Seven answers on 7Q (also known as the FAQs of life.)				Interviewed by Tom Mangan Jish Mukerji, online burgomeister His Web site is here.		AUTHORS Michael Fuchs Elizabeth Hilts Paul Riddell Gary Rivlin Jim Motavalli Barbara Shafferman Jules Siegel Keith Snyder ARTISTS/POETS/ PHILOSOPHERS Jon C. Allen Will Baker Mike Leung Jon Sarkin COOL SITE KEEPERS Mike Cash Scott O'Neal Colf Godfrey Daniels Cliff Davis, DDS Tammy Hocking Wes Modes Frank Rogan DIARISTS Ralph Becker J. D. Bruns Linda DeVault Mike Reed Moira Richardson Jessamyn West FILMMAKERS Ben Kufrin Dean Mermell JOURNALISTS Bernie Mary Cooley-Jones Lindsay Crysler Jamie Dupree M.O.A.T.M.A.I. David Moll Robert Niles John Orr Steven Ovadia Pierce Presley Mack Reed Rip Rense Curtis Ross Neal Ross John Scalzi Catherine Seipp David Sheets Dwight Silverman Matt Welch MOVIE MAVENS MaryAnn Johanson Brian Koller HUMORISTS Debbie Farmer Mike Jasper Madeleine Begun Kane Patrick Keller Bob Sassone Valerie Sprague Ken Swarmer Ian Wolff SOLDIERS Maj. Jon Anderson, USAF TEACHERS John Warner TECHIES Chris Adamson Mike Gunderloy Michael Ivey Greg Knauss Floyd Maxwell Ellen McDonough Mike Pingleton Wayne Thume John Worth TEENS Gary Baum Marty Beckerman UNDECLARED Bev Gibbs Beth Reid WEBLOGGERS Jason Kottke Jish Mukerji
ONE				What words of caution would you send along to anyone planning to meet someone in person whom they've known only online? This may sound paranoid, but I've found it's best to be wary of people who are overly enthusiastic about meeting you "live in person" SOON after having met them on the internet. Granted, that's a generalization - but you have to wonder: if your Internet friend is extra gung-ho about meeting you without even knowing you, what are their intentions? Given that - meet your 'net friend in a public area, tell a friend or two where you will be and with whom you are going. If you are really concerned, be frank with your internet buddy and say up-front (or even before meeting) that you must call a friend at 9 p.m. to let them know that all is well.
TWO				Tell us about the first time you got a bunch of people together who had previously known each other only online. My online community got together "live" for the first time after having spent about 4 months together online - chatting via the instant messaging system that sixdegrees.com offers (degreemail) and via the bulletin board. I showed up with a friend (whom I had meet first online and who is now my best friend) close to an hour before everyone else was to show up - more than a bit nervous, I must admit. We ordered food and drinks and waited. And waited. After some time, some people started to filter in to the pub and walked up to us and asked "Are you guys with TAG" or "Are you Jish?" Before I knew it, I had a crowd of about 20 strangers piled around a long table, and I found myself playing host to them all. Initially, some group members (myself included) were quite shy - but after a few drinks and some "getting to know one another" - things smoothed out and the conversations flowed. Two things helped us feel more comfortable with one another: the fact that we already "knew" one another online, and that we met in a pub and not somewhere quiet, like a cafe or restaurant where people would be put on the spot.
THREE				What are some of the things that work fine in online "communities" that don't work when people get together in real life. When hiding behind a name in the online world, it's easy to be someone you're not -- in real life your protective shell is lost - body language speaks volumes. For many it is easier to express themselves when they have a second to think about it andthen type it out. They lose that protection, too, when meeting in real life. In my online community, most people expect they will someday meet other members - they know we have "real life" Pub Nites every month. So, it's rare that members create fake personas or are shocked by a person's behaviour when meeting in real life.
FOUR				Give us an example of a controversy that had your group in quite an uproar but would seem at least a bit ridiculous to an outsider. Monkeystomping was ridiculous. I post a survey question on a weekly basis to get discussions going - they are almost always sexual in nature. One week I asked for people to choose their favourite sexual position from a list I had provided ... among the selections, I listed "monkeystomping" - which of course is purely fictional. Many, many members speculated on what monkeystomping could be - many speculated that I had made up the position. Many did not care. However, those who did care somewhat hounded me to find out what this mystical sexual position could be.
FIVE				Beer seems to figure prominently in your group's outings. How do you account for that? They're PUB NITES! I try to organize informal events - I find this is best achieved in a pub or bar setting. Understandably, for some it's a scary thought to come out and meet a group of strangers...to top it all off, strangers they've met on the Internet. Drinking in a pub is a very social setting - it definitely eases the discomfort. And as for the beer - well, it seems to help people come out of their shell.
SIX				Toronto has always been described to me as one of the great cities of North America. What are some of the things you like about it? I have lived in Toronto for a little over two years now. At first I truly hated it. To be honest, I think I was being a bit closed-minded at the time. I moved here from San Francisco, which I adored. In comparison I found this city very impersonal, cold. Walking down the street, rather than looking at passersby and saying hello - people looked away. Not uncommon in big cities, but something I had to get used to once again. I love the multiculturalism here. Having travelled through A LOT of North America and being a visible minority - I've had many occasions where I felt more than a little bit uncomfortable. Toronto is the most multicultural city in the world and the citizens are accepting and are far more accepting/understanding of cultural differences. Being Canada's largest city has its advantages as well - all the major art exhibits and concerts make a stop in Toronto. We have major sporting events and recently, the NFL Hockey All-Star game.
SEVEN				What are the ethnic origins of that name of yours? Here's the short answer: I am a Canadian-born Indian. The long answer: Jish is actually a nickname, my real name is Jishnu (hence my website, www.jish.nu). I was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec - my parents moved to Canada from New Delhi, in India. I speak Bengali (my father's mother tongue), but I'm not so well-versed in Punjabi (my mother's native tongue). Growing up in Quebec, I also learned French. As for English, I'm still working on it.
				THE BIG INDEX... Who they are, what they do, how they think. Go there now. A TO Z ARCHIVE... Everybody here, with quickie bios. Go there now. Return to the main Seven Questions page See the original Newsies 7Q project Contact info@sevenquestions.com Copyright 1999-2002, Thomas L. Mangan