God, how I hated being part of a networking site!
"I don't need to get connected to old, older and oldest aquaintances who are not in touch anymore. Those who matter to me are there in my life by other, better means of communication. I don't need a networking site for that" I thought. Many friends of mine sent me invites to become member of facebook. I ruthlessly deleted those. I also deleted my orkut profile because it seemed more of nuisance than value-addition.
Then, I read an article, written by a middleaged writer, on how facebook was just a waste of time connecting with people on a net-site. She felt exactly the same. Her article completely supported my viewpoint on networking sites.
Then a very close friend of mine opened an account for me on facebook, of course, with my permission. He said that I can popularise my blog amongst my friends n fans through facebook.
Very selfishly, I gave him a nod to open my account on facebook.
Initially, I found it boring n also bit confusing. But the slow poison had already started working. I got hundreds of friend requests from known n unknown people.
I uploaded my blogspot link on it. Of course, that was what I was there for. Not for other stupid things...
Then I created photo albums with pictures from my television serial shoots. People commented on those.
I got messages from very old friends saying it was nice to find me on facebook. I shared few comments with them. It was quite nice actually.
Slowly but steadily, the facebook poison penetrated in my veins. I looked forward to opening my account and to seeing who has visited my profile.
For the last few days, I have been surfing facebook regularly. and what I thought stupid was actually entertaining me for at least some time.
So, I now have to rethink whether facebook really is a waste of time or no? Does it really serve any purpose?
I guess, I have found the answer.
Facebook CAN be a waste of time and at the same time, it CAN serve many purposes not just one.
Whether our time is wasted or not, is upto us. Only we can allow ourselves to spend too much time on it without getting anything substantial out of it.
Facebook can be a good distraction from your work and daily routine for a while.
It can really make you feel good and become your friend in the moments of loneliness.
You can casually keep in touch with acquaintances.
It can really be a very useful tool to inform about your activities specially professional ones.
I am sure it helps media people to advertise their new projects or writers to advertise their upcoming books...and so on.
I must say that it is definitely very useful in every way if used with proper discretion.
Today, my mother's old friend called up. She welcomed me on Facebook. She complimented me on my photo albums. I felt really proud that an old lady is techno-savvy and actually is a part of a networking site. I mentioned it to her and her reply was," How would I pass my time, otherwise? My daughters are married and away. I can't go out as I can't walk even short distances..."
Well, I dare not call facebook a poison when it is actually somebody's medicine on loneliness and the only connection to the world.
Finally, we must accept and keep up with the new technology advancements and the newer ways of communication of the younger generations, right?
Yes, I am a Facebook addict now. What about you?
Dear Sharvari, My name is Meghan Ranade. I liked your blog post and would like to comment.
ReplyDeleteSocial Networking is a new method of communication. I would say it is also a change in the paradigms of how people communicate with each other in an educated society.
Just as people had their own negative opinions about mobile phones, internet, email etc; one does take time to adapt to social networking. I believe we are currently going through that change. About a decade back, people felt that something like an instant messenger is absolutely useless and only succeeds at wasting time of youngsters. I am sure everybody feels quite differently about it today and is in fact an indispensable tool in many corporate organizations. Social Networking too is being researched by many organizations for its business value and why would they spend so much money on doing it? Just because it’s the new way of communication.
The whole concept is still maturing and we will soon reach a stable state where there will be some well defined norms. I hope we then won’t have to deal with some awkward friend requests.
But apart from the uses that you have summarized, I would simple urge you to look at it as a new way of communication, not only for the young but equally for everyone.
>> "I must say that it is definitely very useful in every way if used with proper discretion..."<<
ReplyDeleteWell said!! सुंदर पोस्ट!!
thanks meghan...i appreciate your communication n I agree to what u have mentioned :)
ReplyDeleteDamn good post! I have one more view to add: I feel facebook can be a poison for school-going kids (you will find a countless under-16 profiles popping up everyday on the networking sites)...These kids don't have enough maturity to curtail their growing addiction towards FB. Moreover, many of them deal irrationally with intruding strangers and fall prey to their flamboyant but fake profiles...They shut themselves off from the real world, becoming net-hermits...Turning FB into a poison or an elixir ultimately depends upon the person's age and maturity...
ReplyDeletePS: Looking forward to more of your posts...
Nice post Sharvari :-)
ReplyDeletei knw it is vry late comment....but since i read it these days after adding u......it was vry nice article..touching too.....i loked ur style of writing ...........
ReplyDelete