Living in a Cocoon or Being a Social Butterfly

When was the last time you played with your neighbor's kid? When was the last time you asked the old man in your building carrying a bunch of vegetables if he wants help? When was the last time you kissed the little baby in your apartment who turned a year old? When was the last time you talked with any of your neighbors? Do you even know their names and what they do?

People living in cities seldom find time to socialize. What with the advent of software jobs, PCs, Smartphones, PlayStations, Webchats and other media, we remain completely unaware of what is happening within a mile around us. We have great knowledge about an earthquake that ravaged a distant country, but woefully remain ignorant of the little accident that happened to our neighbor's little girl when she fell down right in front of our home. We discuss about terrorism in online forums and communities, but don't even have slightest clue on how valiantly the old man residing opposite to us fought in wars during his youth. 

No, we don't socialize. We sit in front of Laptop, log into Facebook and marvel at how easily the Internet has shrunk the world, but at the same time, we forget the fact that, instead of shrinking the world, the Internet has expanded the gaps between people. Our knowledge about the people around us is becoming less and lesser, as we continue chatting virtually. For example, we know the tiny details of a photo our friend uploads in a social network, but we don't know where exactly the street light in our street is located.

Though doctors and psychologists scream on and on that Internet is increasing the rate of Obesity among the youth, causing poor eyesight, encouraging introverts, promoting isolation, effecting brain cells, causing unwanted exposure to radiation, boosting terrorism, upending balance of mind, preaching negativity, exhorting facts, fostering narcissistic tendencies and etc etc., people still seem to have a great like towards getting themselves into the strangling tangles of internet.

Moral Values are to be taught to each child. It is one of the main responsibilities of a Parent. Maintaining eye contact, carrying out a light conversation, maintaining social formalities, getting involved in small-talks and cheezy gossips, giving respect to elders living around you, offering help to neighbors, knowing your surroundings, making yourself known and associated to the people around you, such things should be incorporated into the Lifestyle of children, so that, when they grow up, they will develop healthy relations and associations.

Man has always been a social-animal. It is not in our nature to remain alone and aloof. But socializing in virtual world in not accounted as socializing. Verbal and non-verbal communication, sense of touch, warmth in eyes and body language is all necessary to make apt interactions, which the Net doesn't yet provide.

So, stop living in a Cocoon of Virtual World and burst out of it to be a Social Butterfly and live in the Real world...