A Real Life in a Virtual World !!

"When was the last time you logged out??" 
Yes, that's a common gig that many of us avid Facebookers might have faced and got amused with. The way this very social-networking site has invaded our lives, its needless to say that most of us feel the need to "update and stay updated" through Facebook. This very need has made a Facebook application or tab a common in-built feature of smart-phones. Every now and then, we  keep checking if there is anything new happening out there, which we can comfortably call a virtual world. A world in which we have a LIFE  of our own, a separate, distinct one from our biological life on earth yet very much REAL.!

Any social-networking site, including Facebook revolves around the concept of network of contacts aptly termed as "friends". Yet all of us would agree that NOT all of these so-called friends are really friends (not going into the ethical idea of a friend) when we walk out on the street or go to work.Many of us might have experienced the practice of having substantial interaction wih someone on Facebook through comments, likes,posts, pokes and occasional chats while in actual face-to-face scenario, we might have just shared a passing  glance, a cordial greeting or at max a  smile with them

Similarly, we do often witness heated arguments through comments on a particular post that supported or offended so and so. This kind of discussions would really not have been possible between those individuals often from different  professions, social upbringing and different parts of the country or world.  

Often, we 'Like' someone's picture and shower them with loads of praises. But think for a moment. Would you have been really so expressive with your views if you met the person in real circumstances, even if you had genuine liking for their appearance??I guess not always...

Yet another such interesting practice is of using Smileys, available for every possible human emotion. Now c'mon...don't tell me we always have so varied and frequent change of expressions, especially guys !!


Well,this doesn't at all mean we are being fake online or the other person is.But its just like living a totally different life altogether in this virtual world of Facebook. We have our own "avatars" ( a term often used in the digital circuit too...remember Yahoo chat??) on Facebook, equipped with all possible emotions and views on almost everything under the sun. We all do sometimes secretly wish to live a different life that would give us a break from the chains of this mundane world and Facebook to an extent makes it possible.

So much for social-networking !! But are we really being social  in the true sense?? Are we not running the risk of being turned into future beings incapable of using the more conventional "mouth-to-ear" mode of communication?? Only time will tell....