The Virtual World Syndrome!

Life’s got busier and technology has taken over us, the social networking and the instant messaging seems the easiest way to connect. Everything works on a click and the clique is constantly adapting to the new fads every now and then. We can do every
thing on the internet and we are so overly dependent on it that even a day without it seems like a minor catastrophe. With everything so quick and easy and looking only at the pros of the technological advances with multiple usages to list down, aren’t we forgetting the real world around?

With constantly chatting with people on Facebook and Whatsapp, haven’t we lost the essence lately? The essence of how it was back then to keep in touch and not actually update just everything and anything happening at the moment. Even if we refrain to complain about the communication, we are somehow losing out on the people around, the people present amongst us at the very moment. We are so engrossed in clicking pictures instead of capturing memories. We try quenching the thirst of limelight by constantly updating our statuses and satisfy the hunger with all the likes and comments we get on our posts but what about the person sitting right beside us who is present in that picture, the person whose waiting while we are busy checking feeds from the rest?

Our entire world has taken a trip from the times when we made stories and memories to how we get more emotional over virtual memories. Previously, A father would come back home and his child would be happily awaiting him to hear him praise for a math test or maybe to share an incident that took place in school. But with the new scenario, the child updates it on Facebook, the father likes it and the mother comments. Is that it? What happened to sharing our funny stories over dinner or comforting one another coming out of the blues? We are relishing a good dinner, still busy updating; we are enjoying a long walk with an old friend still engrossed in our phones. For all we know, we’ve started nocializing even on a social gathering.

All those traditions are becoming old-fashioned and fading away, from how we celebrated birthdays or anniversaries to an extent when we are doing things to let the virtual world know than really do something. Wishing birthdays is merely on apps and long lost phone calls have changed to micro second voice notes. Even when we say we are voicing our opinions, are we really helping anyone by sharing what we feel right now on these socializing websites? Are we even helping ourselves by that? Somehow, we are responsible for the increasing depression through these portals and for the increasing blues and frustration within us. The West is coming to India seeking peace while we are running towards their technology that has resulted in our impatience and anxiety.

No matter how much we get addicted to the new, some things are meant to remain old. Our ancestors were right about many things and we later regretted and went back to the old traditions. I guess, I can happily be the guide and warn you about the virtual world syndrome. So even when you come in touch with your long lost high school best friend, no use if you don’t actually meet up and hangout with him. Weddings and Birthdays don’t happen over phone calls, we need people to be a part of those events, to make them occasions. And if your heart really wants to share something, say it out loud, to a person instead of updating it as a status. Take time to switch off everything that connects you virtually and appreciate the real world around you. Live for the moment, in the moment.