Facebook, Twitter, et all

Earlier today, my good old friend asked me - whats the deal with twitter. I, a regular (not ardent) user, explained to my friend what twitter meant to me. You have 140 characters to tweet whats on your mind, and there are followers out there who are interested in following your tweets. Twitter seems like a good business idea e.g. if Toys R Us (my friend has a toddler) tweets a special discount at a neighborhood store, and you pick the tweet, you could get a deal sweet. Twitter is also good for celebs, where fans can get an inside peek into their day to day lives, whatever they are willing to share. So for a teen that is totally infatuated to the next American Idol winner, it is possible to keep up on the gossip because of all the tweets coming straight out of the horses mouth.

The talk quickly turned to Facebook, and my explanation was easier. Facebook is to me what Orkut is to my friend. A site that keeps me up-to-date on my friends (via status updates, posts, pics, etc). Inevitably the idea of losing real touch and inability to make new close friends took over the discussion. We seem unable to develop deep connections with anyone. We yearn for face value; everyone is busy in their lives. We want to meet friends more often, but alas we have to contend ourselves with the more passive ways of keeping in touch. All these thoughts have occurred to me before. After fighting them for a while I gave into the idea of - just go with the flow. That's when I joined twitter and became really active on facebook. I thought I had two choices - either sit and grumble about how we have lost those good old days OR do the best I can with whatever the new trends are...while not losing all the (g)old ways. I figured it's a phase of life that many before me have been through and many after me will, too.

I remember how my parents struggled to understand how I could talk to a friend on the phone for hours tonight and another few tomorrow morning. What could I possibly have to talk about so much so soon?! They never understood. Just like I don't understand why some kids today SMS and tweet and FB instead of simply emailing, chatting or best of all telephoning. But the one thing I understood was, my parents never had a phone to chat with friends for hours, I did. Then came emails, and I could write to more friends more regularly. It was so much easier than having to call each one - to give the same invitation over phone for example. Then came Instant Messengers, and that was a boon, cause now I could keep in touch with friends all the time, real time. I chatted for hours at a stretch, sometimes even going overnight.

Today I know a little more about a lot of people that I would not have, had it not been for facebook/orkut. I may not be in touch with all my friends regularly, but atleast I am not out of touch.

My latest addiction is updating my facebook status and seeing how many folks like it and how many have responded to it. I don't follow others as much as others seem to follow me. I figured that there are 2 kinds of people in the world - those that like to talk and those that like to listen. And no matter what the medium, those 2 kinds continue to co-exist for and because of each other. Needless to say I am the tweeter. Extending that idea further, I think that's why I am a standup comedian. I go up on a stage, in front of strangers, and like to talk to them. The audience, likes to listen to me, a complete stranger. We both co-exist for and because of each other.

The mediums may change but the purpose is the same. Staying in touch, and voicing your opinions, and the likes. Now the dilemma, should I post this on Facebook or publish it in my blog?!

Oh, and for all the talk about quality time with friends, my good old friend and I had this deep, long, philosophical discussion on GTalk!!