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  • Category: Miscellaneous
    Points:7 (₹ 7)

      

    Are we really connected

    We say that the internet has, through different social media sites and apps, kept us connected. We say that the distance between people has reduced in the virtual world. It may be technically correct but has it changed our basic traits or attitude? I doubt.

    You may be sending messages to each other on a daily basis and may be sharing personal matters and discussing so many things which you have in common and may even be having conference calls, video calls and maybe chatting occasionally just as if you are enjoying a one-to-one conversation. But simply, for the sake of it or due to some exigencies, keep off from social media for a few days and see how many of your connections online, including friends and relatives, will feel bothered and check, through other means or through common friends, what happened to you. The number would be negligible or may even be nil. Some may inquire about it when you get back online and that would be, most of the time, a mere formality.

    What I want to say is that the often quoted phrase that 'we are connected', especially in the virtual world, is mere pretense. It is nothing more than saying hello to someone whom we meet after a gap and then exchanging some pleasantries with him. The excitement will be there but it does not last long. The warmth is missing. It is so because it is the same people who are supposed to weigh and value relationships and nurture the urge to maintain the same. Our basic mindsets do not change.

    Whether it is the real world or the virtual one, people remain connected, may not be regularly, when they have concern for each other and care for each other. There is truth in the relationship. Otherwise, it is all the more a drama than being real.

    What is your take on this thought?
  • #769656

    Points:4
    I also feel that though we appear to be connected online in social media on a 24/7 basis but that is only of a superficial nature. Frankly speaking, such behaviour is only limited to getting likes, positive comments, and greetings on birthdays or marriage anniversaries.
    In most of these cases there is no physical contact and seriousness of communications cannot be ascertained.
    Unlike old times when people physically visited each other and asked if any help was required by the person in any family function or event.
    Today's environment is totally different and it will not be an exaggeration if we say that we are communicating in a fake environment wearing deceptive masks on our faces.
    Knowledge is power.

  • #769657

    Points:5
    Though we feel proud of having contacts with so many friends in the social media indicating our popularity with such a large pool of friends in the social media. These figures might appear impressive but in reality, it does not bear any significance. It could make us more happy if we glance all such messages greeting us on our birthday or the congratulatory messages on our success in getting some new jobs or something like that sort.
    Ironically, in our absence from such virtual media for sometime is not likely to create any sadness among the circles of such virtual friends. If we look back those days when the social media was not active, friendships were stable and in need people received massive help from friends in need. This shows how the relationship has changed from from the earlier times to the present ones especially in the social media world.

  • #769661

    Points:5
    That is true. We will have so many friends on social media but we don't even recognise them if we met personally also. I feel the contacts on social media are for time pass . We just hit like for their postings and they hit like to our postings.
    But one thing I noticed is this social media is helping us to trace our old friends and talk to them or communicate with them. WhatsApp brought many of my old college and high school friends again to contact and we all communicate with each other. We have physical get togethers two times. One time high school friends and the second time junior college friends.
    The excitement what we get when we met each other was very high but later on the frequency of communication has come down. As mentioned by the author, when we are really connected we will help each other when there is a need. But that way there is no much advancement.
    drrao
    always confident

  • #769673

      

    Points:1
    Dr Rao, isn't there a difference between getting in touch and remaining connected? I feel so.
    'Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all'.
    -Aristotle

  • #769675

    Points:4
    There is no doubt that the internet has brought us closer and it helps us to get connected with our friends and family whenever we feel it. However, we need to understand here that no one can be connected 24/7, no matter even if he/she is your closest family member. Earlier, with long-distance friends or family, we could only call and talk but with the help of video calls, now we can have face-to-face chat and that brings a lot of change. It really helps to connect when someone is in need. So, what I feel is we should not much expect from these apps and use them accordingly.

  • #769677

    Points:4
    Getting connected to the internet and communicating with friends and relatives have become a part of many people's daily activities. Most of them just communicate with their close netizens just as part of their routine some people do not even bother to reply to some of the posts.

    However, I feel only Generation Z and millennials are more into making friends online and communicating with their close ones every day by way of posting pictures and replying to every post without realizing that they are becoming slaves to social networking sites.

    No amount of advice can change their attitude toward their excessive addiction to social networking platforms. Until they get a bad experience themselves, they will never change.

    On the other hand, the positive side of the same issue is that even elderly people have been using the above sites and getting happiness by contacting their friends and relatives online. However, they do not get addicted to the sites and use them only when they need to do so.
    One more trend which has been happening nowadays is that mothers of school children have an exclusive Whatsapp group wherein they discuss about the lessons and other activities which happen at the schools of the children studying in the same school.

  • #769943

    Points:5
    The Internet has revolutionised the entire system of information and knowledge. It has brought the world to our fingertips and everything is accessible within a matter of seconds for people in the world. It has made education accessible and easier than it was before the Internet. Money Transfer through digital technology has eased the process and saved time and money as well. It has minimized corruption to a great extent. The Internet has brought many important and valuable things into existence that humans can't think of otherwise.

    However, the internet has affected our relationships with our family members and near and dear ones. Every family member remains busy surfing or browsing the internet and likes to spend time with smartphones than enjoying conversation with family members. People like gadgets and social media friends who they have never seen or who can never be there for you in thick or thin but ignore their parents and family staying in the same room.

    The Internet is a blessing but our social connection with our relatives has got a hit. Therefore, we are not connected and are lost somewhere in the "fairyland"!

  • #769944

      

    Points:4
    The thing is internet helps us to remain connected in various ways like through voice, video or messages but that cannot guarantee that we will remain connected. It entirely depends on the person whether to remain in touch or not. Though the post is on remaining connected in a true sense when there is every possible way because of the internet, I feel the advancement in technology in every field has made us very much dependent on technology and we are somehow becoming more technical beings than human beings. The technical touch is there whereas the human touch has reduced a lot which is the need of the hour.
    Sankalan

    "Life is easier when you enjoy what you do"

  • #769947

    Points:5
    One thing that I want to add more to this discussion is that we are present in the internet among the ocean of so many people. Still, there is one thing that is very amazing and to some extent surprising that whenever there is an issue which is in the interest of humanity or public at large, most of the people who are connected through internet suddenly start talking about it and a big community of people suddenly emerges out which opposes or supports a particular political or social happening or issue in the society anywhere in the world. So from that aspect we seem to be connected though we individually do not communicate with each other but we suddenly realize that there is a common cause of concern and we must stand up and acknowledge it and participate positively through our internal presence. That type of collective stand taken by a large group of people in internet is really remarkable and we have seen many times the society or government benefited by it especially when it is for a good cause.
    Knowledge is power.

  • #769958

    Points:4
    Saji, I agree with you. There is a lot of difference between getting in touch and remaining connected. After coming in contact or getting in touch, if the two likes each other, they may remain connected. Once we remain connected each will feel for the other and help each other when a need comes. Saying hello is different when we meet and sharing the pains and sorrow of the other person is different. People who remains connected will definitely develop an empathy for the other person and share his difficulties also.
    drrao
    always confident


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