• Went to Supasave but it still couldn't save this relationship
• Rejected the Hua Ho Bonus card cause being with you was already a bonus
• Although I don't own Jaya hypermart, but memiliki mu make me feel orang paling ber- Jaya dalam dunia.
• Went to Jaya Hypermart but I still tak ber-jaya memiliki hati mu.
• Wanted to go to Jaya Hypermart because our relationship inda berjaya.
• Cancel my plan to go to Jaya Hypermart, because I'm already hype being next to you
• Went to Milimewah but my life is already mewah with you.
• Tak payah singgah Milimmewah pasal you cukup mewah.
• Walked into Pertama Jaya but all I can think about is my pertama with you.
• Don't need no Pertama Jaya cause you'll always be pertama in my life.
• Tak perlu pergi ke Soon Lee sebab you soon to be mine
• Not going to Soon Lee because it is still too soon to leave you.
• Had to go to Giant for the harga murah setiap hari, but our relationship is priceless.
• Always pergi Giant but you still don't want to accept my giant heart for you
• Went to Time Square but still couldn't spend time with you.
• Hate going to TimeSquare cause it reminds me of the time we spent together
• Was supposed to go to Utama Grand but I really feel kau lebih ku patut ku utamakan.
• Went to Utama Grand but you were paling utama in my heart.
• Kan singgah kadai Arirang tapi nada jadi pasal you already rang my heart.
• Why go to Sentral? When you're already the Sentral to my life.
• Can't go to Tiong Hin anymore because our relationship no longer exist
• Went to Waznah because I prefer fake shoes than fake people.
What Happens When You Start Producing Viral Content: Hint You Can’t Stop
The Viral Experiment
“Hey check this out, look how many shares it has reached”
I think I must’ve sent this to the co-writer of Brublahblah (BBB) when our post “Things People Say When They Hear You’re From Brunei” was shared (1700++ shares) beyond expectation. The comments and shares came flooding in.
In 2014, I started the website BBB with a local ThoughtCatalog (TC) writer. I found it amazing that a local writer could reach such a broad audience, their writings have reached thousands on TC to an international audience. I wondered whether it could actually work in a local context.
BBB I think was an experiment into the notion of what could go viral in Brunei. Yes, we had seen forwarded messages on Whatsapp on sensationalists topics but what about curated content like writing, video or graphics? This was a time before Babu Sinur, before Filterworks Production and before BGag BWN (Which I might add is the latest iteration of 9Gag Brunei, the last of which was Brunei Meme Center).
When writing this I was trying to track down the first time I had a taste of those shares. Chart the consumption with the notion of viral content and it’s various guises. The thrill of notifications was surprisingly further back than I had anticipated.
Initially I thought the post that started it was “You Know You’re in Your Twenties in Brunei When…” a listicle of course but it turns out to be this, “Peribahasa Moden Brunei” a series of graphics based on Jay’s tweets completed in January 2014.
The engagement these two posts had at the start of 2014 must’ve been another leading factor in creating BBB. Listicles as basic and simple as a format was not a familiar way to present content in Brunei.
Nicest Things About Brunei
A couple months before the creation of BruBlahblah in February 2014 I posted a survey on my social media accounts on the Nicest Things About Brunei that suddenly gained a life of it’s own. The survey was done tongue and cheek, with questions like, “Nice place to remember the awful things you've done in your life and bury them deep inside you”. (Looking back I can’t believe nearly 200 filled out the survey with a question like this). The “bloggers” passed on the post and I needed a way to present the entries since the public took the time to fill it out.
I had the idea of a montage of Brunei videos in an Adam Curtis style or movie commentary videos on Youtube but found the style fit the concept of Nicest Things In Brunei. In one night, after compiling footage and editing it over a Surf Vampires track I had finished, “Nicest Things About Brunei”.
My ideas were gearing towards what could go viral and how content is guaranteed to go viral. Completing projects in less than 24 hours while it was fresh in the public’s mind. Only done in a night the video has since racked up 30,000 views.
Gaming The System
I was finding myself looking between the lines of Buzzfeed or Upworthy content. Seeing what gets shared on my Twitter feed. Checking r/blackpeopletwitter /wholesomememes. Reading articles on the latest social media metrics: how to optimise your shares, get the most exposure for your posts. Localising memes I had seen on Twitter by translation or adding the phrase, “Jan Paloi”.
When asked how come my posts were shared, I would slyly say I was “gaming the system”. I’m now knee-deep in the ether. The notion of being “viral” has been the leading incentive for content. Rather than being a way of sharing content from Brunei about Brunei, it’s become a factor in the decision making process.
Being viral is the aim, the content doesn’t matter.
Tie this knowledge with working in multimedia at BT, it became a surefire way to tap into clicks. No other website delivered content as directly and frequently as BT. I could see how major stories were shared in real time, what people liked on Instagram, what content garnered the most Facebook likes, what truly interested the public.
Now my decision making process factored into these questions. These weren’t all rationalized immediately but came together through trial and error. Questions include:
How is it going to be shared? Mobile? Desktop?
How quickly is it going to be shared?
How fresh is the topic in the public’s mind?
Is it the best time to share it? After school? After work?
Is this going to offend anyone?
If responses weren’t significant (less than 100 shares/likes/retweets on any social media platform) then I had to ask myself which of these factors was it lacking. Maybe the format was wrong, or its just after work finished and people aren’t relaxing on social media.
Viral Curve
There is a predictable curve when content gets “viral”. I initially wrote this as a cycle but it doesn’t get repeated. Viral content is engaged in different ways. The curve happens within a 48-72 hour period after it is posted. In some other cases it may happen within a week depending on the impact of the content. What these curves have in common is they all fade away. Whether gradually or suddenly viral content is easily forgotten.
Engagement: A sudden surge of likes, retweets, shares. This peaks during a certain time and slows down completely, then stops.
Comments: Comments which disagree, agree or suggest something else. One comment usually starts a chain of comments. Nobody wants to be the only one commenting on content.
Remixing: This happens after the 48-72 period. Depending on the complexity of the content the public wants to create their own version. This would be shared in the comments or on their own social media page.
When I checked my analytics for my first blog in 2012 where I shared pictures, I would ask, “How many clicks? Who is looking at this?” I spent hours, way past midnight to share pictures from an event. Turns out there is a way to guarantee clicks, to ensure the public views your content with minimal effort.
Now even when my viral content goes into the tens of thousands the question I ask myself in 2017 isn’t “Who is looking at this?” It’s now: “Am I proud of this content?”
Moreover the underlying aspect to all of this is why I set on this viral experiment. I want to see novel content from Brunei. I value originality, individual expression and those just churning out content at home to indifference. As mentioned above the impact that viral content has is fleeting. All viral content is easily forgotten as it is replaced with the next meme, the new obsession and the latest content to flood your timeline.
Now when I ask myself, “Am I proud of this content?” I answer with a resounding,
Since May 2014, Brublahblah has been sharing original content about Brunei. With over 328,000 page views and thousands of social media shares, it time to bid adieu. Due to the changing priorities of the owners we have decided to stop updating the site.
We will still keep the website online and accessible. Comments on the Disqus will remain. Thank you to everyone that has contributed and shared their listicles, articles, tweets and opinions. We sincerely hope the posts on the site can be a starting point for more original content about Brunei.
Things They Don’t Tell Bruneians During Their First Year Abroad...
…Or things you have been told but didn’t sink in time before you boarded that plane:
Right off the bat, one thing is of utmost certainty: you WILL miss the food. Very much.
No but real talk though, you are going to miss how cheap food is back home and how you’ve taken for granted those trips to KAKA for that BND1 nasi katok.
On that note, you’ll realise how you’ve taken for granted trips to any restaurant. Because they were not exaggerating when they said eating out overseas is equivalent to financial suicide.
Asian food is really not the same. You think you know this already…..lai, you really don’t….Seriously, don’t place that Chinese take-out order on Just-Eat.
Is Topshop cheaper here? No. Are you going to pretend like it is? Yes.
Do you really need another turtleneck? No. Are you going to buy it anyway? Probably.
Thermals. Just trust me.
No matter how much you promise yourself that you’ll cook everyday to save duit, you will never be able to resist the temptations of Domino’s Two for Tuesday.
You’re going to ask yourself, “How the hell did mama/babu use up all the sayur before they go off????” as you witness your fruits and greens go mouldy again.
Speaking of mould, unless you live off bread or share, you’re never going to finish a loaf in time.
You will be freshly acquainted with the words independence and freedom. They will hit you like a bus that’s behind schedule.
You’re going to be so confused because you will have so much free time for yourself. Like, what do I do with all this time? Do I catch up on two-years worth of sleep lost to sixth-form?
The answer is no, you don’t. You should spend your time DOING THINGS. Don’t spend a total of 30 quid on 5-6 different societies and never get involved in any of them.
You’re on your own. Literally alone. Not everyone is going to appreciate this and you must be patient.
If you do it right, you’re going to meet so many wonderful new people.
When they said, “the friends you make at uni will be friends for life”, they didn’t specify that this won’t apply to everybody.
You will miss the dynamics of school - despite how much you detested it towards the end of school.
Walking will no longer be a foreign concept to your Bruneian-bred legs.
One day your brain might pull a dick move and allow you to daydream about Excapade/Kaizen. Once this happens, there is no going back: the craving is so real. The struggle even more so.
Kadang-kadang you will be so malas/sasak with orang sini. Oops
Don’t bring your entire closet - you probably won’t be able to wear 90% of them anyway.
Concerts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (If you’re as Bruneian as I am, you’re gonna be sakai at your first concert, it won’t even feel real. Might shed a tear. 😢 )
Laundry…..to be quite honest there’s no spectrum for how you might go about it - either it’s your favourite part of the week or you buy new underwear to avoid having to wash your old ones.
Even though you might have to sell both kidneys to fund travelling expenses, nothing beats admiring sheep and goats whilst on the train (if the weather cooperates).
Having friends in other universities is enough of an excuse to grant yourself fun little excursions.
Regardless of how much you wanted to leave Brunei, you are going to be homesick. Extent of homesickness may vary between individuals.
by Chel
Comment below if you think we’ve missed anything! Oh, what kind of food cravings do you have?
Got a list, or idea? Email them to [email protected]. We’re on Facebook, like and follow to get the latest update. Or follow us here on Tumblr.
On any given day, your accent can change from British to American and then to a “From-Everywhere-Else-That-Speaks-English-Accent”. Here are some the things you'll hear as an international student in Brunei:
"Can you say something in your language?"
"Can you teach me any curse word from your language?"
"How do you spell your name?"
"Am I pronouncing your name right?"
"When's summer holiday?"
"So, are you going anywhere this summer holiday?"
"When's half term?
"You okay?""No, I have jetlag" "Damn."
"I can't come to school, I have to renew my visa"
"It's Zed, not Zee (Z) *and the argument never ends*
"I haven't done any CAS hour"
"Do we need to include MLA?"
"It's ALUMINIUM, not ALUMINUM"
"My dad is half English half Chinese, my mum is fully English & in fact, I'm also part African & my grandparents are native Americans *and the list never ends *"
"I'm travelling this weekend"
“How many UCAS points do you need?
by @vvsmkkk
Remind you of anyone? Did we miss any out? Why not comment below to add yours!
Got a list, or idea? Email them to [email protected]. We’re on Facebook, like and follow to get the latest update. Or follow us here on Tumblr
From saying cuba try to having to salam all the aunties, uncles, abangs, kakas, cousins, grandparents in a family function. Check out some of Brublahblah’s favourite tweets with the hashtag!
#beingbruneian
"bah mana satu kubur nini?"
"antah"
"tuang saja semua air atu"
*tuang arah pokok*
— Hilmiiiiiiiiiiii (@Hilmigator)
#beingbruneian betebiat + janji melayu combo
— ESJ Abdullah (@efwadrashyad)
#beingbruneian saying the word "bah" numerous of times before actually leaving a family/ friend's house
— flutters (@scrlt23)
#beingbruneian having to salam all the aunties, uncles, abangs, kakas, cousins, grandparents in a family function
— adi nabil (@bilfadzillah)
#BeingBruneian refering "anu" to everything and people still understand you
— iدa. (@1Dafaizah)
#beingbruneian makanan tinggal satu "orang brunei tah banar"
— ❁ ⓕⓘⓕⓢ ❁ (@Fifs_Frantastic)
#beingbruneian not sure to kiss on the cheeks 2 times or 3 times, am i right ladies?
— wáhfä (@wahffle)
*Passes by a random house*
Babah: 'Atu rumah kawan babah tu'
*Passes by another house*
Him:'Yang atu rumah tangah mu tu'#beingbruneian
— Bihah (@nabihah_hussain)
"Dang"
"Wang"
"Eh"
"Oi"
"Lai"
When an elder doesn't know/remember your name😂😂😂
#beingbruneian
— رايهانه شوحيده (@_naviesss)
Mesti tau kisah legend negara:
•Jong Batu
•Gunung Amas
•Ko Umban Duit, Keluar!
•Will You Marry Me (National Day)
•NINIKU TU
#beingbruneian 😂
— رايهانه شوحيده (@_naviesss)
When someone asks 'kamu dimana?' in a WhatsApp group chat, there's sometimes that 1 person who will reply back, 'di hati mu'. #beingbruneian
What was once “Why are you taking a video?” is now “Snapchat kah? HI SNAPCHAT!!” *WAVES* Now the go-to app to catch your friends latest place to chill without the Instagram aesthetic.
1. THE FILTER ADDICT Nothing amuses them more than using face seflie filters. Whether it’s on themselves, friends, cats, whatever...they’ve tried. #dogfilter4life
2. THE MOODY VIBES Posts long quotes, usually over a black background with some music. Tiny text that can hardly be read but you’re sure was very deep. “3.21am WHY CAN’T SLEEP 😭”
3. THE FOODIE Once limited by Instagram, they’re now free to share their food obsession one snap at a time in glorious video. *PANNING OF FOOD* “Yessss look at this” *ZOOMS INTO FOOD* “Yum”
4. THE WATCHER They love to share what they are watching or playing. When they laugh...you laugh. When they cry...you cry. When they stop for a toilet break...well that’s too personal even for Snapchat.
5. THE “LIAT SINI LAI” Snaps are full of kids that have no idea what snapchat is. Watch as children get amused as their faces are swapped and distorted. Siblings, cousins, even random children are not safe.
6. THE SELFIE ENTHUSIAST Post selfies that are good enough for Snapchat but not aesthetic enough for Instagram. Selfies with coloured scribbles on them. #kamuada (ok, maybe not that hashtag.)
7. THE REALITY SHOW STAR You open their snaps and it starts playing their story that doesn’t seem to have a start, middle or end. EVERYTHING IS ON THEIR SNAPCHAT. EVERYTHING.
8. THE CAT SNAPPER It’s Neko Atsume...but in real life. How many cats they have? Who knows! You definitely don’t because you’ve stopped counting already.
9. THE SOCIAL SNAPPER Wefies, group pictures, couples, friends of friends, family cousins friend, etc. You’ll see someone you know in their snaps and wonder, “How do they know each other?”
10. THE STEALTH SHOT Zooming into people's faces without them knowing and putting filters on unsuspecting faces is their passion. AVOID IF POSSIBLE.
11. THE ONE SNAP WONDER Not because they don’t have interesting lives but they don’t want their Snapchat to be ‘sunyi’. You wonder what’s that blurry thing they posted but it’s too weird to screenshot to see.
12. THE MUSIC MAESTRO They share the latest hits or the most recent album they’ve downloaded usually over a time filter. Snapchat is their own private karaoke box and they use it like a musical.ly.
13. THE SCREENSHOTTER You don’t know why they screenshot that video of you eating a burger. Maybe they wanted to eat the burger as well? Or your mouth was open really wide? Who knows...
14. THE ARTIST Masters of using the pen tool they can sketch the most amusing or original drawings. Not limited by pen, stickers and emojis are used creatively. Makes opening up the app worthwhile!
Remind you of anyone? Did we miss any out? Why not comment below to add yours!
Got a list, or idea? Email them to [email protected]. We’re on Facebook, like and follow to get the latest update. Or follow us here on Tumblr.
We have all been there, ladies and gentlemen. Those square tents, 30 chairs around one rectangular buffet table, and a fan if you’re lucky. You probably do not know this person getting married, or you do but have not seen them in ages, but you sit through the heat anyway. Anything for the free food. Halls might be popping up left, right and centre, but we can’t forget these kems. So we’ve collected some kem life musings below:
Scouting the kem before you decide which one to enter. “Do I know her? Her..hmmm. Oh I know her but I definitely do NOT want to sit there. Next kem.” *Avoids eye contact*
"One bag here for my mum, door gift here for my friend, tissue here for my sister, tissue here for my other sister, pen here for my cousin, one shoe here for my nenek, other shoe here for my mother in law. One tudung pin on this seat for my mother in law’s second cousin. One headscarf for my second cousin once removed. And I'll leave one seat in the camp free to be polite."
"Please don't ask me if this seat is empty please don’t ask me if this seat is empty....”
Secretly passing "the envelope" through a handshake even though everyone expects you to do it, knows you're doing it, and in some places, bring baskets to collect them in.
"Let me inch the chair forward a bit, no one can tell, need more shade. And just a liiiiiiittle bit further. Oh damn now I've gone too far.”*inconspicuously moves back half an inch.*
"Yeah right, for your mother my ass, we all know you're packing all that food for yourself!"
Tilting the fan towards you when nobody's looking. “Nobody else really needs to stay cool right? Only me right?”
During those night functions. “Why is that light flickering? Stop it. Oh ok, now that light has completely gone off! WHO IS THIS PERSON SITTING NEXT TO ME NOW?!”
“Maybe if I sit this way it’ll be more comfortable. *shuffles in seat* How about this way? *slides body to the left* How about this way. *slides to the right* I’m going to lean back now *falls to the ground*
How many of these have you thought while waiting in kems? Comment below.
Got a list, or idea? Email brublahblah [@] gmail.com. We’re on Facebook, like and follow to get the latest update. Follow us here on Tumblr.
