Help! Help!
It's happening again. Just like every online initiative I've ever undertaken. Indonesians are running away with the Friendster Project. You remember it, right? It's all explained at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/indonesian-studies/message/4831 -- this is the blog that goes with it. The project is mainly about putting knowledge workers (nowo, also sometimes called researchers) on Indonesia in touch with each other in a more personal setting than interactive websites or lists. Indonesian nowos in touch with other Indonesian nowos. Non-Indonesian (Western and Asian) nowos in touch with Indonesian nowos. And so on. Why this early pattern in the project? More Indonesian nowos here than non-Indonesian nowos. A whole lot more. The non-Indonesian nowos think all Friendster networks are just dating circles. And they think all Friendsters are very, very young. Too young. Another stereotype. Last, non-Indonesian nowos don't like to put pictures in Friendster profiles. Now I don't believe the non-Indonesian nowos are inherently incapable of grasping what our Friendster Project is all about. Well, I admit sometimes I think that. So, to the majority group here at the moment, Indonesians, I humbly beg for your help. Know a non-Indonesian nowo? Persuade one or two to join the project. If they're techologically challenged, tell them how easy it is to join and then add me as a friend (to get into this project's network). Offer an oleh-oleh. Of course, no high-cost economy tricks. Drag them by their hair if necessary. We all need each other in this very nice place. So. Help! Help!

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