to choose whether to adhere to the code (if an official one does come into existence). There are also those who are completely against it [read Blogger Code of Conduct? Two words - Fuck off].

Whatever the support (or resistance) to the Code of Conduct [read robhyndman.com: Blogging Code of Conduct, Redux], there are some things that are interestingly noted by commenters on the Draft Bloggers' Code of Conduct. Among them:

2. We won't say anything online that we wouldn't say in person.

If blogging is international, then I would disagree with this point.

In the authoritarion and cruel regimes, if one wants to get himself hanged, only then he would in person criticize the regime. Blogging is the great and unique way of protest for the oppressed people against such regimes.

Also:

What a load of bull. People should be civil to each other without it having to be 'enforced'. Who is going to enforce this code of conduct? You'll be wanting a regulatory body next, and all bloggers and commenters to register, carry cards or wear badges. The internet is free, and should stay that way. There are ways to trace even an anonymous commenter's IP these days.

Some like the idea, though:

Interesting idea. A lot of the points in this draft could apply to web sites in general, not just blogs. Especially forums.

I like the idea, but I agree with other commenters about the fact that many bloggers would want to customize the code to their specific site and ideals. Maybe the code could be something like Creative Commons licenses where there are different levels to choose from.

It will be interesting to see where the debate goes from here. Is the Code threatening the democracy and freedom of the Internet? Is it actually helping to build a better, global online community that contributes proactively and maturely? Or is this the end of blogging as we know it? Whatever happens, ultimately RANDTS will be affected in its own little way as well.

~verus rara avis~

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Sex could kill you. Do you know what the human body goes through when you have sex? Pupils dilate, arteries constrict, core temperature rises, heart races, blood pressure skyrockets, respiration becomes rapid and shallow, the brain fires bursts of electrical impulses from nowhere to nowhere, and secretions spit out of every gland, and the muscles tense and spasm like you're lifting three times your body weight. It's violent, it's ugly and it's messy, and if God hadn't made it unbelievably fun, the human race would have died out eons ago. [pause to breathe deeply] Men are lucky they can only have one orgasm. Do you know that women can have an hour long orgasm?

- Dr Cameron, from the TV series House [more quotes here]

Sex aside, I'm typing this as a response to Comrade's post [RANDTS To The Next Level].

I guess I did say I wanted to have a dynamic group blog sometime back then. However, it must be said that I think we do have that environment now, to some extent. Judging by the posts' content, we have an extremely varied level of topics relating to current issues and even personal problems on the blog.

...just my two cents' worth...

But for our blog to be truly 'dynamic', there needs to be some degree of engagement, comment-wise, with our audience - the readers of RANDTS. Blogger-wise, we're getting loads of comments from the people who contribute to RANDTS, but near nothing from the readers of the blog.

I was made to understand that RANDTS does have a substantial following from around the country (although these statistics are by no means comparable to the more established blogs out there). Somehow though, there doesn't seem to be a very enthusiastic response here from them, despite them telling me how much they enjoy reading the posts we put up here.

Personally, I'm against imposing a quota at all for a number of reasons. One of them is because I'm not as frequent a poster as Comrade. Another is because some readers mentioned that coming to RANDTS actually gives them an information overload (due to the large number of posts that crop up when they don't drop by the site for a few days).

In the end, it all boils down to the question of 'quality vs quantity'. Too many posts may not necessarily be a good thing. I'd prefer it if we let things stay as they are now. We'll definitely streamline a few things here and there, but we can always work those out later.

~verus rara avis~

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perforce \pur-FORS\, adverb:
By necessity; by force of circumstance.

. . .the error of supposing that, because everything indeed is not right with the world, everything must accordingly be wrong with the world; the error of supposing that, because we are plainly not a race of angels, we must perforce be a race of beasts.
-- James Gardner, "Infinite Jest (book reviews)", National Review, June 17, 1996

Perforce comes from French par force, "by force."


RANDTSers will parforce never die.....

~multum in parvo~

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Heil Hitler!!


Tyranny of the majority is a phrase describing scenario in which decisions made by a majority under that system would place that majority's interests so far above a minority's interest as sometimes to be comparable in cruelty to "tyrannical" despots.

tyr·an·ny (tĭr'ə-nē)
n., pl. -nies.

1. A government in which a single ruler is vested with absolute power.
2. The office, authority, or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler.
3. Absolute power, especially when exercised unjustly or cruelly
4.
a. Use of absolute power.
b. A tyrannical act.
5. Extreme harshness or severity; rigor.

Examples of tyranny of the majority being practiced.

It was said that Thailand's Thaksin bribed the poor to impose tyranny of the majority in order to rape his nations resources. This contributed to his downfall.

Tyranny of the majority was also used to oppress the blacks in the US before the civil rights movement. Thanks to Martin Luther King Jr's activism all minorities in the US now enjoy civil rights.

In Iran people of the Ba'hai faith are heavily persecuted due the non-existence or utter contempt towards religious freedom laws. The majority Persian population supports this being brainwashed by their leaders. Even in the Arab world enemies are labelled as Ba'hai as an insult of credibility.

In India Dalits are still heavily discriminated as nobody really cares about them or just despise them thinking of them as vermin. Most Dalits have abandoned Hinduism as it places them as vermin.

Remember that according to Bush Iraq is a democracy. In Iraq Sunni Muslims were and still are undergoing genocide supported by factions in the government in Shia majority or mixed areas. All men with the name Omar have either been killed, changed his name or has fled according to the Time magazine. Only Sunnis have the name Omar! In retaliation Sunnis have an ongoing campaign of bombing Shia civillians. The Mandaens and Christians suffer the worst of fates. There's an ongoing extermination by Sunnis and Shias campaign on these people in Iraq.

Let's not forget that Hitler had popular support of the German people. He used this support to try to totally wipe out Jews, homosexuals, Gypsies, mental patients, the mentally disabled and the physically disabled. This became known as the Holocaust. Who's the most evil man ever, Hitler or Stalin?

Let's hope Malaysia will never degenerate into practicing tyranny of the majority. But I fear worse may come after hearing the violent rhetoric of the UMNO firebrands. What do you think?

~multum in parvo~

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Here's a new word.

taciturn \TAS-uh-turn\, adjective:
Habitually silent; not inclined to talk.


A balding, stocky, taciturn man who wore glasses, he gave an impression of distance and seriousness.
-- "Diana's Driver: Unsettling Piece in a Puzzle", New York Times, September 21, 1997


Taciturn comes from Latin taciturnus, from tacere, "to be silent."



I can be taciturn in a crowd of strangers........

~multum in parvo~

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This post will help with our vocabulary.

cogitate \KOJ-uh-tayt\:
1. To think deeply or intently; to ponder; to meditate.
2. To think about; to ponder on; to meditate upon; to plan or plot.

Doc Leach shifted his pipe from one corner of his mouth to the other and blinked a couple of times. That meant he was cogitating.
-- Monty Roberts, The Man Who Listens To Horses


Cogitate comes from Latin cogitare, "to turn over in one's mind, to reflect, to think, to consider," from co- + agitare, "to put in constant motion, to drive about," from agere, "to drive." It is related to agitate.


(Images courtesy of Paper Napkin)

~multum in parvo~

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