Virtual affinity....

In today’s world , our hectic schedule hardly permits us from meeting  our  friends, family, colleagues and associates in person. Unless very important, one has a  hoard   of excuses or rarely genuine reasons to  not turn up for personal meetings or social gatherings. But wait a minute if we are finding excuses to not  meet such people then why do we have their numbers in our contact lists, why do we have them in our so- called “friends list” on popular social networking sites ??? Its not the compulsion to be connected but the hidden insecurity that we somehow feel the  need to be connected to them, so that we can get in touch with them during testing times. Why do you think people have “contacts “?? Not because we want be known, not because we need them for favors, but because  somewhere we  are insecure about losing them……..

For people of the former ilk, internet is a boon. Social networking sites enable us to cultivate new “friendships”, reconcile with old ones, et al. But do we really need them?? When was the last time you actually called your long lost friend even when u found him/her online & asking for his/her number?? Or when was the last time you actually remembered somebody’s number without checking for it in your contacts?? Yeah these questions are the common ones which are often thrown by a  some anti-virtual –affinity guy who  feels that these sites are just about adding friends and keeping  a check on their updates , like one has no business apart from doing that. Yeah partially true, because the youth is a major contributor to the popularity of these social networking sites which enables them to upload pictures about their silly incidents throughout the day at college, birthday parties, trips et al. They are soo  sure about the online safety these social networking sites guarantee  to not misuse their pictures ,that they even post ridiculous, crass photos which  would even been given second thoughts for storing in our data storage.

This isn’t pessimism but an issue to be skeptical about, which we people have conveniently forgotten. We have become so complacent in life that we hardly ever question about what we are sharing online. I agree everybody has their right to make their own choices, but why complain later when you just need to give yourself   a  second thought when going online about stuff that you would be guarded about when somebody intrudes into your privacy. This is what we are lacking : to question our  thoughts . Though these sites are a boon seriously, I feel there should be a limit to everything. They sometimes make us feel soo safe that we even allow the acquaintances in our so-called “friends list” to pry into our lives. We need to add /accept people –the lesser known or mere acquaintances just because we share an odd number of mutual friends and so have this obligation ,thereby  accepting them..I don’t want to impose my thoughts over anyone here, but want you people to think over the reason  why  are we actually uploading stuff online,adding people we hardly know.Why?? Is it because we don’t want to hurt them, or we think we will need them or just because we can’t refuse….Yeah being staunch about something is difficult  today where hypocrisy dwells and diplomats are entertained…..  Are we doing this because we want to be noticed, or just because other people are doing it, or is it something absolutely necessary?? The least one can do if not completely refrain themselves from the clutches of virtual affinity is to, at least sort what to share and to whom if that personal.

On a lighter note, though these sites have to be also credited for its pros…but what about the cons??? Apart from what has been listed above the cons primarily include health issues due to are constant addiction to this virtual world, wherein one finds solace. This could be because the world seems to be  a little  place where you think you have access to all you need, all you wished for. People prefer online chats and discussions rather than meeting up not because they are distant but because its fun and moreover they get to enjoy the liberty of doing, saying whatever they please and all that jazz.. What a convenient thing, what an invention..!!

I can keep going on and on about it, but just give it a thought ... Aren’t you  spending long hours in the virtual world apart from when  being absolutely necessary??? What about online safety during sharing stuff online??What about reaching out to people personally who matter to you  than spending endless hours on the computer for idle gossip? I know I have listed factual stuff in my blog ,but this is what I felt like writing about today and giving you  my version of  food for the the mind and soul….......

Till the next time :

                                                        “Bon appetit!!!”