Re-Ply for Reply!
Social media has completely changed the way people think of conversations. It gives the people power to make an obligation on you without your consent.
SCENARIO I
You stumble across your friend on the busy streets of Mars (yea by the time people accept this we will be colonising Mars) and impromptu they said the word — “HEY!”. But unintentionally (or intentionally depending on your relations) you were not ready for this little greet and meet of theirs and completely went past ignoring them. RUDE? OH OFCOURSE! YOU TWO ARE THE ENDS OF A ROPE NOW! IGNORED ON THE FACE!
SCENARIO II
You receive a simple, two lettered, one syllable word HEY and the receipient was not a stranger but someone aquainted. And you being the mind behind colonisation of Mars were busy in planning out the architecture, completely forgot about that simple text(not ignored on purpose). RUDE? UMMM………
This is where the conflict arises. Their simple text message created an obligation on you(without your consent) to reply them back then and there. No matter how busy you are but GODDAMN REPLY THEM BACK. Whenever I have ranted out about this SOCIAL MESSAGING thing people have defended it by asking me to simply say a NO. But then arises a different problem — This generation is not aware with another word with the same number of letters and syllables — NO. Either you are responding back or they are assuming you are egoistic.
Personal Experience
This is something I have observed very closely and experienced it on a personal level. Amidst the Pandemic when giving online Exams, I used to receive messages from many of my FRIENDS asking for the solutions whenever they got stuck (PS -> Advantages of online exams) and I used to ask for solutions whenever I got stuck. So it was a two way thing. But due to the time factor in Virtual exams, I could afford to send the solutions only to some 3–4 people, thinking it will eventually reach them some way or the other (after all its all about Forwards). But yeah this created an impression of EGOISTIC, SELF CENTERED, NARCISSISTIC and what not! Even I got ignored many a timed but never let my questions become an obligation on others. And this is a small thing that we generally forget.
NOTIFICATIONS is one feature that is creating a false sense of PERFECTION amongst people. This has actually changed the comeplete meaning of PERFECTION. Everyone is a perfectionist till the time you have a notification from where you can see the message, research, take all the time in the world thinking for a funny, up to the point REPLY. This gives a false sense of satisfaction and takes the person faaaaaaa{(sleeping 8)}r from reality.
People should often write beautiful and meanigful E-mails, letters, postcards and be inquisitive about the REPLY. This is where the essence of a conversation should lie and not where it lies today — BLUE TICKS.
Next time you text someone expecting for a reply, make sure you are not making an obligation! Let People have and enjoy their priorities !
