Who is @Tazeen Javed?

Tazeen Javed is what you call an experiment junkie. She is game for everything which she has not done before; she has worked at a gay bar and tinkered with a grenade (with its pin out!) because she had to get it under her belt.

However along the way, she has managed to get some expertise in the field of communications and that’s how she earns her living. She also writes for various newspapers and news weeklies.

Why did you join Twitter?

Because you asked me to. Really, you said that I should join twitter to spread the word about my blog and I joined but I was not all that active. I think I became active on Twitter by the end of 2009.

Have you ever had a Twitter fight?

Oh yes, plenty. I once called Ijaz-ul-Haq an evil spawn and he then said some choice words about my parentage. Some other people jumped in and it went on for a couple of hours. I also had a bit of altercation with Jemima Khan last year which was reported by Press Trust of India. Needless to point out that both have blocked me after that. I even blogged about the incident for posterity’s sake.

What's the last movie you saw and what did you think of it?

I saw three Woodey Allen films “Whatever Works,” “You will meet a tall dark stranger” and “Midnight in Paris” back to back. I highly recommend Whatever Works because it is poignant and funny at the same time.

If you were stranded on an island who would you choose as your one companion?

Jon Stewart because he is like my longest living crush.

What's the quality you most like in a man?

Self effacing sense of humour. I love men who do not take themselves too seriously.

What's the quality you most like in a woman?

Self effacing sense of humour because they need it badly to survive in this society.

Where would you rather be right now?

Anywhere but here, Islamabad may be pretty but it is yawn inducing.

If you could have one super power what would you choose?

Invisibility, so that I can hop onto any plane, fly to strange lands and experience life.

What is your present state of mind?

Lazy, but that is my standard state of being.

What is your one regret in life?

That I am not as sporty as I should have been. Oh and I missed the chance to learn how to play violin. Something tells me I am a violin person.

What’s your favorite dessert?

I wish I liked something fancy like crème brulee or toffee pudding which I would eat less often. Unfortunately, I like caramel ice cream which is available at every corner shop.

What is one gadget would you love to own?

The new Galaxy SII Smartphone. It is a sexy piece of machine.

What is your favorite color dress in?

Red.

Describe Karachi’s traffic in one word?

Madness – but I must add that there is a method to the madness. Try driving in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Delhi or Dhaka for that matter and you will know what I mean.

You are president of Pakistan from tomorrow. Where do you start?

Sorry, cannot become the President of Pakistan. Wrong gender; I am constitutionally barred from becoming one because I am a woman.

What is it like working in the development sector. What do you enjoy most about it?

Money. Seriously it is the moolah that makes it worthwhile.

What do you do when not working?

Not much, I am quite lazy so indulge in all things couch potato-ish. Like reading and wasting my life online.

What music are you listening to?

I used to be a music snob when I was a teenager and would look down upon people who liked boy bands but I am much mellower now. I listen to all kinds of music but I still judge people who are over the age of 17 and listen to Justin Beiber.

You have lived in Karachi and Islamabad. In your opinion how are the two cities different?

I may live on the foothills of Margalla these days but I will always be a Karachiite at heart and will sing its praises. In any case, they are as different as chalk and cheese. Karachi is madness, chaos and heart. It is the leather clad bad boy you have been advised to stay away from but can’t get enough of it once you have been around for a while. Islamabad is like handsome jock, very pretty to look at but you don’t really know what to do with it.

Do you think there is a future for social media in Pakistan?

Of course, the future is here and it is online. Most of us get our news through internet, most often shared through social media. We meet new people here and stay in touch with our loved ones. It’s the high school cafeteria, library and your favourite hang out place all rolled in one. It may grow in a different direction and totally metamorphose into something else but it is here to stay.

What was your first love?

That has got to be traveling. I love traveling and I wish I had the money to travel and write about it. If I had my way, I would walk with a cardboard around my neck that says :

“Will work for travel expenses and will travel to any place except Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia.”

What comes to mind when you hear the term Twitterati?

Raza Rumi and Mosharraf Zaidi. No seriously, everyone follows them and they are kind of omnipotent.  I feel someone tells every new Pakistani Twitter newbie that “Thou shalt not make it on twitter if you do not follow them.”