Last night, like most other nights, the chemicals in my brain started acting up again. I lay on the bed, trying to sleep - which was obviously playing a sophisticated version of hide and seek with me. Hence, last night, like most other nights, I went back to my virtual playground, known to 99.79% of the world as Twitter. And there you were - most of my virtually real friends, going about their activities. I sent out a whimper - hey guys, please say something to cheer me up! And there you were - saying a thousand little things to carve an ':)' on my avatar. From blue unicorns to unread books, from baskets of smiles to non-boring people and existent Sundays, the responses were varied and many. And, they worked.
That sounds pretty straightforward, does it not? Well, why I would still want to waste online space over such Twitter moments is simply because I have never given a thought to this fact: there is a beauty to stupidity, a power like no other. Let me point out that that this is in no way intended to demean the cognitive capabilities of my Twitter friends. The reason why I say so is this: none of the tweets intended to cheer me up were trying to sermonise in any way. All that my virtually real friends were trying to do is this: spin their own little magic tricks to make me smile, to make me forget that there were errant chemicals in my brain, or in much simpler words, to make me happy.
And of course, it is not the first time this has happened. And this is obviously not the first blogpost that is trying to talk about the bonds that are formed over social networks. But, it is more about the nature of those bonds. It's like one of those movies with copious amounts of slapstick humour, or an orange lolly, or a baby with its toothless and chocolate-smeared-on-the-cheeks grin. It need not have a meaning to it - but it makes you happy, does it not? It may not make you ponder over the greater truth that is life but it gives you a reason to live, does it not?
Those of you from Twitter who know me (in real or virtual life) and are reading this, surely know I am referring to your handles in this post. Which is why, I am not naming you here. Pardon my use of the word 'stupidity' again, but all I can say is: thank you friends, for the good words last night, like most other nights.
That sounds pretty straightforward, does it not? Well, why I would still want to waste online space over such Twitter moments is simply because I have never given a thought to this fact: there is a beauty to stupidity, a power like no other. Let me point out that that this is in no way intended to demean the cognitive capabilities of my Twitter friends. The reason why I say so is this: none of the tweets intended to cheer me up were trying to sermonise in any way. All that my virtually real friends were trying to do is this: spin their own little magic tricks to make me smile, to make me forget that there were errant chemicals in my brain, or in much simpler words, to make me happy.
And of course, it is not the first time this has happened. And this is obviously not the first blogpost that is trying to talk about the bonds that are formed over social networks. But, it is more about the nature of those bonds. It's like one of those movies with copious amounts of slapstick humour, or an orange lolly, or a baby with its toothless and chocolate-smeared-on-the-cheeks grin. It need not have a meaning to it - but it makes you happy, does it not? It may not make you ponder over the greater truth that is life but it gives you a reason to live, does it not?
Those of you from Twitter who know me (in real or virtual life) and are reading this, surely know I am referring to your handles in this post. Which is why, I am not naming you here. Pardon my use of the word 'stupidity' again, but all I can say is: thank you friends, for the good words last night, like most other nights.
3 comments:
I actually dont see much difference anymore between "real" and "virtual" friends. There was a time, long before the Internet, where finding some peace relied highly upon whom you knew,understood and blended with in real life. For those who weren't exactly "social",per say, the task of making friends on a whim was Herculean. So instead they went into their diaries, their doodles, their poetry to try and find some help. Today, this has changed. Under the huge umbrella of "social networks", the avenues to find some sense of sanity, some support, some mental help has become 10 times easier and as many times useful. Which is why the term "stupidity" doesnt find relevance here. I am reminded of a Hindi song - "Hum hain raahi pyaar ke, humse kuch na boliye. Jo bhi pyaar se mila, hum usi ke ho liye". Social Networks are like that. Whoever sends a warm smile of comfort, s/he is a friend.
Glad you found help last night.
Cheers,
SK
(@shakwrites on Twitter)
I feel great after knowing I'm "virtually real". =P
Although, I doubt I was one of those people who were cheering you up last night, I'm glad that you were finally able to wear a smile.
Cheers!
Hi SK,
I don't think you got the point of what I was trying to say by using the term 'stupidity' here.
Regards
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