Zinda Hun Yaar, Kaafi Hai.

People (friends, cousins, former teachers) around me keep telling me I should join facebook. Again.
Some understand me better, and say, "Okay not facebook, but alteast buy a 'smartfone' and be active on 'watsapp'".

I keep telling them why I prefere being left alone.
"Mujhe chhod do, mere haal pe....."

I have been meaning to write about this for sometime.
Thanks, that today is a Sunday. And thanks to PP, who reminded me of this today.

Har ek friend zaroori nahi hota hai

People keep saying "Facebook is a way to remain connected with other people".
I ask, what other people? Hundreds of people?
"Friends" whom you didn't even talk to when you were at school?
"Relatives", from whom you have to constantly, consistently hide your posts and likes lest they get to know about your college crush and tell your mom about it?
"Office Colleagues", due to whom you have ponder everytime you make a status update: what context your team members or Leaders will take it in?



And on top of that, what has every virtual social network become if not a place to show-off your 'achievements', both petty and substantial?
Or a place to bitch about your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend?
Or a place to 'sell your sorrows' in return for 'cheap sympathy'?

Some people say "No one is asking you to get addicted, but it's good to socialise a little".
But doesn't being on virtual social networks actually an obstacle to real socialising? It's easy to comment something: one has all the time in the world to think of what to write. I dare them to come to a party and talk even half as sensible/cool as they seem on their virtual profiles.

Isn't it enough that people around us judge us constantly? Or do we have to go an extra mile, create a 'virtual' alter-ego, and essentially invite hundreds other to judge us on every thing we do? How much 'approval of the society' does one really need?

How does one segregate the 'closer' circle of friends than the 'acquaintances'? Some new guy you met in the office elevator comments at the same place where your old school-mate cum best-friend comments? Is that the way to socialise?

Some people would say "Google+ had a concept of circles."
And I ask them, are your relations that clear-cut and simple that you can divide people into exact circles?
Does everyone think that the inventors of these 'social networks' have a life-long benevolent goal of making people connect?
Are you all, who use these websites, anything more than 'customers' to the companies that run them?
Who will say with a guarantee your personal data like pictures and information is safe with them?


The only reason I remember I joined any social site, at first, was an experiment with a new thing that was making news.
Now only news I read about these are the ones with data being stolen, hundreds of passwords being hacked simultaneosly, love-relationships started on these sites going sour and ugly, robberies happening because some girl tweeted "Home alone today, missing my boyfriend", and even rape victims being trapped through these networks.

The second time I joined, the reason was to promote a big event at my college, and to have a conversation with many college-mates who I was working with for that big event. No 3rd time for me, I think. Maybe, if ever I become a political/public figure someday.

Other than that, my life is private to me and I wish to preserve its sanctity.


Fones getting smarter, People getting dumber

Now coming onto 'smartfones'. Yes, they are the big fad these days.
Almost everyone carries a big-screen smartfone these days - we friends call them LCDs - even school kids I see on public buses.

What are the smartfones needed for? Let's break it down . . .

E-Mail? I am not a Project Manager who needs to check his mails constantly and reply asap.
Maps? Maybe for someone exploring (read 'lost in') a new city.
Music? And pay 3G data prices when I already have a internet connection at home and can download all the music I want there?
Dictionary? That's actually a good thing, I do agree.
Games/Apps? For anyone whose job is to sit 9-10 hours in front of a computer screen everyday, don't you think a little rest for the eyes is required? Go play a real tennis or badminton game, or go for a run, for your health's sake!
WatsApp? Call me if you miss me, I will do the same. I'm not going to buy a new fone just so that you can send me stupid forwarded messages, pictures and videos all day long.
Social Networking? I think I answered that part above. :p

At first, I couldn't afford a smartfone.
Now that I easily can, I think maybe I will buy one someday when I really have the need for one.
But the moment I see people around immersed in their smartfones all the time, it gives me a warning.
My friend cum flat-mate used to make fun of other people and how they keep 'glued' to their fones all the time.
He bought a smartfone touchscreen and said "I will use it judiciously". Just a month later, he himself is seen most of the time ogling that screen, sliding, scrolling and smiling stupidly. And why not? When someone spends 10-15 thousand on something, he/she will utilize all its features right?

Well, that kind of commitment is not for me :p. I am happy spending my sunday browsing a 'real' newspaper, and sitting by the window, enjoying the rain.



My Opinion - My personal choice of lifestyle

I haven't, and never will ask anyone else to think the same way as me. Everyone to his/her own, I say.
You can follow what your heart says, and I will follow my mind.
You can enjoy sharing your life at facebooks and watsapps, and let me enjoy my own time myself.

The opinions given above are strictly opinions, and not any attempt should be made to treat them as a lecture. Coz believe me, I know how to give a 'lecture', and this is not one :p :p .


Now if at all someone reads this sometime, most probably they will think of me as a loner, non-social, and a rude guy. It's up to everyone what opinion he/she makes, but I have very good friends whom I keep in regular touch with. 

Two of my college buddies and room-mates are staying with me right now, and I call the rest few every now and then. I even have a friend from my 1st grade, and I love the fact that I have such an old friend in my life. I even keep in touch with a cousin who is settled in Dubai with her husband, through e-mails. It so lovely to write letters (e-mails) and receive long replies.
Quality over quantity. 5 better than 500 I had once, on facebook. :)

For the rest of the people, I have two lines from a song in the upcoming movie - 'Lootera':
"Mujhe chhod do, mere haal pe..... Zinda hun yaar, kaafi hai....."

P.S: (A long one, this time :p)
Someone asked me recently, "How do you pass your time at home, if you are not using Facebook or even WatsApp?"
And I answered, "I cook, do dishes, clean my home, read books, write a diary, see movies and tv series, do carpentary, organize my documents and stuff, wash clothes, go to market to browse groceries and girls (:p), watch cricket, call-up some friend or cousin, maybe go for a bike-ride, and if I have done all this, I go to my balcony and simply stand and stare at the hills, clouds, rain, people, buildings, birds, and anything else that happens to be visible from my balcony".

Now you tell me, do I have any time left for anything else??? :) :) :)