Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Gen Y confusion

   Don't really know what is gen Y, its typically people born in the 80's or 90's.This is one generation which has seem a sudden technology development.From landlines, inland letters, brick video games we have moved to smart phone, video calling to PS3. We also have seen a shift from a country of extreme rigidness to becoming westernized.I have been a pious child to a non pious adult.
    I personally know some of my friends and myself included , do not really focus when a ritual is being done in childhood. Now we are unaware of many tiny festivals which our parents celebrated but held some meaning unless reminded.I wonder how we will pass on this to the next generation.I think these rituals are good when done in moderation.In some families everything  is done in a ritual, life becomes a ritual if this goes on for everything.
   We saw influx of sudden female specific era, we had equal number of women in a engineering or medical classroom., while in past it could be counted on fingers.We have female company CEO's now for major companies, we have influential female political figures.There is a sudden shift in perception of working women.But, the country still is stuck to the roti making as necessarily a female role.Even if you are a CEO,a hardened roti still gets some flake.So, the genx is confused on the reality of role change.Also, the trend of hyphenated last names is crazy.
   Then there is facebook culture of spousal love.The couple uploading pics everyday to reinforce their  love to their 2000 friends.(as if they care).Then the doubts which creep up on others mind, does my husband/boyfriend not care for me.Why am i not his facebook cover(really!) .We take vacations now easily , due to the good economy of past decade and high incomes.But, have you noticed, the bigger camera and lenses people lug around instead of traditional camera .These are for the perfect photo for facebook, instagram and lets not forget watspp profile picture.Also, we use mobile now for everything apart from making calls.Its a perfect photo tool for every moment anywhere.Then we have editing tools to looks like Beyonce in a minute.Though we do miss the spontaneous kodak moments as we retake every pic until its perfect.But, in turn miss on real experience of the place.
   Then there are tools for hooking up with anyone , with facebook, apps like tinder.You just swipe and you have a date.The traditional meetings of finding a connection to a girl or guy we like is gone now.Its all in an instant click away and if you don't like, just delete them and move on.The value of relationship is diminishing day by day.
    The familial love is on all time high with fathers day, mothers day and sisters day(pardon me if don't know any more, i find these too superficial).There is no time like fathers day to gift your dad something and upload it on facebook and then forget about him somewhere in India.You have no time to talk to him but have time to upload and update facebook for random people who will like your love for your father who is probably waiting for your call.Its all confusing if your father is on facebook and he too likes it and wonders if probably now you will make a facebook video call to him.
      There are 2000 friends on your facebook, not a single real friend.You feel elated with the increasing number of facebook friends or maybe watsapp friends.You don't care if you don't have any real ones as anyways you have no time.Also, you have a insurance policy who will help you if you need anything.
          Basically i am nobody to criticize ,its just so confusing sometimes and so pressuring.We have to compete with social media.We do get envious of luxury vacations people take etc.No wonder we have depression and anxiety on all time high.Sometimes, despite thinking i am away from social media competition, i find myself missing so much.I don't know what is right or wrong with the confusion we deal with, it just exists.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

A sabbatical from facebook

      The title itself sounds very funny, as we have heard sabbatical from various things but facebook?? I can see few of you smiling to think, what the world has come to.But, compared how chaotic it was when facebook was new, now everyone is facebook savvy with knowledge on all of its features and some useful ones like turning off feeds from people who annoy and turning off the candy crush invites..eww.
   Well, we start our day with some yoga and newspaper and then facebook updates.Well, most of us do.Some i see can't start there day without some noble message being updated there.Some i see stealthily keep tabs on their exes , some just randomly browse someone else friend's feed as they appear when your friend likes them.Personally they kill time.I rarely browse random profiles, but i had liked too many pages on news, fashion, travel, groups, so every minute there was a new update.So, i had the constant urge to check facebook every few minutes.Also any news also appears there as i have liked almost all news channels/newspapers.And since we have 3g/4g browsing facebook on mobile is no more painful.
   I just opened today facebook ,i had turned on my internet to check some office emails.I had to check on weekends as what urgent email is sitting there you never know.Also keeps your mondays clutter free.As usual facebook is the 2nd thing i opened, and the husband commented on how much i am addicted to it.Well, i was looking at some random couples anniversary photos(a friends brother, she was tagged in it for some reason).I saw the nice table decoration with hearts and candles and blah blah..Obviously i was thinking that so much effort the guy must have gone to, obviously he wanted the world to see it.As usual the pretentious world, but in the back of my mind another thought came in , i remembered the non celebration on my birthday :((i had one,but nothing with flowery hearts :P), and neither me or my husband upload such personal moments online. I just was jolted on how much toxic this thought process was, i just needed to get away from facebook for a while.We all need  to do this.I am suddenly looking for reading a book, catching up on the series i had unfinished.I even had time to cook a time consuming recipe!Let me see how long this lasts.