Secluded in the cities

Over a casual chat, a friend discussed an observation to me, which was rather very interesting, and worth pondering further, beyond the discussion.

According to him,in the daily urban chaos, the aspect of socializing (in the real terms), which is the essence of all humanity is being lost, and that we are getting narrowed down to really small, shrinking diaspora, which consists of very few people.

And after thinking some more on these lines, I tend to agree with his observation. It ain't even individualism that is being practiced. These conditions which are getting so ubiquitous around us, I might want to term them as a kind of forced urban seclusion, and that has come to be the widely agreed standard. Each is left with little, or no time to bother about anything apart from very personal matters.

Socializing (only) on online networks has deteriorated the already bad situation. While it can never be a replacement to interpersonal rapport, these networks have played the subtle but hostile roles of alienating the social beings within us.

Coming back to the point of forced urban seclusion, it is a convergence of the hectic and reckless lives that the city drives one to lead, with no care whatsoever to the conditions around. It is a pathetic state to be in, for, it breeds cynicism about the (world minus us), and an expanding void within.

There is little that the 'bhag bhag' lifestyle has ultimately showered us with on the bright side. While there's a lot more it has forced upon us to crib about.

All said and done, if one wants to break free, there's all the control given, but then aren't most of us either way, comfortably, or uncomfortably numb about it ?

Unsocial social beings!

We the Homo sapiens call ourselves social beings. Don't we? Or at least that is what has been told to us right from the beginning of our social journey.

But, as I get to meet more people, I seem to get alienated from this idea of us being "social"; Actually, we are quite the opposite, I'd say. Few of my personal observations could substantiate this accusation of mine, if you are unconvinced.

Firstly, the infamous lack of eye-contact.
Now, we needn't deny this fact. I have traveled a lot (for my age) within India, meeting hundreds of people (mainly students) and there has been seldom good eye-contact with a voluntary greeting, or an acknowledgement to my greeting. Most of the times, it is only after I have given my talk, or been on stage is when people seem to interact, and that is because they know me. As a stranger, they want me to be a stranger. This is very disappointing!

Secondly, the lack of will, or motive, or incentive , or I don't know what else could be the primary cause for the reluctance; The reluctance which prevents people from coming together and gathering for a social event. In case, there is a celebrity in the proximity, or some notoriety happening, people throng, but for their own cause, or for some genuine social cause, it has been very few who have had the humane aspect in them. This again, is a conclusion from the various social events I have organized and have been part of. Further disappointment!

Adding to this is the apathy we have towards fellow beings. With this, and more such anti-social animosity filled within us, I totally deny the concept of us being Social beings!

A paradigm shift about mutual perception is what the society requires, not just a superficially modified etiquette.