Facebook vs Blogging

        Recently I read one of my friend’s blog which mentioned how a blog can be used to know a person more. As blogging is something that is done to express your thoughts about topics you may or may not discuss with others. That was quite a nice way to look at it. And that provoked my mind to compare these two. The all time favourite Facebook versus blogging.
    
        I agree that these 2 sites or features may be different but there are plenty of similarities too. Both are used to communicate on a social level and both can be used to express your ideas and you moments of life across to the general society. And still the level of these 2 are so different. I can vaguely compare it to our telecom revolution. Blogging is like Vodafone few years back when they charged incoming calls too whereas facebook was like Reliance, Everybody had one irrespective of one's needs and status. Similarly everyone these days have a facebook profile, even people I know who cannot pronounce the word computer correctly and may not know anything about it except switching it on and using Facebook.
 
     The biggest difference I saw between them was truth. A Facebook profile is mostly used to display to the world about all the good things of your life and it’s all about how 'cool' your life is. It is a bunch of lies with public display of affection to showcase to the world. Heights were reached when I see a few people having a romantic conversation with their loved ones on Facebook and wishing their parents happy anniversary on Facebook. In the need to be showcased as something you are not, people have broken the social laws that at one time dominated in our culture. And it looks like the need of the hour. It has gone to the extent that prominent psychologists believe that many of us are suffering from what they call 'facebook envy syndrome'
  
    Blogging on the other hand is a display of your thoughts and emotions that are true to yourself. It is about spreading the ideas you want to share. There is no need to have your best pic on display or list out all your tiny achievements of life. It requires some serious thought process to blog. I would so agree that to really know a person check out the blogs of that person rather than a social networking profile.

    I am not a person who hates social networking sites. As a human I also feel the need to showcase the world that what a 'cool' guy I am (I can also fake it if you think I am not like others fake it..lol) . It definitely also has a few advantages like it reminds you of birthdays. Cause it hurts me that every year I forget to wish my oldest chuddy buddy Parashar on his birthday. I am very bad with dates and he knows that and still he believes in all the excuses I give him to be late.( sorry dost..love you).

   One of the other similarity is like facebook blogging can also help you keep in touch with your friends. The only thing is most people do not realize that like being a friend on facebook has no major implications similarly being a follower on blogs is also just to keep in touch and know when they post their thoughts. People however take the word 'follow' too seriously. they would avoid that though you would never avoid adding someone as a friend. Anyway, thats people, I am drifting from the topic :-)

  With both being compared in my mind I have no doubts to agree that I would always give more importance to someone's blogs to know the real person. And knowing the real person in the world where we fake so much would definitely be more worthy.

Cheers!!

Anna Hazare:Can we really trust you??

  These days alot of media hype is created for everything around. So no one is unaware of why Anna Hazare is on the news these days.From twitter to buzz and from facebook to orkut, you are everywhere. I am sure you would have done better things in the past but the kind of popularity you got now due to these social networking sites would have surpassed your expectations. We have read about you everywhere these days and about how the youth is making sure you succeed.But call me what you want, I have my doubts on your credibility.

  Let us talk about your team first. I recently read that a famous lawyer has filed a court case against you stating that the stand you have taken for the JanLokpall bill is constitutionally illegal. The same guy has asked certain questions about your team.Shanti and Prashant Bhushan had defended Dawood in the Mumbai Bomb Blast case as an advocate. There are speculations that the fees paid to them came from the 'hawala'. There is still no answer about it. Also they had a case in which they have bought property worth crores in just one lakh ruppees where they stayed on rent. The agreement was made in 1966 and these expire after 3 years. But they sued the property owner and then came to a compromise to buy the property for one lakh only. With such kind of people in your team, I sincerely doubt your credibility to represent the public.

  I was highly amused when I heard you are being compared to Gandhi. I am not a big Gandhi fan and I love the violent revolutionaries more but I am no fool to deny that Gandhi had a big role to play in our Independence. He achieved a lot through his fasting but modesty was his second name. He never came across in videos telling public that the last time he fasted there were so many changes that happened. What you did was signs of being proudy and so any comparison made with Gandhi is literally insulting the father of the nation. He had his moral held too high and head held low. There are doubts on your moral and your proudy comments on videos make you look like a slimy achiever.

  I would not doubt that you have done alot of social activities but asking the 5 members to join the lokpal committee is not constitutional. Has the public elected them to be represented. Or are you and your people the unelected self proclaimed public representatives. I would wonder why have you not contested any election yet. It would have surely made you worthy to get a bill in the house. If you really cared, that was a way you could have taken. Also the Lokpal bill was originally Indira Gandhi's Idea and I do not see due credit given to the creditor. All I hear is Anna fasting and how you can change the country.

 The youth supports you but playing with the minds of the youth is not that difficult. These same youth came on road for Arushi murder case and for everything later that was hyped by the media. And mind you it is the same media that was recently exposed in the Nira Radia scam. The youth is not focused and you know that. Nor can we trust the media who has inspired the youth to come down and support you.Are you taking advantage of this to be shot in fame?

  Your intentions may be good or may not. I am no one to judge that. Nor am I so popular to influence even 5% of the majority that has held you high in the heaven. But the fact is that with all these factors, It is difficult for me to trust you and your ways and I would try all I can to ensure that the people I talk to realize this too.
Hoping that though there are doubts in your credibility, You stand for a good cause.

Cheers!

PS: Do check my latest blog: Anna and MMS! the 2 sorry figures of India

So What's New????

        I have pondered time and again on this question. What would be the correct answer for it? The search to find a right answer to this question is becoming like the Bermuda triangle. The more you ponder and read, the more you get confused. And this seems to be becoming the next favorite question after 'how are you'. After years of schooling they taught me to answer this with Fine, Thank You and now the world has come up with another question, "What's new?"
    
      The question in itself is so tricky.So how do I answer it? Do I have to tell the person that Since I am not aware or I cannot recollect when and what we spoke last, I do not know what things in my life will be new for you. But than this answer is so rude and defies the basic social ethics. Nobody answers that I am having a troubled life to the how are you, no wonder how much trouble they are in, even to the extent of contemplating suicide. So let's pass this out. Since we cannot counter question, let us come up with a tactical answer.

     I had actually started doing a lot of new things in Life. I have bought a guitar and have joined classes here to learn how to play it. I have started playing Lawn Tennis which I thought I would never do. I have learnt how to play Basketball. But then should I be answering the question with these details. How about the person thinking this when you answer, "O Man, I just asked, why has he started bragging or telling me about the sports he play".Or should I tell them that I have actually started studying different religions of the world and their beliefs and read books that show Hitler's positive side. If i tell that, they would be like, "Boss, what are you up to? Everything OK? "

    Now there is something new happening always in your life. These days I learned how to tackle the most irritating and egoistic people around me with a calm composure and without being logically incorrect. I also learned that how some people have the spirit to try new things without thinking about the nonsensical social stigmas of age.I love them for the spirit and it teaches me alot. But if i start talking all this when I reply to the question, the next I know is they might start feeling either I am getting too philosophical in life or I am a super bore.So, No this won't be the right answer.

    I feel I have mastered the art of cooking. As I can cook all the things in the world in the same style and with the same taste. :-) So even If i try cooking something new, Practically its not new as it tastes the same be it Cauliflower or Chicken. So though there are so many new things happening, I cannot answer the toughest question posed to me ever. The best I come up with is, "Nothing new, All is same"!!!

   Anyway, just forget about my ranting, you tell me, "What's new?" :-)

Cheers!!!