Speed Networking launched at next PETweetup

Port Elizabeth has a thriving social media community. Unlike Gauteng or Cape Town there is no SilconCape initiative. However, people like Alan Straton have pioneered city focussed blogging with his MyPE portal. He has over 1000 followers, and follows nobody else. With over 8000 Tweets, the WeFollow directory lists him as the most influential Twitter user in the Bay area.

So what is a Tweetup? It’s simply a real-life meeting organised on the social networking site Twitter. In the past year Port Elizabeth hosted two Tweetups, a Blanket Drive, and also another hosted by Dave Coates, Head Developer at Poken Africa. The purpose or function of the Tweetup is to bring together people for discussion in the real world. You can meet those you’ve been following and get to know them better. Building stronger relationships helps everyone move forward. And should encourage even more vociferous tweets.

So what’s different this time? This month we’re introducing speed networking. Speed networking was developed for use in South Africa to facilitate the creation of a culture for open communication within larger groups and high quality business relationships. A friend Jenny Ceresto, founder of SMARTdate pioneered this concept primarily in Gauteng and Cape Town. Now speed networking is

The venue for this event is the beautiful Blue Water Cafe situated on Shark Rock Pier, on the beach front area opposite the Boardwalk Casino. Previous 27Dinner events, also focussed around promoting social media, were held at the PE Yacht Club. We found this venue to be ideal for the presentation style meetings with speakers, but Tweetups are more informal. And hence the concept of speed networking seems a perfect synergy with the shorthand language used on Twitter.

Event Details:

  • VENUE: Blue Water Cafe, The Boardwalk Shop 7 Shark Rock Pier, Marine Drive
  • TIME: 19h00 on Friday, 26 August 2011
  • FEE: ZERO
  • DRINK: One FREE Sherry or Cappuccino on arrival sponsored by yours truly
  • FOOD for your own account.

Questions?  Call the host, Ramon Thomas on 081 4399 555. The Speed Networking starts at 19h30. Looking forward to meeting fellow Bay area Tweeple.

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Algoa Sun interview with Ramon Thomas

The following interview was published on page 8 of the 31 July 2008 issue of the Algoa Sun, a community newspaper in Port Elizabeth. The title for the article was fascinating choice by the editor, The Ethics of IT Dating. I will add a scanned copy of the interview with their own intro to this post later today…

Question: You say that children below the age of 13 should not have cell-phones for health reasons do you not think that in todays world all kids should have access to an adult in case something does go wrong?

Yes, kids should have access to adults. However, the access that is required has always been there. Before cellphones parents had a relationship and understanding with the schools they go to as to when and how they are dropped off and collected after school, from sporting events or when traveling with the school. When visiting friends, arrangements were made with the parents of the friends to look after your children as if they were your own. This is a fear-based myth that cellphones is the only or safest way to make kids safe. The more you buy into a fear mindset, the more you create a dependency on technology or anything outside yourself. So in a very warped way technology has made people more insecure than ever before.

Question: Do you have kids? If so, are they allowed MXit and Facebook?

No I do not have any children because I am not married. I would only allow my own children access for for a limited time per day or on weekends. I recently bumped into a guy who was at school with me, and he has one son in high school and one in primary school. He treats them like this: they only get access for 1 hour on Saturdays between 5-6pm. This is radical, yes, but he succeeded as father by setting the ground rules from day 1.

Question: Do you believe parents should be more “internet and cell-phone aware”?

Parents need to understand that the technology is growing and improving at a vast rate. The best way they can maintain some sense of confidence about the technology is to cultivate an open discussion on a regular (weekly) basis with their children about technology. This is much easier than you may think, simply because technology is so high on the values of children. What I mean is you cannot stop them talking about it when you ask the right questions.

Question: Do you believe the internet is a good way to meet people and start dating?

I have used Internet dating successfully because I have been so persistent and made a tremendous effort to educate myself about the best ways to write my online dating profile. After hundreds articles, books and interviews, and comparisons with other forms of dating and the psychology of attraction, I do not believe its the best way to meet people. You will always have some uncertainly about that elusive obvious called “chemistry” with the opposite sex. So overall your chances are very slim to find a compatible match and sustain the relationship. I consider my last relationship, which lasted about 18 months; as well as best friend of mine, who married a woman he met on www.datingbuzz.com, the exceptions.
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Email: faye@ramonthomas.com

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