Simsimi: The New Craze among Thais

File photo, source: wikimedia

The Korean application Simsimi has become an overnight hit in Thailand and what's interesting is that this application is not a chat between humans to humans but is a chat platform between human and the application. What is it and how does it work? Here's the answer.

Simsimi is compatible with iOS and Android and is available via PCs as well. It's been developed since 2002 but was just offered as a mobile phone application in 2010.

It looks like your normal chat program but the replies to what you type come from the program's database, which often is of a teasing nature and sometimes incorporate crude words. These responses are inputs from users themselves. If the program has no appropriate response to what the user types, it would say 'I HAVE NO RESPONSE' to which the user can select to 'Teach' the program how to respond.

Now that we know what the program is and how it works, we have to question why is it such a hit among Thais overnight?

Chollathep Panboonchu, an independent academic on social science, noted that Thais love conversation that can be interpreted as sexual and jokes. Moreover, Thais don't like to take responsibility for what they say publicly so having the program say it works exceedingly well. He added users are probably middle-class and addicted to social media.

Suthathip Harnsamut, a student who uses Simsimi, said she enjoys the program as it's fun and when the program replies comically, she'd share it with her friends who compete to see who can generate the funniest response. She said it's something enjoyable to pass the time.

However, Rungthong Kasikul, another user, said she's offended sometimes when the responses are harsh or crude.

Dr. Anchulee Thirawongpaisal, a psychiatrist at Police Hospital, warned that those who are addicted to the program may incorporate the crudeness of the language in real life.

You can try out Simsimi for yourself by downloading it for free on your mobile phone and see if it really is all that or is just a phase that will soon fade away.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-01

They should join TV for the same ressponces

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Awesome, downloading it now

I love this app - it's fun. And it's free. Maybe it's supposed to be a dirty version of SIRI - but it seems like it's just collecting all sentences and conversations and using them for its answers...

Hmm

Q. Thai women?

A. Make me dinner

Q. What is the meaning of life?

A. Serve God and others.

Q. Where can I get a bj?

A. In your mom's bedroom.

Some very mixed messages there.