The Social Network

You know how you sometimes come across an inspiring quotation, or an awesome video or a funny bit while scrolling down the Facebook. Sometimes, there are inspiring stories of someone feeding the poor, someone daily crossing rivers to teach the unfortunate, stuff that is genuinely eye-opening or genuinely 'ROFL'. Well, I don't know why it happens, but when I share this kind of stuff, on my Facebook wall, for a split second, there is a feeling that I did something good, that I played a role in that arduous task of everyday crossing of river and teaching the poor. But really, I would be in the laziest posture mankind has every seen, scrolling Facebook with one finger. That fleeting feeling that I did something good, something active, something impressive, can be quite dangerous if it goes unchecked. Simply because we are so surrounded by it and so full of it. Bullshit I mean. If I shared ten of these posts everyday, and unconsciously gave myself plus-points for each one of that, I would exalt myself in a week's time, unconsciously or not. I will slowly form opinions about my sense of humor, wit and intellect, failing to notice that these don't even exist.

It fills our mind with such b.s., one can be an activist or a philanthropist in a day. Almost everyone showed how they supported same sex marriage when it was legalized in the US recently. But I wonder how many of them would have shown there conviction, if they had to do something for it, like take out an hour or two from there busy schedules, get on a bus and go somewhere, and deposit a form in a ballot. Or even go two blocks to post their support through mail. I wonder how many of them would have done it then. They only did it because it was a click away.

And then, everyone eulogizing, as if they care. I mean I agree it is a bit cynical on my part, but I really don't think people give a shit, unless it is convenient or a click away. The problem is not that they don't care, but that they don't realize that they don't. They think they are good, caring, politically active, selfless citizens.