Few months back, I had interesting experience on Facebook. On a friend's wall, discussion about some issue generated quite interest and many people started participating, expressing their views on the matter. Before anyone could even realize, the discussion took a different turn and escalated to personal attacks and mudslinging. There was complete breakdown of decency and like it happens in real life, deeply entrenched divides emerged and continuous attempts were made to vilify someone in particular.
Within blink of an eye the members of one particular group ( bunch of "educated" people) derided the person they had decided to target, with scornful disdain in most bizarre manner. What followed the next few weeks reflected complete loss of grip of most essential spirit of basic humanness. The experience, actually turned out to be quite an expose' on a most disturbing facet of human behaviour in digital world.
One of the challenges of being on a social networking sites is, whatever one writes or posts is interpreted and processed in a unique way by people who have access to the information. Since our "buddies" on such sites need not always be people whom we know really well, the communication is generally restricted to written word. Typically, perceptions are based on individual beliefs, mindset, attitude, understanding and even one’s emotional state while filtering the content one has access to.
One person may laugh at something which the other might find vulgar and feel very uncomfortable. A curious soul may find something motivational while the other might be utterly confused and bored reading it. We all are uniquely different. It is interesting to notice how we interpret, process, react and lable!
Experience has taught me to get past the fluff and get to the real issue : attitudes, behaviour, mindsets and reactions of people who cross my path in this digital society. Sometimes one needs to have overdose of composure in one's survival kit! Whether we wish to get offended, learn or change, is entirely our choice. It takes all kinds of people to make this world and virtual world is no different. One needs to be very practical, realistic and intelligent about when, how and in whom we trust. It took me quite some time, experiences and observation of social networking sites, to realize it. I am still learning.
I have been very fortunate to have met some of the finest human beings on virtual world. The journey so far, has helped me garner the strength to push the parameters of learning through treasures of life experience my friends have shared with me. Each day is filled with surprises, laughter, joy, renewed compatibility and camaraderie. Some days present some experiences that snaps something within. But I look at them as lessons, essential to evolve and grow. I embrace each day anticipating new experiences and always find interesting, beautiful layers of life and human nature unfold before me. One of the reasons, why I love being part of the digital society.
Within blink of an eye the members of one particular group ( bunch of "educated" people) derided the person they had decided to target, with scornful disdain in most bizarre manner. What followed the next few weeks reflected complete loss of grip of most essential spirit of basic humanness. The experience, actually turned out to be quite an expose' on a most disturbing facet of human behaviour in digital world.
One of the challenges of being on a social networking sites is, whatever one writes or posts is interpreted and processed in a unique way by people who have access to the information. Since our "buddies" on such sites need not always be people whom we know really well, the communication is generally restricted to written word. Typically, perceptions are based on individual beliefs, mindset, attitude, understanding and even one’s emotional state while filtering the content one has access to.
One person may laugh at something which the other might find vulgar and feel very uncomfortable. A curious soul may find something motivational while the other might be utterly confused and bored reading it. We all are uniquely different. It is interesting to notice how we interpret, process, react and lable!
Experience has taught me to get past the fluff and get to the real issue : attitudes, behaviour, mindsets and reactions of people who cross my path in this digital society. Sometimes one needs to have overdose of composure in one's survival kit! Whether we wish to get offended, learn or change, is entirely our choice. It takes all kinds of people to make this world and virtual world is no different. One needs to be very practical, realistic and intelligent about when, how and in whom we trust. It took me quite some time, experiences and observation of social networking sites, to realize it. I am still learning.
I have been very fortunate to have met some of the finest human beings on virtual world. The journey so far, has helped me garner the strength to push the parameters of learning through treasures of life experience my friends have shared with me. Each day is filled with surprises, laughter, joy, renewed compatibility and camaraderie. Some days present some experiences that snaps something within. But I look at them as lessons, essential to evolve and grow. I embrace each day anticipating new experiences and always find interesting, beautiful layers of life and human nature unfold before me. One of the reasons, why I love being part of the digital society.
No comments:
Post a Comment