When I
googled to find out if there was a word “de-networking”,I found nothing close to the meaning I wanted to imply .
The word I coined is
analogous to the word “de-friending”
only that instead of removing a friend from an online social network you remove
yourself from the social network.
While I was
very active on the social networking forum sharing articles and pieces I found
interesting, a considerable number of my friends were deactivating their accounts.They
were on a sabbatical as they referred to it.They had had enough of timeline
cacophony or probably realised the drudgery of peeping into people’s lives and
wanted to go far from the madding crowd and wanted some amount of soul
searching.
Well,I had
tried some regulation myself.On advice of a friend I downloaded the app “stay
focused” that would block facebook (on my chrome browser)after a default time.
However on
weekends I would bypass it and sheepishly check into facebook through IE,but at the end up signing out equally fast as IE stood for Inept Experience .I dont carry a smart phone so apps got less on to me.
One fine day I decided that I had had enough
of it.Why should I get photographed just for the sake of profile pictures? Why
should I vent my spleen and unleash emotions over my wall on facebook? Why show
my brooding highbrow side to people on facebook?Why “share” things with people?Why
look into what my ex crushes are upto? Why come to know who is marrying whom
and where they are headed off for honeymoon? Why come to know who has bought which
car?Why come to know which movie is worth watching? Why rely on facebook
birthday updates and why on earth wish them in the most cheapest way by writing
“Happy Birthday” on their walls?Why accept friend requests from people I barely
know?
Thank God! I
de-networked.It has given me time for a lot of great things I had
always loved to do but never found time for.
I work at
office.I work out after office.Do my yoga.I meet friends in person.I read a
book.I cook at times.I paint.I learn music.I am clearly more focussed. I
realise life is more than flashy clothes and vacations in Europe.In short I am
contented and extremely happy.
Damn! But how
do I get to let you guys know how happy I am.I cannot share this article on
facebook.Well I have not taken a resolution to quit facebook.I am just on a
break and will be back when I have had enough of social solitude.
