Chat Chronicles

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging platforms because it is simple to use and the majority of your contacts can be found on it. The most important feature of WhatsApp, in my opinion, is the group function, which allows you to easily connect with friends, family, colleagues, and more. Despite being a part of many WhatsApp groups consisting of friends, family members, schoolmates, collegemates, colleagues, business networks, etc., my introverted nature prevents me from being active in any of these groups, and I always remain a silent observer. Based on my observations, the most active group among all the ones I am a member of is the degree batch WhatsApp group.

It has people who are working in all major sectors, and I may be one who is in a totally different sector. Almost half of the group members, including myself, remain as observers, while the other half is enough to show the energy of the entire group. This is an amazing group that never sleeps; I can say it works 24x7. You can see people actively chatting early in the morning, late at night, and during the daytime. This may be one WhatsApp group that maintains the same energy it had since its creation. Sometimes I feel that one day the founders of WhatsApp, Mr. Jan Koum and Mr. Brian Acton, will come to India to meet all the members of this group and thank them for utilizing their invention so delicately every day. The group discusses any matter that comes under and above the sun. It acts as the most vibrant group during elections and IPL.

One fine morning, I opened my WhatsApp around 5:30 AM, just like many of us do as soon as we wake up. To my surprise, there were over 1500 unread messages in our group. It struck me as unusual since it wasn't election season or an IPL day when we usually have such lively discussions. Intrigued, I couldn't resist delving into the topic of conversation, particularly interested in the humorous trolls shared by the group members. Given the extensive nature of the discussion, I decided to take my phone with me to the bathroom, multitasking by catching up on the messages while tending to my morning necessities.

The entire discussion revolved around my close friend, Sajith. We have been friends since our high school days, starting from 8th grade all the way through Pre-Degree (now known as +2) and our degree. I felt disturbed by the barrage of negative comments directed at him, but also somewhat relieved to see supportive messages in his comment. Intrigued, I began scrolling up to trace the beginning of the conversation.

It all started with an image post by one of the group members at 10:30 PM. The post was about praising a Bollywood superstar. Just below that, Sajith left a comment, "Fisjs jdie." The person who shared the image realized it was a derogatory term and that Sajith was attempting to insult the superstar. Thus, he initiated the opposition, and some members joined in, criticizing Sajith. However, there were others who supported Sajith, as they too held a dislike for the superstar. Another faction within the group tried to decipher alternative meanings behind Sajith's words. This led to active arguments that continued throughout the night. As the members working day shifts went offline, those on night shifts or those who preferred staying awake through the night carried the conversation forward until morning. The most significant observation I made was that Sajith refrained from making any further comments after his initial one. This made me feel relieved and appreciative of him, as I realized that the argument could have escalated even further had he engaged in further responses.

Unable to contain my curiosity, I couldn't wait any longer after leaving the bathroom. I immediately called Sajith to inquire about the meaning behind his message. As he was just waking up, he was slightly alarmed to receive an early morning call from me, as such calls were uncommon between us, usually indicating an emergency. I asked him about the comment he had posted in the group, seeking clarification. Surprisingly, he had no recollection of posting any comment and mentioned that he had been busy for the past three days, neglecting to keep up with group discussions, which was unusual for him. Intrigued, I urged him to check his WhatsApp.

Sajith opened his WhatsApp and burst into laughter upon witnessing the chaos caused by his unintended message. He explained that he has a three-year-old son who had been playing with his phone before bedtime. Somehow, the young boy managed to unlock the phone, access WhatsApp, and unintentionally pressed a series of keys that resulted in the message being sent. Unable to contain my amusement, I burst into laughter. The realization dawned upon me that the entire group had been engrossed in a heated discussion over a meaningless word throughout the night, and I, too, had been caught up in it for a while.

Now, let's delve into some philosophical contemplation. Can we draw a connection between this incident and our lives? Is this phenomenon an accurate reflection of what happens in our lives? We often find ourselves engaging in countless unnecessary conversations where we criticize others, compare ourselves to them, or complain about our own lives or the lives of others. Unfortunately, these discussions only leave us feeling frustrated and squander our precious time. Experts have pointed out that we often get entangled in conversations or arguments without truly understanding the real situation. We interpret the situation based on our own perceptions, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts. Somewhere along the way, I came across a thought: we don't approach the world as it truly is, but rather as it appears to us. We view the world through the lenses shaped by our own perceptions, biases, and experiences.

Dinoj Damodar