Thursday, January 21, 2010

How media can manipulate your viewpoint

Came across this beautiful image on 10 Daily Things on how the media can manipulate your views. The cropping of the image is entirely my idea - I thought it would be a more strong view point this way.

From the Iraqi POV -


From the US POV:


And the actual image -

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Yo Airtel! - damn your "Fair Usage" policy!

If I buy an "unlimited" plan, who are you to "limit" my usage? Am I not paying for the damned usage, you fools? Are you taking us back to the dark days of internet usage in India? And you have the gall to say - "We have analyzed (sic) the current bandwidth utilization (sic) trends of our Broadband customers and have observed that a very small number of users are using excessive amount of bandwidth. Such excessive bandwidth usage can result in an impaired broadband experience for you. We are committed to providing the best Broadband experience for our customers and in this endeavor we intend to stop abuse of connections by a few customers."

Now, allow me to rip your statement to shreds!
  • Why the american spelling? Is this America? Oops, sorry, you don't get such crappy internet service providers in the US. The customers would have sued your ass off!
  • Small number of users are using excessive amount of bandwidth - You moron, I paid for the excessive bandwidth in the first place. And I keep paying you every month. Again and again!. Every month. So where does this question come of excessive bandwidth? You gave me the option, I took it. Why don't you stop corporates from using "excessive bandwidth"? Can you try sending them such a joke and reducing their bandwidth once they cross a limit? Would love to see that happen!
  • Such excessive bandwidth usage can result in an impaired broadband experience for you. - who is the "you" here? Me? Hell, no! I am the one who is using the excessive bandwidth in the first place. So is this the average mango-man (aam admi) who does not give a damn about what speeds he is getting in his internet box and does not care about media streaming, uploading large images et al? Guess so. So he doesn't care. Who in bloody hell's name are you to determine that the mango-man is not having a great internet experience. When did you become a fucking communist?
  • We are committed to providing the best Broadband experience for our customers and in this endeavor we intend to stop abuse of connections by a few customers. Abuse, my foot! Jokers, remember that YOU gave me the option of getting an "unlimited" plan in the first place. I am abusing nothing by using high bandwidth! I am just using my connection to the optimum. Even if the unlimited connection meant unlimited speeds, this statement would still be stupid. You just removed MY "best broadband experience".
Can you imagine how some Indian corporates and foreign nations would be laughing at this "Unfairly used" policy? Dude, Sunil Mittal, I thought you were one forward thinking dude and greatly appreciated and respected you vision to be the head of one of the world's best telephony companies. Now, I laugh at you. Cause you know what will happen - someone was just looking for this opportunity and will remove the carpet from under your feet.

Thanks for so many years of great service. You've just lost a customer.