It started out like any other monday morning for me as it has been for the past 3 months. First, checking for new status updates on Facebook, clicking the "Like" bottons for some, "Commenting" on others, "Poke" back friends who have been routinely poking me (Its like being in a Poke relationship), reviewing comments or likes of friends on any of my recent (or four year old) activity, checking out new uploaded pictures of connections on fb, and the drill continues. Once that is tackled, then there is Twitter!!! 140 words limitation, where one can upload, and share pictures using yfrog, or twitter deck, and maybe some other stuff (who cares?), tweet (basically post {fb}) anything you want to including the description of how awful someones fart is and possibly determine the meal reasponsible for the same as long as it fits within a 140 words (you get the point!!). and then there is LinkedIn! Another networking site, expect for the more professional side of us, which btw if you can successfully fill out, you are all set for any CV/Resume, and Statement of Purpose, given the amount work expended into it! Yes there are some of the Gen Ys that take it more seriously than others!! Then there are the underdoge, BBM, MMS, Whatsapp, TM (text messaging) etc. This virtual drill is set on repeat mode pretty much for the entire day/night, and week/year, well atleast until we have another virtual site that sweeps our attention away. Be warned that this sweeping would happen not because one social networking site (SNS) is better than the other, it purely stems from GEN Y's need for novelty, and the need to replenish the ever so lacklustre sense of boredom! However, its seldom portrayed to be so. Infact, GEN Y decorates the reasons as security/privacy issues or the lack thereof.
I could continue breaking down the composition of this virtual monstrocity but that would imply insulting the common sensical abilities of the readers, so I shall cut to the chase!! How virtual are our lives??? Do we view it as a boon or a curse? Have we paused and assessed the areas of our lives possibly impacted? I suspect NOT! Seems too much work, and frivolrous. But I beg to differ.Following is the list of things that leading a Virual life is doing to us!
1. Depression - It is true!!! (Not empirically determined) but can vouch that the cases of depreesed people atleast the young have plummeted. Finding out person X got their second job while you barely can get the first one, person Z has taken 3 vacations each more extravagent than the other while all you can barely afford is a smartphone, person M has a bigger stone in their engagement ring than your do, person E does not repeat one outfit in their pics and takes scenic pictures, while you stress and decide not to post pictures because it was in the same sweater in which you took a picture one year ago, Person J has more connections than you and to make it worse 4 people deleted you off their friends list that same day, PHEW!!! Just as depression has no laws, so does the impact of leading a virtual life on our real lives!
2. Fakness - The simple joys of sitting with a friend face to face seeing their expressions, gestures and touch is sadly replaced by vegetative words, and stiff emoticons where you can Laugh Out Loud (LOL) or Laugh My/Your A** Off (LM/YAO) without a sound and working a single jaw muscle, or for that matter stick words b/t asterisks to *Amlify* their effect. Fake! Fake!Fake! Monotoneous!
3. Mundane - I can bet on my life that over a period of time even the most fanatic of social networker gets BORED!!!
4. Distractor - You could have the most important presentation at 6 in the morning for which you haven't started work yet buttttt you met a long lost friend on fb chat, or a recent crush who of alll days and nights decided to ping you that night and you HAVE to cash in on the opportunity!! Or you could be at work, where btw social sites are banned yet you access the sites sneakily even when your boss walks over to your cubicle and catches you in the act! Which brings me to my next point!
5. Social Awkwardness - The frequency and probability of getting into a socially awkward moment is huge!!!! When your boss catches you, when you delete a connection without informing them (I wouldn't know how notifying them would be any less awkward) and then meeting them at a social gathering or hallway of the university, untagging them or yourself from pictures (often an earthshattering experience), you post/tweet/upload pics from your outing last night with a bunch of friends when you should have been with Person O for a drive! I mean its unbelievable how awkward it can get!
6. Severes Friendships - The irony of the situation, the rate of lost or broken friendships are alot more than we would like, because your best friend now has a new best friend and you now are the odd ball!!
7. WORST - You have increasing numbers of family members wanting to connect with you. Can't deny/accept, this just ensures you a one way ticket to ass whooping world!!
I am certain the readers have their own profound thoughts to share and are well aware of the situation! If not DUDE(TTE) YOU NEED SERIOUS HELP!!!! But hold on, there are some boons too.
1. Free Marketing and Publicity - New business venture, tattoo parlor, garage sale, auction of a painting, new version for the iphone, music, movies, new book, new blog (guilty), new members only group on LinkedIn (guilty again), SNS are free, easy, and awesome!!!!
2. More Memories - Pictures, albums, vidoes all are perfect ways to create memories but BEWARE its a double edged sword.
3. Comparative Analysis - I looked like Sarah Jessica Parker in 2008, come 2011 I look like a bloated toad from Shrek 2!! Key words weight loss, personal appearence, ya da ya da ya da.
4. Long Distance - The world is getting smaller, so you can keep in touch with a friend you met in Timbaktoo!!!
Take home point! How infested is your life with the SNS bug??? More importantly how is it impacting your real life? Are you more energized after meandering through the virtual roadways , or more aggitated, irritable, frustrated thereafter? I have been introspecting and let me tell you there's alot more to it than these mere questions! Its a reflection of the way of life we are leading and where the future generations headed. Once thats done, the question is how then is one to revamp this lifestyle? We are what I call the Virtually Addicted Lot!!! Detox and Rehabilitations is essential! But I shall leave that for my next post! Until then chew on this fodder!
I could continue breaking down the composition of this virtual monstrocity but that would imply insulting the common sensical abilities of the readers, so I shall cut to the chase!! How virtual are our lives??? Do we view it as a boon or a curse? Have we paused and assessed the areas of our lives possibly impacted? I suspect NOT! Seems too much work, and frivolrous. But I beg to differ.Following is the list of things that leading a Virual life is doing to us!
1. Depression - It is true!!! (Not empirically determined) but can vouch that the cases of depreesed people atleast the young have plummeted. Finding out person X got their second job while you barely can get the first one, person Z has taken 3 vacations each more extravagent than the other while all you can barely afford is a smartphone, person M has a bigger stone in their engagement ring than your do, person E does not repeat one outfit in their pics and takes scenic pictures, while you stress and decide not to post pictures because it was in the same sweater in which you took a picture one year ago, Person J has more connections than you and to make it worse 4 people deleted you off their friends list that same day, PHEW!!! Just as depression has no laws, so does the impact of leading a virtual life on our real lives!
2. Fakness - The simple joys of sitting with a friend face to face seeing their expressions, gestures and touch is sadly replaced by vegetative words, and stiff emoticons where you can Laugh Out Loud (LOL) or Laugh My/Your A** Off (LM/YAO) without a sound and working a single jaw muscle, or for that matter stick words b/t asterisks to *Amlify* their effect. Fake! Fake!Fake! Monotoneous!
3. Mundane - I can bet on my life that over a period of time even the most fanatic of social networker gets BORED!!!
4. Distractor - You could have the most important presentation at 6 in the morning for which you haven't started work yet buttttt you met a long lost friend on fb chat, or a recent crush who of alll days and nights decided to ping you that night and you HAVE to cash in on the opportunity!! Or you could be at work, where btw social sites are banned yet you access the sites sneakily even when your boss walks over to your cubicle and catches you in the act! Which brings me to my next point!
5. Social Awkwardness - The frequency and probability of getting into a socially awkward moment is huge!!!! When your boss catches you, when you delete a connection without informing them (I wouldn't know how notifying them would be any less awkward) and then meeting them at a social gathering or hallway of the university, untagging them or yourself from pictures (often an earthshattering experience), you post/tweet/upload pics from your outing last night with a bunch of friends when you should have been with Person O for a drive! I mean its unbelievable how awkward it can get!
6. Severes Friendships - The irony of the situation, the rate of lost or broken friendships are alot more than we would like, because your best friend now has a new best friend and you now are the odd ball!!
7. WORST - You have increasing numbers of family members wanting to connect with you. Can't deny/accept, this just ensures you a one way ticket to ass whooping world!!
I am certain the readers have their own profound thoughts to share and are well aware of the situation! If not DUDE(TTE) YOU NEED SERIOUS HELP!!!! But hold on, there are some boons too.
1. Free Marketing and Publicity - New business venture, tattoo parlor, garage sale, auction of a painting, new version for the iphone, music, movies, new book, new blog (guilty), new members only group on LinkedIn (guilty again), SNS are free, easy, and awesome!!!!
2. More Memories - Pictures, albums, vidoes all are perfect ways to create memories but BEWARE its a double edged sword.
3. Comparative Analysis - I looked like Sarah Jessica Parker in 2008, come 2011 I look like a bloated toad from Shrek 2!! Key words weight loss, personal appearence, ya da ya da ya da.
4. Long Distance - The world is getting smaller, so you can keep in touch with a friend you met in Timbaktoo!!!
Take home point! How infested is your life with the SNS bug??? More importantly how is it impacting your real life? Are you more energized after meandering through the virtual roadways , or more aggitated, irritable, frustrated thereafter? I have been introspecting and let me tell you there's alot more to it than these mere questions! Its a reflection of the way of life we are leading and where the future generations headed. Once thats done, the question is how then is one to revamp this lifestyle? We are what I call the Virtually Addicted Lot!!! Detox and Rehabilitations is essential! But I shall leave that for my next post! Until then chew on this fodder!
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