Throwback Reading through 2008 Friendster and MSN Space (hotmail messenger) feels like stepping into a digital time capsule. I have no recollection of Mena but this was the way in the noughties. Sometimes you handed out your email to chat on messenger before whatsapp really took off.
Here is the cleaned-up transcript of the conversation between Charles and mean girl:
Charles: How come you don't mention Sweden on Friendster Mena?
mean girl: I told you it's complicated.
Charles: Are you on the run?
mean girl: From the pic?
Charles: C'mon, that's funny.
mean girl: Hahaha.
mean girl: Hahaha.
Charles: Thank you.
Charles: 55.
mean girl: I love teasing people.
Charles: And giving them the finger by the looks of it.
mean girl: How much can you speak Thai?
Charles: It's quite good. I can communicate pretty much anything I need but my listening is poor.
Charles: It's also poor in English. I love the sound of my voice.
Charles: It's like a drug to me...
mean girl: Same to me when it comes to Swedish.
Charles: Yes, but the Swedes are not famous for saying interesting things.
mean girl: They are boring.
mean girl: Do you mean that?
Charles: I mean, I'm fond of Swedes, but there's not many writers, philosophers, and musicians that are Swedish.
Charles: That said, I'm a huge ABBA fan. Bubblegum pop that lasts forever.
Charles: Perfect.
Charles: I'm such a dancing queen.
mean girl: Europe rock band also from Sweden.
Charles: ...tell me you are not a Europe fan...
Charles: Plssssssssse.
mean girl: Max Martin is a Swedish song producer to Britney and Backstreet Boys and Madonna.
mean girl: Not really.
mean girl: I love American things.
mean girl: And I love to learn to speak English more than Swedish.
Charles: Tanks, stealth bombers, neo-conservatism, and liberating countries?
Charles: ?
Charles: I was with a Swedish guy and his Thai girlfriend on Thanksgiving. They were talking about how English is a more expressive language.
mean girl: British English is more difficult to understand than American English.
Charles: It's also a pain in the arse and sometimes makes no sense whatsoever.
Charles: Americans are into the least possible work. That's why they drawl.
Charles: I got an American friend, his Thai is so bad and he layers this American accent on top. It's so bad it's good.
mean girl: You probably speak English with a British accent.
Charles: ...phone call...
mean girl: Ok.
mean girl: Ok Charles... I think I will have to go now for a run.
Charles: Ok laters.. be well.
mean girl: Have a good night.
Charles: You look great in your pic on Friendster.
mean girl: Take care.
Charles: It's a fun shot.
mean girl: Thank you, and so are you on your MSN space.
Charles: It's also naughty.
mean girl: Who?
Charles: You.
mean girl: Me or you?
Charles: Me? I'm not naughty.. I'm downright bad...
Charles: Can't you see it?
mean girl: I'm sometimes naughty and like teasing.
Charles: Good, teasing is fun.
mean girl: I know.
Charles: Where you off to?
mean girl: Haha.
Charles: Oops my English is going downhill.
mean girl: To you...
Charles: You're making my English bad.. lol.
mean girl: I can be stammer sometimes when talking to a guy.
mean girl: Haha.
Charles: Stammering is so cute.
Charles: I like to shout when girls start stammering.
Charles: It makes them shake a bit and stammer some more but it's sooo cute.
mean girl: Iiiiii don'tttttttt thinkkkkkkk so.
Charles: 555.
Charles: YES YOU DO.
mean girl: Hahha.
Charles: Ok, I got so much work to finish for tomorrow so let's leave on a nice note... be good and let's talk some more when you have time na ja?
mean girl: Ok ja.
mean girl: Sweet dreams.
mean girl: Bye.
Charles: Ciao.
