Sunday, September 2, 2007

On Internet On The Internet

One might define the Internet as a " network of networks". Then you might have also heard this phrase which is currently popular "Getting strangled in this network". Yes it is the topic of hot debate these days. Any newspaper you lay hands on and any news channel you watch will have something to talk about the risks on the net. In the month of August, Adnan Patrawala, a 16 year old Mumbaiker was strangled to death. He still virtually lives because he has left an entire society to think about the moderation of the net. The culprit was identified to be a social networking site, Orkut. It is said that his acquaintances in orkut had kidnapped him and then tried to blackjack the boys family through redeem calls. When things seemed to go out of hand the friends have murdered the boy. This news has made this 'Google product' be in news for a long time now, but for the wrong reasons. There are many such social networking sites . Can we play a blame game on these sites for an unfortunate death?
Now get this word and use it right, " Social Networking". Social Networking sites are logged in by many to virtually meet people and to share interests and passions, to instantly message so that one can keep in constant touch with their business partners, school, college and family friends. An adjunct to television, such sites can be another means of amusement. To me such sites are a means of pastime. But this doesn't seem to be everyone's perspective. Many people feel there should be regularization in use of internet. I am not here to pen in defense of such sites. Whilst I strongly feel Internet doesn't need moderation, it's ones mindset that needs to be regulated. In a whim and for temporary pleasures we tend to lose our self control and fall for flattery forgetting that words like appearance can also turn deceptive. The problem is solved if all people logged into such sites are dependable and not troublesome. I have mused on this statement made by many " Advancements in technology has its negative impacts too". It would be nay to damn Internet technologies. It's just the human mind that is fickle and gets debauched, why blame the technology? We should learn to " Sift The Chaff From The Grain".
After many reported cases of pornography posting ones photos in such sites is also not advisable. " Ban Porn" this is a strong statement like " Inqulab Zindabad", it can kindle the revolutionary in you . Moral and ethical values taught, if remembered will go a long way in getting rid of this immoral behavior and incinerate the miscreant in one. One can't curb the freedom of speech and freedom of expression so the censoring of net will not be consented by many. Once the entire blogger fraternity rose with anger for subduing the blog sites. Chatting is the next issue which is highly hyped to be unsafe. Chatting with strangers, just to spend your leisure hours is fun, but remember " never get carried away". Marriages are fixed in heaven, on earth and now online too. Is this prudent? Well there is no one answer. Divorces and misunderstandings seem to be too common in arranged and love marriages itself, then a youngster might ask, why can't I find my better-half online? Ya, you can go in search of your Prince Charming or your Dream Gal on the net, but sometimes such chats might leave you disturbed because there are chances you end up knowing that it was just a one side love or you will break up if you find the person not dependable. Security and privacy are the main concerns, Internet is considered to be a sea of information, but rather than fishing what is happening is phishing. Phishing, sending false emails to acquire finance and other personal details, if you catch the bait then yes your bank balance will read zero. This can be resolved by being cautious and making use of the security tips given by the banks. The only solution that I can think of to all the risks posed by the net is to be strong at heart and " Never Ever Allow Anyone To Tip You Off Your Balance ". Your life is too valuable to be wasted on such seemingly threatening matters. Every step that you keep forward in life is to learn something new, and an easy way is the Internet with " Information Available Just Few Mouse Clicks Away". Try making the best use of it. See to that the dreamer in you doesn't get lost in the world of cyberspace, the reality is that we are all in the realms of earth together looking up to the same sky. Hence be bold and to all those who want to vex and play pranks with you, say " I Don't Care".
To the depraving and immoral people out there let me quote Dr. Carl Sagan's words. It was something that i read long back. The famous astronomer Dr. Sagan was moved by the image of our tiny world which was captured by the voyager. Here is an excerpt from his talk " We succeeded in taking a picture and if you look at it you can see a dot. That's earth. That's our home. That's the aggregate of all our joys and sufferings. The earth is a very small dot in a vast cosmic arena. Our posturing, our imagined self importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in this universe is challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. It's our responsibility to deal more compassionately with one another and to preserve and cherish that pale blue dot, the only home we have ever known". Great right? Really humbling. Life, I believe is a character building experience. Live it up by loving yourself and being compassionate to your fellow beings.
To end this post in a nice note, today in my daily I read about the world's oldest blogger, a 95 year old Spanish woman whose blog is a favorite of the Spain's Prime Minister itself. She writes about her likes and dislikes. War, poetry, childhood etc. She says "Internet has given her a new lease of life, but I don't see any old people's homes offering their residents Internet". What a woman!! Link to her site is http://www.amis95.blogspot.com/. This is the only life we ever have, lets live it up by enlightening ourselves and by being innocuous to our fellow beings. " A good life is one which is inspired by love and guided by knowledge"- Russell.