I have been lately observing the "Facebook fever" and I too am a part and parcel of the same. Recently, the title and tag line of movie "The Social Network" drew my attention; it says "You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies". It made me wonder are we really building upon the 'Social' network' by 'investing' endless hours in front of our laptop and mobile screens with "in vogue" social networking websites. I experienced the networking revolution in many phases each making me spend more time in the virtual world, slowing eating the pie of 'real' from my experiences. Initially you tend to enjoy, it feels like the Great Columbus to discover your old pals, make new friends, knowing about them and being a witness of their experiences through the latest developments that they have in their 'networks'. Believe me your quench for making friends does not ends here.
Let me ask you a fundamental question "Why you need to know people?".
You would say man is a social animal...you need people to share your thoughts, feelings, to show off, emotional needs blah..blah..blah...blah...(end less theories and arguments...). I am not a student of sociology but one thing for sure I can tell "YOU NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED AND ACKNOWLEDGE!!" by your peers, parents, relatives, and whole gamut of people around you. And this is what is your interaction all about (you are most welcome to differ).
Lets move to what we do nowadays.
The 'wall' and 'news feed' has become more important these days than the "Hi!!" and "hello!!" of the verbal communication....a glimpse of eye and a reciprocating smile :) ....we are too busy with our networking to forget the latter form of interaction...or say not too traditional and technology dumb to practice it. What to say about the college campuses...the 'add as a friend' and commenting of the posts has become more important than talking to each other.
And its heights when people meet and talk about
"....you know X commented this on Y's post/photograph..."
"...the video T has shared is damn funny..."
"....I blocked that person..."
"...X removed Y from friend list because they had a fight..."
"...please add me as friend..."
"...why haven't you responded to my post..."
"....hey his relationship status says committed....."
...blah..blaaah..blah.
and many more things to make you feel crazy....and ask "Dude is this all you have to talk about under the sun."
It makes me remind the incidence from the movie Inception (2010) "....here they come to be waken up from the 'dream' of the real world to the 'real' world of their dreams...".
It makes me remind the incidence from the movie Inception (2010) "....here they come to be waken up from the 'dream' of the real world to the 'real' world of their dreams...".
People are so addicted to it that it attacks your subconsciousness. One always look for the red coloured notification (give a feeling that u exsist in this lonely world for some people) as one posts "What's on your mind" or some pics or comment on someones status/picture or apps. This leads to a series of posts(status/pics/activities/likes/apps) to attract attention, appear cool and wanted..but is it worth all this effort??. The attention and acknowledgment they are deprived of when they confine themselves to the LCD's.
They keep looking for Top News and Most recent in the News feed.....I can bet on my life that they never would have taken so much pain to look for the news and happenings in the campus, city, state or country...naaaah...not even the next door neighbour or roommate!!
One love to chat with people on Gtalk, FB, Gmail, yahoo..n many more apps....but when it comes to saying a Hi!! or passing a smile....you fail...I do not get this thing at all!!!!
There are people out there..go talk to them....know them...for your sake come out of the virtual network and lets put things together in reality!!
We are letting these website people hijack our lives....your life goes haywire when you can't access internet..becoz..you won't be able to see your status updates, notifications, chat with friends....not because you will miss on some important e-mails, deadlines and party announcements...common people!!
There is beautiful world right out of your window; a person next door...peers just a call away....give yourself a chance to 'feel' this world. Even if you give a fraction of the efforts you do for networking on website to the world out there...it would be a better place to be. Things can always work out, its never too late...but do not delay it. Give yourself a chance to grow!!!
(plz don't say what an idea sirji...)
Nice one GKR...bt jst ensure u operationalise ur thots urself first...i remember our senior Aman's article in terra firma..he had talked how his desire to join IRMA was driven by a desire to become a change agent bt it all changed when placement season came and he went with the crowd...so...as u knw urself ...u are one of the most addicted fellow of FB in our campus..for u it is like, how nicotine is fr smokers and how caffine is fr me...:)..it is a gr8 beginning with insightful thots ..jst apply it in ur life....u vl b a changed person....nothing can substitute physical proxmity of friends..and sharing thots face-to-face...even i am learning it slowly ...hope u also join me in this endeavor..
ReplyDeleteLuv u darlin!!!..;)
nice one sirji :)... finally blogging got hold of you too... :)
ReplyDeletegood gajju nice to read sth frm u.and before this i never felt that u r a serious man to this extent and u logically think bout. but dear don't forget that evrythin has reason to be and facebook/ any other social site was meant for stealing ur time. so i will like to say just move out talk and interact people and let othr knw wat u r doing i will to see a red mark on my wall. hehehehe
ReplyDeleteGood read...!
ReplyDeleteSo lemme not find you online next time whenever i switch on my lappy ...!
Common man! take it easy...! everyone does what they should its up to me n u to decide what we have to do, lets not start another conscience War.. :(
nyway welcome aboard.. !!
tooooo gud bro..
ReplyDeletebut its better to start from yourself..u are much more addicted to fb..u start it..others will follow u..
nice one Govind....though I do agree with what u say to an extent..I feel that one must also think why these virtual networking options have replaced traditional ways of socialization and have been so successful. They might be fulfilling lots of needs of individuals which may not be fulfilled in reality.. the need to get appreciated, grab attention, have friends, getting acceptance etc etc.. now if these needs of an individual are met via a PC sitting at their home thru fb and orkut why on earth would that individual venture out? May be this generation (ppl like us) is happy being connected to frnds at a virtual level .. u never knw. I dont knw abt u but can say for myself that there are lots of ppl around me who seem much more interesting when u interact with them over a chat or on fb than when u interact with them upfront. May be fb and other such sites provide them an opportunity to bring out a side of theirs which they are scared of showing upfront. Now how can u expect such a person to leave their virtual world and come back into the real world. The assumption that ppl will like it better when they go and talk to ppl face 2 face might just not be true for evry1 atleast not nowdays when u have an option to talk to someone without even having a look at them.. may be this is virtual but as long as it is fulfilling lots of needs I dont see ppl going back to the traditional ways.
ReplyDeletenice blog boss
ReplyDeletebut may i ask u one thing? for what purpose you have written this blog? to share your idea or to get recognition as u stated in blog?
now you have started blogging so let me suggest you topic for your next blog. "The so called time you have spend on playing computer games during your complete four year graduation period was a worth investment?"
i have been hearing it for a long time. Good that u finally took out time to pen ur thoughts. And, yes, I am taking some learning from your experiences. Keep blogging.....
ReplyDeleteI guess this blog was side effect of too much facebooking..........anyway good read.
ReplyDelete