A couple signed up for the contest on July 6th, and our system logged a total of 3709 requests to vote for his application. Interesting thing is that they just picked up just 3 votes, between the 9th and 10th of July. The balance came in on the last 4 days 14-17th. On the 14th there were 63 vote requests, on 15th they shot up to 614, on the last two days we logged over 2800. Now prepare for this - All the emails on the last 3 days come from ONE domain space.net.in

A quick search on Google brings up a listing of TRAI authorized ISP providers and lists Space Online Pvt. Ltd. A confirmation from Just Dial returns same result.

So our applicant is not just running an ISP business on space.net.in,. but it looks like has also access to thousands of friends on his own ISP, who all decide to come in and vote for their favorite couple all in the last few days, in one sweeping home run - when the organizers are least likely to keep a watch.

But this starry couple not content with just the votes, decide to ‘step it up; on the testimonials as well. They are sure reading my ‘Tips’ on how to qualify. However in their rush for time, they discover they do not have time to create their own testimonials;so they go out and grab a few from their neighboring applicants, and in the process of cut&paste, forget to change the names.

If you are unable to see the above, let me help you: “Good Luck Amit & Jace” reads a testimonial to a couple with a completely different set of names. I decide to grab the testimonial and throw it in to Google to find if there is a match and BINGO - the same testimonial appears for Amit Singh and Jasleen Chopra

This has certainly been the most challenging moment for Team GDC. As a policy we have decided to continue to feature people, irrespective of their suspect voting patterns and testimonials, as we have done in the past.

The evidence is before the Jury who will take their final decision; but we need your verdict on this one!

Spotted on eCHO in the vOID

I heard about you from a friend
and ignored it for once…
‘oh! just another challenge…
…doesn’t really make any sense’
but, inquisitive soul that I am
I ‘explored’ your face…
...the very first glimpse of you
made me say…
“Wish you are mine…Cedia
If not forever, at least for the moment”

Uploaded my profile…as if sending you a marriage proposal
Sorted my flickr…as if trying to lure you with my looks
Started blogging…as if writing love letters to you
Uplifted my facebook (not wid botox)…as if trying to show off my social status
Tweeted my thoughts…as if tryng to put my feelings across
“Wish you are mine…Cedia
If not forever, atleast for the moment”

But then,
came thousands like me…all tryng to impress you…
anybdy would fall for - swaggering you
I felt jealous…got threatened…u got to be mine – I sighed!!
and just to woo you I gathered all my might
with votes ticking…friends supporting
am getting closer to my dream…and that’s u Cedia
“Wish you are mine…Cedia
If not forever, atleast for the moment”

My heart thumping like an engine
Sleep swooshed off the rear view mirror
Nervousness sweating my grip
and thoughts running on top gear
Dream colored with your paint
“Wish you are mine…Cedia
If not forever, atleast for the moment”

I wish i’m the chosen one…
…for this big dream run
Will show you places… you have been dreaming
Will have experiences…you have been seeking
Will paint pictures…more than intriguing
“Wish u are mine…Cedia
If not forever, atleast for the moment”

Around you the web world spins
caught in cross hairs of every media
everyone lined up like a prince
waiting to be garlanded by the diva
just one thing hovering in all minds
who will be the top three finds…

But then …am thinking…

WISH I WERE U… CEDIA
If not forever, atleast for the moment

We have been picking up some conversation threads about how the GDC event is starting to strain people’s patience. These are coming from innocent bystanders who came to know about this event from their ‘friends’, and have not been able to shake them loose, since

They hear from these friends on e-mail, on chat, on feeds, scraps, twitter and text – “please, please, please vote for me. I have a whopping 789 already but I really need some more to come back on page one. So, if you have not voted for me, do it now” The requests just keep coming and coming and coming! 

Then someone started to murmur about the event on the grapevine and how it is helping spam. We had to politely intervene. Team GDC does not do spam! When we explained our policies and how the onus was really on the user of the GDC platform, the response was heartening – quote verbatim:
I have not mentioned anything about TGDC spamming me; simply because you have never spammed me. My gripe is with people who don’t know when, where and how to ask for votes. The person I voted for asked me on gtalk very nicely, and I did it.

You are right; the platforms are being misused, through no fault of yours. Or at least, the fault is really negligible. I am happy that someone is doing interesting stuff in this space. In fact, I was impressed enough with the site design and added Experience Commerce on delicious, quite a few days back. So, don’t worry, I’d be the last one to start out a negative campaign (I confess to thinking about a post titled ‘When viral becomes spam’ but that won’t have anything against you guys)

Keep up the good work, and all the best

So what is happening here is that many of your friends/colleagues are indeed tiring of your ‘vote for me’ requests, but don’t have the courage to tell you on your face. We logged over 20,000 votes yesterday and the requests are still swelling, with just a day to go for the closure. So if you are planning to work the phones and chat and text and twitter tonight, for that last mile push, just pause and think about it. Are YOU spamming your friend?

Since Tuesday, It has been raining incessantly here in Mumbai. The monsoon (though late) will now hopefully deliver upon its promise, providing the much needed lifeline to tens of millions of farmers across India.

Here at GDC basecamp, the countdown has started. It has been a wonderful experience for us (as facilitators) to create a platform for you all to share so many amazing stories. When we started the journey, we had our doubts. We wanted to reach people who have the passion to travel and for whom a trip on the road was all about discovery. We also wanted to touch people for whom automobiles are a passion and not a mere symbol of status or just a means to get to point B from A. How on earth are we going to find them in such a short period of time, we pondered.

India never ceases to surprise!

I am sure all of you will cherish this experience and savour the after-taste of the adrenalin rush. Thank you for putting your trust in the system. Yes, we have had glitches along the way, but all of you patiently stood by, and gave us a helping hand. Now it is our turn to ensure that the Jury listens to all your suggestions, as they get down to short-listing the most likely candidates.

Ultimately 3 couples will be chosen to create three unique travelogues, as they embark on a new journey of ‘discovery’ on behalf of all of us. We hope you will follow their journey and cheer them all along the way, to the end.