Fridae.com
It’s Getting There…
By Kiki Tan

Before the world was opened wide by the Web (pun intended), IRC (that green messaging system) and then mIRC (just IRC with color, in so many ways) were our community’s best friend.  More than anything, they allowed for communication to take place on time – this meant that, of the many purposes, picking up (yes, picking up) can be done by anyone anywhere.  And so the abbreviation, summarizing, acronym-ization, et cetera of words began, interestingly not de-limiting communication, but improving its scope.  Think GWM ISO GAM (that’s Gay White Male In Search Of Gay Asian Male) wanting to meet in, say, Mkt (that’s Makati); or WE 4 WE, No Chubs, LTR Only (Well Endowed for Well Endowed, No Chubbies, Long-Term Relationship Only).

That’s the power of Information Superhighway.

When the Internet was further developed (goodbye static, hello active; and then goodbye active, hello interactive), IRC died as mIRC started dying, arguably because the once segregated functions of different sites and their solutions started to merge.  And so was born the likes of Gay.com, Guys4Men, and, well, Fridae.com.

FRIDAE FOCUS

Inspired by "Friday" from Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe, Fridae.com was developed by the same group to bring to the community such events as NATION (named one of the Top 10 Gay Events in the World by DNA Magazine) and SNOWBALL.  Don’t get the company wrong – from the very start, its main intent is commercial, admitting that Fridae.com “uses its expertise to offer forward-looking companies online advertising and branding, as well as offline strategies and direct marketing programs.”  Thus, the company, through its “innovative and industry-leading online portal (Fridae.com) leverages the distribution power and reach of the Internet to provide a potent mix of content, community, and commerce to more than 400,000 consumers each month.”  Its affiliate events “offer companies invaluable offline exposure and marketing opportunities.”

But Fridae .com is, at least, looking beyond the pink currency, as it targets to “empower gay Asiato come together, stay connected, be informed, overcome discrimination, nurture personal growth, and foster healthy relationships.”  And this is where the goodness starts.
For one, it does provide an avenue for people to converge – albeit, more often, mainly sexually (and in this way, it is not so different from Guys4Men.com).  With this, the legacy of IRC is definitely continued.

Secondly, it carries articles important to the community – e.g. same sex marriage developments around the world – so that it has become a source for many.  Finding a place unifying existing knowledge is most definitely helpful, after all.

Thirdly, it’s a one-stop shop – visitors can access online shops to grab merchandise they may want, a definite need for us who want to grab the latest Ginch Gonch designs not available in the Philippines, for example.

Fourthly, there’s the provision of localized information on (mainly) Asian countries, particularly as far as the community is concerned, e.g. gay scene in, say, Metro Manila.  This makes the information somewhat relevant locally.

And fifthly, Fridae.com is has a clean – and largely efficient – lay-out, so that the flow of the access is easy, thus kaaya-aya (attractive).  Inconvenience, in the Net, is the main source of all discontent, after all.

SECOND TAKE

However, the site based in Hong Kong is not at all perfect.

For one, it has no editorial take – aside from simply reprinting gay news from various sources, Fridae.com has no “voice” except for the generic “empower gay Asia.”  This is simply unacceptable from one that is self-proclaimed as the “gay media leader in Asia”- hey, who wants a leader who has no opinion?

Secondly, it’s still more business than anything – understandable, in a way, but again failing to really provide an avenue for the community to express their position/s.  A wasted opportunity, if ever there is one…

And thirdly, there are the misguided gay Asian observations.  There’s the judgmental and politically incorrect: “Nowadays, it would be a rarity not to bump into a gay guy or gal on the street – from the effeminate to the macho gym buffed queer to the cross-dresser or the transsexual.  You name it, we've got it!  And you won't even need to keep the gay-dar tuned.  You can spot a gay boy (or guy) a mile away, often, albeit, difficult to determine if the guy is a metrosexual or simply homosexual.  Chances, however, are the latter.”  There’s the personal observation made generalized rule: “Each gay internet site will most likely have a Filipino local hooking up with other men and many Filipinos are size queens, hence preference to Caucasians.  Aside from the latter being more hung, their wallets are also thicker.”  And there’s the plain stupid: “Most Filipino gay men are simply in the hunt for sex, with occasional sprinkling of those in search of a stable relationship.”

Without a doubt, Fridae.com is, for me, a leap above other gay sites that simply focus on pick-ups.  At least there’s an attempt here to have substance.  So it’s getting there, I should say...