Is the question-mark the new black?

Pochemuchka: (Russian) A person who asks too many questions.

Some people have a need to know everything. Me, not so much. My prying begins and ends with a "What's up?". And quite honestly, I'm satisfied with a monosyllabic reply. I have no interest in what you ate for dinner, whether you've just checked in at Terminal (pick a number) at the airport or -- and this one makes my skin crawl -- are feeling "blessed".

So, how does someone like me, and we are an endangered species, survive this morass of 'may we know'? Quite simply, we surrender or face the consequences.

It's undeniable that this is the decade of the Pochemuchka! The name comes from the title of a Russian children's storybook for children, about a boy who wouldn't stop asking questions.

Humanity has morphed into one giant beehive of nosey parkers, aided and abetted by technology. As if it wasn't bad enough having to field questions by the perennially curious, now we have a myriad social media platforms all wanting to know our deepest darkest. What's on your mind? Where are you right now? Who are you with?

It wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that at all given times, someone is waiting for you to answer a question they haven't asked, but you feel compelled to answer. What happened to 'good fences make good neighbours'? Now that's a question no one's asking!!

Try flowing against the tide and you're an outcast. Not updating your Facebook status, Instagramming your last meal, or checking in on FourSquare every time you hop in and out of your car can earn you rather unflattering epithets like 'loner' or 'shady'.

Hold up... SHADY? The word conjures up images of goons with handlebar moustaches, who make clandestine drops of contraband on the beach in the dead of night! Unbelievably, today, it is an acceptable adjective for someone who divulges info on a need-to-know basis. Almost as unbelievable as the case of 80s Bollywood stereotyping that I haven't been able to shake off.

Is the question mark the new black? Apparently, yes. Privacy is passé and you better get used to it.

So fire up your laptops, sign up for a _____ (fill in social network of choice) account, create password questions that will be asked in case you forget password:
* What was the colour of your first car? White
* What did you first learn to cook? Toast
* The name of your first pet? How is this relevant?
* The name of your first teacher? Sure this is only for password retrieval and not the Interpol database?
* The name of your first boyfriend? What will they ask for next, a DNA sample?

ACCOUNT ACTIVATED!
Welcome to ___(fill in social media of choice)

*What's on your mind? 'No Comment'