Facebook for South Goans Ixxt meets West in this virtual balcao By Cecil Pinto
Facebook is making custom versions of its package to appeal to every known demographic. Currently being developed is a special version for South Goans called Saxtibook. I was lucky to catch up with chief developer Flavia Lobo who was in Margao to run a Beta Version past some potential users. “But Flavia what I can see are three typical elderly Salcete aunties. I’m not quite sure they understand English very well.” “This is what our local market research team provided as a representative sample. The men folk apparently are all either in the Gulf, on board a ship, in Florida or in Swindon - and come down just once a year if ever. The older men folk are drinking and watching TV and are not too interested in computers.” “But what about the youth from Salcete. Surely they are interested in a version made specifically for them?” “Naaah! They want the UK version of Facebook. They pretend they don’t even know Konkani. Look at the way they dress and behave. They are not emulating North Goans or Indians or Americans. They think they are British! So the only major demographic segment left are these aunties. Fortunately these aunties are very interested in any device or software that will help them keep in touch with their children abroad.” “But can’t they use phones and emails like everyone else?” "Cecil, which century are you living in? Even people who have been phone and email savvy for decades are now using Facebook as their communication portal.” “Ok, ok! Now show me how Saxtibook works.” “As you can see the opening screen is pretty much standard. On your left is your profile photo, and below that are clickable fields. Newsfeeds has been renamed as Chakattam and Messages are Recard. Within the Messages one can select Sogleo (All), Vachleleo (Read), Vachunk Nassleleo (Unread) and Kainch Naka (None). Then we have Ghoddneo, or Events, further categorized into Happy Bodday, Kazaram, Festam, Ladainhas, Month’s Mind and Dusrem (Others).” “Nice!” “You can store as many photos as you want under Botam Chitram (Digital Photos). The subdivisions here are Dhanvtim (Video), Attanch Kadlelim (Recent) and Dusreachim (Others). And of course you can Share all your Photos, Links, Gozali etc with the Vant button.” “What about the controversial Facebook issues regarding privacy?” “Fortunately Cecil in Salcete we don’t have such a problem. Nobody wants privacy. They want to show off their new bungalow - with ostentatious internal staircase, new car, new stereo, new girlfriend, new spouse, new whatever. And among the once aristocratic gentry they want to show their ancestry and get it clear to you that they are from a ‘cultured’ family. In fact we are seriously thinking of adding Caste in the profile along with Sex, Date of Birth etc.” “Sure! Why not? If the Government of India can ask for Caste in a Census why not Saxtibook? As long as you make it an optional choice and those who don’t want to reveal their caste, or don’t believe in caste, can leave the field blank.” “Good suggestion Cecil. I presume you know that under Soirigot (Relationship Status) for females on Saxtibook we have Ankwar, Mudi Ghatlea, Chiti Vachlea, Kazari, Mickey's ex, Beatinni, Rann and finally Ghuspagondoll for It’s Complicated. Of course the most important section is Ixxt (Friends). You can Search for Friends and Friendship using the Ixtagott button.” “How come under Political Views you have only Congress, Churchill, Congress with Churchill, and Other” “Well none of the Others were statistically significant enough for a separate entry.” “And also you’ve removed the Books and Movies section and replaced it with Tiatrs. Nice! Flavia, what’s this Bangoddi section?” “Those are what are called Applications in regular Facebook?” “So why call them Bangoddi?” “Every time we tried to explain to our Sample Audience how to use these Applications they told us - Amkam naka teo bangoddi! – so we decided to name them Bangoddi.” “But Flavia, other than language and minor tweaking this Saxtibook is not vastly different from the regular Facebook.” “Agreed, but there are many modifications. For example in Facebook we have Friends Searches among Classmates and College Mates. In Saxtibook we didn’t feel the need to go beyond Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary - if you know what I mean. And also, for example, we don’t have any subsections under Games as the only game is Football!” “Huh? What about popular Facebook games like Farmville, Mafia Wars etc?” “Cecil, understand that those are Third Party games and not directly developed by Facebook but by independent developers. Of course there are many such games for Saxtibook. The equivalent of Farmville is Bhatkar-Mundkar, Farmtown is Xettkamti and for Mafia Wars we have Alemao vs Pacheco. The IQ Test equivalent game is Ginean but as you can expect there aren’t many levels necessary.” “I don’t doubt you, Flavia.” “Vangodds are Groups and a Group Invitation is a Vagodd Kovith. Here we have Ixtagott Magtam also known as Friend Requests whereas a Friend Suggestion is Uttor Ghatlam. You can Unfriend a person with Ixtagott Modtam and Refriend a person with Ixtagot Porot Magta Shempdo Kasticho.” “Interesting.” “Our Chat section, called Balcao, is in fact the showpiece of Saxtibook. Unlike Facebook’s regular chat application Balcao allows up to eight people to chat with each other simultaneously. Now our unique software checks out each of the people involved in a Balcao session and identifies how many mutual friends (Ixxtacho Ixxt) they have. The software then will automatically flash a section from the Mutual Friend’s profile into the chat session, providing grist for the gossip mill. For example read this excerpt from a chat session between our aunties here -Rosy, Felcy and Joaquina - regarding their mutual friend Lydia.” Rosy: Lydia’s become big maan Felcy: Ya! Rosy: I aksed her what she thinks of herself Felcy: Ya! Rosy: Simply she’s acting big like one Felcy: Ya! : ( Rosy: What maan Joaquina, not talking or what? Joaquina: Forget for Lydia. I Toped her and she not Poking back. She bees like that only. I don’t cares for her. Rosy: I am Liking this. Best Murre! Felcy: Ya! BM! :) : ) ------------- The column above appeared in Gomantak Times on 17th June 2010 ======= * * * Read Selma Carvalho's warmly-received book *Into the Diaspora Wilderness*, a journey through Goan life in Africa, the Gulf, England and North America ... gripping and well-told real-life stories. 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