I was looking for an old email in my inbox today and came upon a pretty stupid but nonetheless funny conversation I had with some student at my university. Here’s the background of the situation: an email was sent out to all Year 1 students in December of last year by the “Health Department” at HKUST informing everyone of a compulsory unit they needed to complete to pass a required health course.

Apparently, there are some (read: at least 10) students at my university who do not know the difference between “Reply” and “Reply All”. After receiving two emails from two random students (by way of their not knowing how to reply properly) who were meaning to inquire about their progress in the health course, I was already pretty pissed. So the third guy that did the same thing warranted a reply from me directly to him. What ensues is a rather odd conversation between him and myself:

(To save the guy from public humiliation and possible repercussions, he will be represented as “Tough Guy”.)

Illya: Don’t press the “reply to all” button silly.

Tough Guy: thanks and none of ur business.

Illya: It is my business you moron because when you reply all, I get your message in my inbox.

Tough Guy: ohh, i am really fucking sorry for it, smart ass

Illya: Firstly, calm down. I know it’s exam time, but take it easy.

I simply told you to not reply to all because obviously I received your message which is irrelevant to me. Granted, this could be taken as a smart ass remark. But this was after a few other people also replied to all and I received their messages as well. Your reply of “none of ur business” makes absolutely no sense because it is in fact NONE of my business therefore I should not be getting it and you should not be telling me it’s none of my business. Get it?

A “sorry, my bad” or just ignoring my message completely and being more careful next time would have been a more favorable option for you.

No hard feelings man. Don’t get excited.

Tough Guy: Actually, i simply don’t like you saying me “silly”(if you still rmb) and that’s why i am so pissed off. Get it, brother? Learning local culture will be a better option for you before saying Hong Konger “silly”.

However, I found you are quite logical indeed and I like you in another way. The business in what i said “none of your business” was referring to the action you reply to an email that was clearly not related you. It isn’t your stuff, why still bother?

Illya: Sorry, silly was actually the nicest word I could think of.

Tough Guy: No need to be sorry and that’s why i am telling you to learn some more local culture. It helps.

I didn’t bother talking to him anymore after that last email. It’s funny to me how the Cantonese language has so many vulgar and creative insults that are used without second thoughts but “silly” seems to really piss this one guy off.

After surfing the internet, I somehow stumbled upon my friend Elliot’s blog and noticed that I was tagged in one of his memes.

For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a meme is simply an idea, project, statement or even a question that is posted by one blog and responded to by other blogs.

“The meme asks me to give a link to the person who meme’d me, to tell 7 interesting things about me, and to then pass the meme on. I interpreted the meme to mean that I should tell things that you’re not likely to guess. Here goes:”

In no particular order,

1. I can’t stand it when I or someone else rubs styrofoam like the kind found in packaging, it gives me shivers everywhere.

2. Eating dark chocolate makes me sneeze, but milk chocolate doesn’t. Usually the darker the chocolate, the quicker I sneeze. But I do love chocolate.

3. In Elementary School I was addicted to the “Magic Tree House” book series but this addiction ended after I discovered Harry Potter in grade 4.

4. I created my first website in 2001 during grade 5 and it was hosted on Yahoo! Geocities. I’m so glad that I was introduced to website design by my grade 5 teacher.

5. I can wiggle my ears voluntarily.

6. I was born with black hair which then became blond. No kidding.

7. I’ve watched the movie “Twister” at least 6 times.

I tag Jason and Mike to carry on this meme.