Staying Connected

Saba Khan

Human beings have always tried to connect since time immemorial. In my opinion, there are two ways in which humans try to connect, one is by sending messages and the other is by physically going somewhere. The primitive ways of sending messages really fascinate me e.g. signaling via smoke or various colors of flags etc. Now we have the mobile phones and the internet connections to send all sorts of messages. It is a unique way of holding the whole world in the palm of your hand and manage it with just the tip of your finger. If one just thinks for a second, it is so fascinating. No one could ever have imagined a few decades ago that all of this is possible.

So, when the technology has shrunk all the distances, we ourselves have perhaps unknowingly or deliberately build walls sky high around our hearts. It is my observation that people don’t accept each others’ opinions or regard them. The mannerism or the ethics of interacting with each other have lagged far behind the technology which has grown tremendously. Perhaps we have not been allowed much time to develop ethically along with the technology. We have become harsh while commenting on other people’s statements, because we know it is effortless, spontaneous and anonymous as well (i.e. nobody will be knocking at your door for a brawl!).

With all this virtual chaos that is going around us, we have become the citizens of two worlds, the virtual world and the real world. Although for travelling in the real world, one has to go through the effort of getting a passport, applying for visa and pay a hefty fee; in virtual world you can go anywhere with just a click. Perhaps when we get something very easily, we don’t regard it as we should have when it comes to following the norms. There is a strong need to develop a nurturing virtual culture and also virtual policing which should educate people, as well as try to keep an eye on the culprits.

It is a wise saying, which means that the wound of a sword heal, but the wounds inflicted by words never do. We should be very careful, when it comes to selecting words which we use to communicate our anger, our happiness, our opinions, our statements, because that is the whole purpose of being connected with your fellow beings. If words are deteriorating peace and not serving the purpose of flourishing the society, then the power of communicating bestowed upon us via words is useless. This blessing should be used carefully, lest it ends in disaster!

Image courtesy 'Pixaby'