Networking

The other day a batch mate of mine, from my good ol MBA days, started this weird conversation with me on chat. He was very annoyed that the status updates I have on FB seemed to attract responses from people. His point being why are they so interested to respond to what your status update is? I was a bit taken aback and baffled as well. I mean hellooo...Social Networking sites are meant for people to "socialise"...or one would assume?? That is what one does on such sites...chat and interact. I did very politely tell him why doesn't he just take me off his friend list as it would be the best way for him not to see whats happening on my page. To which is very weirdly responded "some of us just log on to FB to see what people have to say on your page!!". So, a much baffled me asked him what the bloody hell the conversation was about. He then went on to tell me that some of the responses people had on my page were not really "appropriate" and a bit frivolous. So, now he also clearly had EXPECTATIONS of me!!

This got me thinking how warped our social system is. You want to know whats happening in some one (who you really don't care much for) life...you are curious about the interactions they are having. But, you have also put them on some pedestal of sorts where you feel that the interactions should be of a certain kind (mature, grown up etc).

Why do we want to be part of peoples life who we feel are not our types, yet its important to know whats going on in their life?!! Why does he want to be part of my Social networking site??!

Some things in our society are so deep rooted that they will remain so for ever. I am not a conformist, so here I am clearly NOT conforming to what is expected of an MBA. I am happy and carefree. This man is a good boy MBA but wants to live a happy carefree life. Now he gets to read my "frivolous" page and get to make fun of what people are saying. He meanwhile is ignored on the same site by the same batch mates. Hmmm?

I am as always confounded by such people. Needless to say I am so bidding goodbye to him on FB. I hope he gets to live vicariously through someone other poor soul who he can sit and judge with all my blessings!

Please don't get me wrong. I don't mind being judged at all, people do that all the time. But, I do mind when people expect me to be some one other than who I am...

"Its better to be hated for what you are then to be loved for something you are not" Andre Glide

Seed for thought??