As virtual conversations are increasingly replacing real-life encounters, many fear that it spells the end of conversation and all aspects of acceptable social conduct.
Picture this: Two families are out to dinner. The elders are merrily chatting away and so are the kids. The only difference is while the parents are wagging their tongues, the kids prefer to wag their thumbs, clicking away in conversation on their phones.
As virtual conversations are increasingly replacing real-life encounters, many fear that it spells the end of conversation and all aspects of acceptable social conduct.
Most of the experts DNA spoke to nod in agreement. “Today, many people don’t see anything wrong with sharing their life and emotions online. Talking on the other hand, is perceived as more cumbersome,” says psychiatrist Dr Yusuf Matcheswala, adding that such an outlook makes one vulnerable to depression, stress and obsessive compulsive disorders.
Dr Varkha Chulani, clinical psychologist and psychiatrist, feels that this situation presents itself with a “strange paradox”. On one hand, these gadgets facilitate more social interaction.
But at the same time, intense relationships are being side-lined because of such accessible encounters. She explains, “People have not become asocial; in fact, they have become more social. However, they have also grown insensitive to a traditional social set-up. Social manners are lost.”
Matcheswala narrates the example of one of his clients who was involved with a guy she met online. Her virtual connection grew so strong, she was ready to marry him without having met him in person once.
Matcheswala believes that people are drawn to such virtual relationships because the pain is minimal. “There is almost no pain in the unrealistic world, whereas face-to-face relationships bring forth a lot of emotions and vulnerability. For instance, it is easier to switch off your phone and stop replying amidst a virtual fight than to walk out on a real one,” he explains.
Relationship counselor, Dr Rajan Bhonsle, however, does not see this as a cause for alarm. “There is an up side and down side to everything. But in this scenario, the advantages of communication technology trumps the disadvantages,” he claims.
According to him, such facilities make staying “connected” an easier affair as people are more contactable. When asked whether this is leads to devaluation of real conversation, he replies, “Even if you have a huge friend circle, close friends, the one that you speak to everyday, are few and these people you will talk to and meet no matter what. Further, it is not possible for people to isolate themselves through BBMing. Everybody needs human contact and will seek it irrespective of advancement in communication technology.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}