Beyond Facebooking....

One of the few things that I was forced to do was facebooking. And of course, the credit goes to my debaters. In the beginning it was difficult and later on it became as handy as any other mode of communication, with some differences in features. 


In the beginning I too was a bit excited about this new phenomena which dominates the world in the way it connects people. And, Facebook was not an exception in evolving, and in the course of evolution, loosing its very essence, unfortunately, by giving too much room for face bookers to express themselves, sometimes too explicitly. 


I observed, rather, I am still observing quite a lot, as much as I can do a behavioural study about facebookers. With an exception of few, most of the facebookers miss one important thing: NETIQUETTE.


Right from the status (whats on your mind) until photos, boxes, almost everything is more of public announcement which eventually goes for public scrutiny. I cannot forget AQ's update almost every 2 seconds. Of course, he was sarcastic trying to prove a point. Sometime in the past, there was an update on everything someone (she) was doing and I was expecting her to say that she was going to the ladies and taking shower, etc,. Why on earth one would like the whole world know what she or he is doing, where he or she is going and so on?  The funniest part is friends of them give thumbs up and what not comments! 


We, the debaters, always being ourselves, even put few funny updates, and not to be surprised, we received comments we expected. 


Let us explore few things: 

• Addiction - Don't be surprised if face book makes you addicted. Somebody said, wake up face book - eat face book - wash face book -  class face book - play face book - sleep face book - and again, wake up with face book. In other words, there is no life in its real sense. All you do is on face book. To quote Zay, "it is sad". Why don't you get out and meet real people and make friends? I hope the society is not deprived, yet.
• Status - some are motivational - make you think,  some really make you smile, whereas some make you laugh, hysterically though, and some are religious preaching (no offence please!) and some are revengeful. While others are desperate to be heard.   No status -  I am sure they don't care about others and  they just watch the world and entertain themselves. Cool. 
• Photos - virtual album. Good. But wait.  A friend of mine told me that a friend of his friend posted a photo when she was taking bath. Later I happened to see the photo. My head was spinning for a while. God, Save this world. 
• Martial status: I came across three interesting cases; single, married and complicated. How could a person who is with few girls or boys be single? Of course yes - on face book. Also, a single announces that he/she is relationship? Another interesting case is: single man is married. Complicated relationship - you are either in a relationship or not. Aren't you the one making it complicated? 
• Language : A very serious issue on a public platform such as face book. All the available unparliamentary four letters. No public decorum or decency. Perhaps, they should consider consulting a therapist or psychiatrist.
• Not to forget that there are some personalities with identity crises. Confusion confounded?  

As someone was saying, let us hope technology is not breeding a violent, abnormal and deprived generation. Mark Zukerberg would not have imagined that Facebook will serve as a window to ventilate mixed emotions.

It's not what you think who you are, but it is what you are. Image, image and image.  Being too expressive may lead to lose your face on facebook.

And, if you say you don't care, go look at yourself in the mirror. You know you are pretending.

Bored, I am.

Today is probably one of the very few days I was bored. Literally I didn't do anything, or I couldn't do anything. I started my day with a bit of unusual irritation, made few phone calls and fixed few things.

Had something in the name of lunch around 3.30pm and tried to watch TV but closed my eyes trying to sleep. After few minutes of rolling, I just got out of bed planning to watch a movie. How long one can sit in front of TV and internet? and how long one can read? By the by, since I had difficulty in reading lately, I got specs which is giving me uncomfortable feeling. I heard it will take sometime to 'get used' with it. So reading for sometime is ruled out.

I haven't got any planner and a calender for this year (I wasn't used to this planner and calender thingy when I was in India and as the Head somehow they become unavoidable) so I decided to go to Spring and had a plan of watching a movie if possible.  I started to walk to take a bus. I took a different direction  from the one I usually take and I was waiting for a bus. I couldn't even find a taxi. I was no longer in the mood for Spring. I changed direction. Got some veggies at choice, walked back home.

Grace was surprised and started laughing at me when I was opening the gate. She wasn't done with her washing session. She asked if we could dine out. Later we cancelled. I ended up with soup. Oh..how sad...

We are yet to get the Debating spirit. And again, only God knows when my 'dear' debaters will be ready.(it seems they forgot the next month competition). No debate practice. No Toastmasters meetings. No temple.  The long break has given me a selective amnesia almost about everything that I used to do.

In between, I switched off the TV and laptop many times. Walked up and down many times.  Tried to read a book and managed two chapters. And now with this notes. I might take a walk again.

By the by, how on earth there are people who sit and do nothing making their life very meaningful?

Life still goes on...but how?

Last week, when I was waiting at LCCT  to fly back to Kuching, I met one of my students. She was also waiting for the same flight. I taught her 3 years back. I was surprised that she could still remember me and she gave me a smile as a reply.

We were catching up with old updates - her friends, family, study, future plan and also about her boyfriend. From her conversation I understood that she left her boy friend. (I don't know who left who and I don't want to know also).Shrugging her shoulders she said, "its OK miss...I am fine. Life still goes on". I was bit surprised, with few things.

Life goes on.

I am getting used with this statement very often nowadays. How possible it is to take every loss lightly?

When you miss someone or when you loose someone, (I don't mean just boy friend girl friend relationship alone) life will go on the same way it was when that someone does not mean anything to you. And, I don't think this is a sign of being confident or being courageous to face life.

Are we planting the seeds of non commitment towards one another? or are we trying to escape from conscience in the name of practicality?

Life may go on better if you are lucky..only if...

Whatever, Life still will go on, but may not be the way you wanted or it was meant to be....

Mhumm..life still goes on....I wonder-how?!

ICTL 2009

Conferences, Seminars provide an engaging platform for exchanging ideas in any field. Presenting papers, publishing articles are so much important in my field since they add credibility.

I presented a paper three years ago and I couldn't do anymore for few reasons.  Besides, I am more of a free writer.  Last year ICTL 2009 was organised by our group, I didn't want to miss this opportunity and so I presented a paper.

My paper was about my own experience that I wondered in few of my classes. (will be a detailed blog on that separately).

The conference took place for three days. And all the three days, I felt I was in a different world - a world full of knowledge seekers, scholars, and experts. At the end of the conference I took a resolution that I must attend once a year to keep me with the spirit.

Bits:

• The food was good (variety) and the break was too close to each session. 
• Some of the sessions were useful.
• I liked the workshop on critical thinking. (I am teaching the paper). The facilitator was very cheerful and didn't give up until the end.
• I liked the keynote speeches. (sad, I missed one :( )
• I met few fellow Presenters from India.
• One of the presenters argued that it was   difficult to teach literature in rural schools. My dear, its not the case. It's so simple to teach literature in rural schools or in any schools for that matter.
• Another presenter asked irrelevant question if we had lunch, etc. I still didn't the gist of his presentation.
• The organizers were helpful and the arrangement was almost perfect. 

With this, I am waiting to attend / present my next paper this year....

now leave you with few photos...