She got a stocking full from Nirali Naik, 21. A CA student, Naik was part of a Mumbai Secret Santa activity on Twitter, and assigned Tarang as her 'Sante', or recipient of largesse.
"I thought of good luck charms from different countries because that's what she said she needed," says Naik, who tweets @ghodagaadi. Tarang was overwhelmed at Naik's creativity. "Imagine the research, with no motivation other than to make a stranger happy," she said.
It's a benevolent sentiment that Darshan Parekh and six volunteers who launched this Twitter activity hope to spread. Tweeting from a @SecretSanta handle prefixed with the city, the group earns nothing off this venture other than goodwill.
"We're giving without the expectation of getting back, and it's the same altruistic approach we ask participants to adopt. If they give a gift worth Rs 3,000 and receive one priced Rs 300, they need to be fine with that," says Parekh.
The 32-year-old Mumbai businessman kicked off the activity three years ago with Twitter friends. "Since schedules didn't permit a 'Secret Santa' party in person, we decided to do it online," says Parekh, referring to the tradition of anonymous gift-giving. The idea "blew up" from there, says Parekh of their decision to open the activity to Mumbai Tweeters.
The activity, which today extends to Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and the UAE, was inspired by online Secret Santa exchange run by Reddit, a US-based social news website, which has also seen success here. Kaela Gardner, Reddit marketing manager, says 416 people from India are participating, out of the 1.22 lakh people who have signed up this year.
Entry to Parekh's group is by invitation, as maintaining exclusivity is important for its success. The list of participants has grown from their friends and family, and today those keen to take part just need another Twitter user to vouch for them, so that if he/she bails, that person can be tapped for the gift. The group's success rate has been good — in the first year, of 185 participants, only one didn't send a gift.
Parekh and each city coordinator assign the gifting order. Presents aren't exchanged between two participants, but each receives and gives one. Once the game is over, Santas can reveal their identities. Participants are matched by cities and often, by age. Information sourced from participants includes giftgiving must-haves — gender, age, a wish list, likes (books, clothes, etc) and sizes. Parekh emphasizes there is no mandate to shop from the wish list, though they do encourage a minimal spend of Rs 500.
From cakes to CDs, personalized mementos to premiere movie tickets, the gifts exchanged are varied but mindful of the receiver's taste, often sourced from Twitter feeds where Santas "silently stalk" Santes. Saurabh (@ chau_s), a Mumbai lawyer, was impressed his Santa trawled through over 5,000 tweets. "Many mentioned our new puppy, so one of the presents I received was for little Hobbes — a Kong chew toy," says Saurabh, 29.
For some, like Chennai photographer Bhagirathy, 28, the online forum is an extension of a tradition that dates back to school. "I love gifts, both receiving and giving," says Bhagirathy (@iRatzzz) who organized a treasure hunt for her Sante last year. To others, it's a new experience. Mumbai's Sudeep Shukla, 28, had never celebrated Christmas.
"It was the first time I received a gift from a stranger who tried to make me happy," he says, revealing that while last year, buying a gift was difficult, this year he is better prepared. "I am planning a few smaller gifts leading up to the final as a big surprise," says Shukla (@oldmonk).
"Giving is far more exciting than receiving," says Parekh, who believes the initiative has spread cheer among those who tweet. A platform where strangers intersect in an almost perfunctory manner, this initiative has helped deepen connections.
"For a month leading up to the day, you can really get to know the person you're gifting." He doesn't participate — "it would be unfair" — but says people are generous about sending stuff nonetheless, including cakes and cookies.
With the gender balance skewed towards women, who double the men, safety has been a big concern. "We don't give phone numbers out," says Parekh, as organizers handle courier calls themselves. Participants hesitant about sharing their home address are encouraged to receive gifts at work.
"I was cautious enough to use office address, but that's also because I had my share of trolling on Twitter," says Mumbai blogger Kiran Manral, adding, "But this generation is pretty easy with having their personal details out there on the net."
The online buzz, which kicks off October two months before the activity ends, has succeeded in increasing numbers — over 900 Twitter users are participating this year, 600 from Mumbai. The numbers, though small, are attracting corporate goodwill. "The spirit of Christmas that draws them," says Parekh, while Saurabh concludes, "Our world can use all the anonymous kindness it can get."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
A tweet idea for Christmas
Dengan url
http://pijitsehat.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-tweet-idea-for-christmas.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
A tweet idea for Christmas
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar