What the Hell?

About Me

Keen for some rants? General misadventure?
Excellent! I'm from Mosgiel, which is in Dunedin, which also happens to be in the South Island of New Zealand. I simultaneously love and loath social media. I enjoy the ability to connect easily, but I hate losing the ability to socialize in person. I also enjoy a wide variety of odd interests. I'm pretty down with Metal music(and some of it's various sub-genres). I play the drums(want to laugh at how bad I may be? Check out my YouTube profile http://www.youtube.com/user/psychobattery) Also, I enjoy a bit of everyday computer use. Currently, I'm attempting a double major in English and Computer Science. It's pretty rad, but learning about Twitter, the Java programming language and Shakespeare, can be a bit much at times. Anyway, stick around, grab a cold beverage and watch for some entertaining(and maybe thought-provoking) blogs!

Blogs I follow:

1. Orkut…or cut?

   

   So, if you didn’t quite get that cryptic title, basically, this blog is going to discuss the usability of Orkut. Which “is an online community designed to make your social life more active and stimulating.” -Source

   Now, don’t misunderstand my intention here, I will not be going deep into this website. I, like most people, am fairly content with a Facebook, a Twitter, and an untended MySpace profile. This will simply be a slight dip into the metaphorical bog that is Orkut.

   Let’s start with the nice features. Orkut is owned and operated by Google. That’s always nice, everyone likes(or at least uses regularly) one or more of Google’s services. Because of this, sign-up is relatively stress free. Orkut is directly linked to your G-Mail account. Also, because it is owned by the fairly omnipotent Google, Orkut easily links in to a myriad of other Google owned services such as YouTube, Google Videos and GTalk. And if there is one thing that is often complained about with Social Networking sites, it is their lack of syndication with other services.

   

   ^ As you can see, it links in well with Google(see the top left) and with your G-Mail account and Google search on the right.

   Unfortunately, here endeth the easily discernible good features. Henceforth, it is rather OrKrap(see what I did there?) For some reason, Orkut has decided that capital letters are “uncool” and that they don’t feel the need to use them very often(See below.) Personally, this just seems a little unprofessional and perhaps a weak attempt at a gimmick, but hey, maybe I’m just old-fashioned(at 19.)

   

   ^Showcasing the lack of capital letters

   Also, despite being released in January 2004, it is still considered to be in beta edition. Orkut is not the Avatar movie, it is not allowed an excessive amount of time to become fully functional. On top of this, a quick search through the communities available to join came up with an impressive/depressing amount of racist groups. Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is generally frowned upon.

   Just to sum up, Orkut kind of does the job, and if you are Brazilian(stats) Orkut seems to be fairly popular. However, it sure as hell ain’t no Facebook and my overall impression was that Google woke up one day and thought, “Oh no, we iz not having a finger in all da piez anymore! We must makez a Social Networkz site!”

   Keep it real,

   Psychobattery.

   P.S. I’m a self confessed genius, which is not the real type and you should check Orkut out for yourselves and let me know what you think.

2. I can haz Viral Phenomenon?

   

   Hey, you know what the worst combo since Kanye West and life is? Bad parents and YouTube. Turns out there is a wave of videos being uploaded online which showcase the users own bad parenting skills. There is truly a myriad of these videos, my favourite being “David after Dentist.” Interestingly, this is just a symptom of a wider internet phenomenon: Viral Videos.

   Basically, a Viral Video is a video that spreads so quickly and is viewed by so many people that it is comparable to a virus. In today’s internet, this consists mostly of hugely popular YouTube videos, but in the past the videos could be spread through various means such as regular e-mail attachments or just through good ole’ fashioned word-of-mouth.

   Viral Videos are created and viewed for many different reasons. Sometimes the video is made by complete accident, due to almost every household item(including raw produce) now containing some form of camera. This makes such fantastic amateur Viral Videos as the aforementioned “David after Dentist” and other greats such as “Understanding Automatic Door Fail.” Interestingly, Viral Videos have also been used effectively for marketing purposes. In 2007, the World Wrestling Entertainment group published and spread a group of videos to build anticipation for the return of the character “Jericho.” Viral Videos featuring subtle bible references as well as cryptic binary code was used to promote excitement for his return to WWE. - Source

   Although the majority of Viral Videos are popular because of the common element of humour, Viral Videos remain an extremely effective way to connect with consumers/customers to market or promote a product or event.

   Let me know of your favourite Viral Vidz and also feel free to comment me about the blog.

   Keep it real,

   PsychoBattery.

   P.S. If you’re a Viral Video noob, try out the Wikipedia page for some history.

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3. The Underground Metal Scene is Now Well Overground

   

   Relapse Records are attempting to connect with more fans than ever by such social networking sites as Facebook and Twitter. By creating profiles on these two enormously popular social media websites, Relapse has increased their potential fan base exponentially. On their Facebook fan page, they have 5,820 fans and on their Twitter, they have 6,115 followers.

   The relationship between Relapse Records and its fans via social media is a mutual one. While fans now have access to various bands and their live updates, Relapse has expanded the fan base of both the record label itself and also the individual bands signed to it. In this way, Relapse records is constantly increasing the potential fan base of their signed bands, but also increasing the number of sales through their own website.

   By exploiting the instant public relations capabilities of social media, Relapse is connecting fans together to create a community out of what was once considered a reclusive underground music scene. In this way, Relapse is keeping itself on the forefront of music evolution, with particular regards to merchandising and music downloads. I believe this is very important, as almost anyone who buys music and uses the internet will understand that the methods once used to market music have now become very obsolete and new strategies must be found. For example, Radiohead and Nine-Inch Nails have both turned to marketing themselves via the internet as opposed to traditional, record label methods. And the best part is, it works. Their latest album sales have skyrocketed, and by cutting out the middle man, they have effectively earned themselves an easy pile of cash.

   By keeping up to date and using social media to their advantage, Relapse Records have the potential to remain an important asset to their clients. And of course, the fans remain happy as information is more openly available about the bands they love.

   Keep it real,

   PsychoBattery.

   P.S Comment and hit me up, I’m always interested to hear your views on the Blog.

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