For the moments that matter
In this age of digital / virtual social networking we presume to know numerous people, but the fact remains that only few are our true friends and deserve to be part of our lives. We are moving towards a social structure where in the name of networking and knowing people, we are leading an increasingly secluded life. Most of the activities on social platforms are done in solitude isn't it? With platforms like Facebook and whatsapp we fool ourselves thinking that we have a large number of 'friends', but in reality we are drifting away from the most relevant people for us or around us.
My latest travels in Metro trains or even in long distance trains or flights, I missed the excitement of meeting newer people. The fun of spending those few hours of our common journey sharing each other's uncommon lives and at times becoming good friends or at least relevant acquaintance. The current scene is of everyone sitting lonely with ear-plugs on and deep diving into the mobile screens. A few are seen to be laughing / enjoying too but then it remains with themselves and not shared (and cannot LOL). We have almost stopped being a part of a gathering with our friends and family face-to-face.
This nostalgia is very thoughtfully conveyed in a metaphorical advertisement, a representation of the contemporary Facebook & WhatsApp era population. Here, I am trying to relate it to my personal thoughts, from a very specific perspective though. The advertisement is 'for the moments that matter' Nescafe Gold (n.b. this is not a sponsored post). I'm sure most of us would immediately recognise the concept presented in the ad.
The ad has feelings that most of us 'old timers' feel, but have now adjusted ourselves. A feeling that focuses the importance of spending (quality) time with those we care about, I call them 'relevant' to us. The voiceover informs, "We meet may be 80,000 people in our lives", leading us to the host (so to say) who addresses an amphitheatre full of people he has met in his life (ex-girlfriends, university, family, nights out, co-workers, etc.), picks up a card and announces, "If you can't remember my name, please sit down." Many of them take their seats. He picks up another card and this time narrows down to people who probably knew his nick name in school was 'Princess', and again there are many who sit down.
Until now we sure understand the plight of us being lonely in this over-populated world. So, his next card demands something more emotional and personal. He says, "Sit down if you have never seen me cry!" Most of us know, everyone sits down except a few we can count on the fingers. The last question that he asks "if we have somehow lost touch," the standing ones too take their seats. My story ends here!
Now consider the same scenario with the amphitheatre being your Facebook account which has thousands of 'friends', whom you have added and who have added you, over a period of your 'fb lifetime'. In the fb terminology we call them friends. Now, consider asking the same (similar) set of questions to these so-called fb and WA friends / contacts. You would realise that almost 95%+ (in many cases) of people in your friends list are irrelevant to you and also almost 95%+ people who have you in their friend list are also irrelevant to you.
Irrelevant in the sense, are they really bothered about what happens in your life or if you are concerned with what is happening in their lives - NO! None comes to help you nor do you reach out to help these virtual friends, do you? Still we keep on sharing our personal and family information, which gets be misused. Consider this, when you must have shared a special occasion, how many did really get excited for you and may be called up! Rare.
This is my pitch to all the sharks around for my venture about a water tight network of relevant real people where networking will be amongst the people we are supposed to and more so it is a platform to expose each others wants and offerings and indirectly help the ones who need.