Wednesday 8 April 2009

Friendships and Facebook

Ever have the feeling that you don't want to scratch any surfaces, for fear of what you might find underneath?

Well, that is where I am right now.

I am a little bit disgusted, oh hell, I am a lot disgusted with humanity. On the one hand is the undeniable fact that humans, as a specie, have many faults. We pollute. We over-indulge. We rape and plunder and give and accept bribes and cheat in exams. Its okay with me (I know I am not the leader of the world, just a small person trying very hard to slink into obscurity and live out her life, but am entitled nevertheless to have opinions and make comments. Or perhaps that is another characteristic human trait itself, and is annoying to others. Oh well). But on the other hand, the callousness with which we do these things we do, and certain things such as selfishness and laziness, most especially, drive me crazy.

So I am solving this problem (in my head) sort of simply. I don't want to get to know people beyond a point. See, on the surface, most people are good, law-abiding, generous, industrious folk. At least I don't know that they are not. When you start having lot of equations and interactions and generally getting lives all entangled, is when you realise other aspects of them. And I am unlikely to like those other aspects. I don't think I am rude to the person upon such realisation, but then I do feel all irritated and cranky about it on the inside. I am not a person given to extreme reactions, and would really not like my displeasure to be known to others, but fact is, it is there, in my head, it does not go away!

Its all fine and dandy with me to have a lot of 'friends' on facebook (which is a matter of concern however to space bar), but inside of me, I know what this means. Its a 'surface' friendship. And, really its good enough. Its a false statement, admittedly. It tells you that I am there, 'connected' to all these people the world over. The truth is clearly different. But for me, these e-relationships are perfect. If the visceral is actually missing, I don't mind it, in fact, I think I like it this way.

13 comments:

Space Bar said...

i don't mind it either, ya. i know exactly what it's worth. what i object to is when people assume the one definition of 'friend' is exactly the same as the other kind. no discrimination at all!

Preeti Aghalayam aka kbpm said...

sb, i agree thats more irritating!

VJ said...

I can so much relate to getting cranky at the same time trying to hide your displeasure.

Serious Lounger said...

is this part of the angst of having reached the great mark of 420 months on this planet :D :P..

Preeti Aghalayam aka kbpm said...

VJ-
Yeah. Its tough!

SL-
Well, why not? At least now my age allows me to be a cranky old woman!!

Choxbox said...

or, dont FB at all, like airspy and me! that way you wont have to bother at all about surface friendships.

see, easy-peasy lemon squeezy.

Preeti Aghalayam aka kbpm said...

chox
i *like* fb, thank you very much. its better than talking to people in actuality and discovering that i dont like them so much!

Choxbox said...

but why should one have to like everyone one talks to? also you mostly dont need to actually talk to people to realise you dont like them, no?

Preeti Aghalayam aka kbpm said...

see thats the thing chox. i think i like them and then i talk to them and then i dont.

Choxbox said...

what abt the first Q - why should you have to like them - with or without talking to them?

(okay pls dont stop liking me for bugging you with so many Qs, am having a slightly mad day here today).

Preeti Aghalayam aka kbpm said...

i *Have* to like people. i dont know why. i have to. because they are there. and i am me.

Choxbox said...

hmm, fair enuf then. have fun FBing!

the mad momma said...

thank you very much. between you and spacebar i'm not so sure what i feel anymore!!!