Juggernaut Returns. Review on Netiquettes

Having(almost) completed my HSC examinations satisfactorily, I thought of returning to my beloved website to write a couple of articles before I focus myself once more on the approaching April 10 JEE-Screening examinations. I might consider a full-fledged return at a later date, not today. But now that I’m here—a wonderful, cheerful, chirpy, “HELLO!”

Real Vs. Virtual

The virtual world—that is, the world of websites like MouthShut.com and Ep*nions.com and the world of chat rooms and instant messengers—is a very complicated entity. It offers two fundamentally different things. The first: internet services provide the most astoundingly easiest methods of sharing, procuring and storing information without being afraid(or so I could say) of it getting lost. That is probably what “internet” was created for. It is the second thing Internet has to offer, which is of our interest today.

The virtual world gives every individual a free and fair chance to pretend to be something that they aren’t—a chance to create a world of fantasy and to live in it. I suppose masterful books like Alice in Wonderland do that as well. What makes the escapism of the virtual world more effective is something very interesting. While a person may lose himself in his world of fantasy when he or she is online, the basic environment still remains the same reality. That is to say: I could very well pretend to be Joaquin Sheen, a Jew probably, whose father survived the Holocaust, and who is currently working tirelessly for a secret Jewish society that is trying to hunt every existing entity connected with the Nazis. If I really were such a “Mr. Sheen”, I reckon, it would have been the most exciting life ever—and pretending to be leading it in front of real people like you would be just about as close I could get to the real thing.

Naturally, we must now ask a question. Is succumbing to such escapism proper? Is it moral and correct for me to pretend to be someone I am not while I’m online or is it immoral and possibly criminal? I am afraid I don’t see a straight answer to this question—most of this review is an attempt to bringing some order to the madness. Lets search for an answer now!

After careful thinking, I found myself at a loss to handle “aye” and “naye” at the same time. So let us try another tact. Let’s suppose for now that it is indeed correct and moral for me to pretend to be someone who I’m not—after all, the virtual world is all about that chance! Let us, instead, argue ourselves about where I could be wrong in pretending a different identity—and in many cases, concealing it.

Where’s it Wrong?

It is under this sub-heading that we can begin to see ourselves handling the issue of “netiquettes” while trying to look for our answers. I am personally of an opinion that it’s wrong to pretend a different identity or trying to conceal it(pretended or real):

· When you’re trying to deliver a point: I don’t see any reason for you to take me seriously if I start pretending to be an ex-MI6 officer in the service of Her Majesty Charlie ki Mummy. Though one doesn’t quite need to make a point here all the time—I still reckon such places are for people who do have “something to say” and not “someone to be”.

· When you’re trying to make friends: It would certainly come as a severe shock to me if, say, Raj(nikamma1112) was to confess that he’s indeed a certain Abhijeet Ahluwalia, 52 years in age, divorced to five women and frustrated to such an extent as to have started to seek a woman in men… Although people will disagree here—I know it won’t make a difference to me if it’s Lalwani or Ahluwalia—I still think it’s important for me(and others) to know who’s who.

· When you are, for whatever reasons, in personal contact with someone: I display my e-mail address on my profile once in a while and am not in the slightest hesitant to reveal it to someone. I will do so, of course, to only such a person who will allow me to know something about him or her. Someone who categorically avoids every attempt of mine with trying to identify this online chap with a real fellow is someone I will just not trust—and if you’re doing such a thing, you’re wrong.

Why Would I say That?

As far as “making a point” is concerned, I suppose it is in the interest of the person and not of the public that he/she stops pretending. I don’t think I should—or even if I should, I won’t—elaborate on that. When we come down to making friends and having personal contact(like through e-mail or chat), however, I think we’re touching ethical borders here.

It is, primarily, extremely rude to, on one hand, conceal your complete identity—by refusing to say your name, or your language, nationality or anything—from someone and, on the other, very frequently exchange e-mails or drop offline messages in messenger inboxes(that invariably turn up on your mobile phone). I don’t think this whole idea about “I’m not telling you anything about me, but, hey, how do you do?” is anything good at all. It is, if you ask me, exceptional impertinence. Had I been smart enough about this one person I met(from whose example most of this review took inspiration), I would have asked him to lick hell just about instantaneously after learning that he’s that sort. But that doesn’t matter.

My advice: if you think this “Guess: who am I? I’m not saying anything!” is great fun; you’re being very tolerant towards someone who is being exceptionally rude to you. Just chuck the crap out!

In the End

I suppose it won’t hurt to confess—I know this review went a tad haywire. Call it post-HSC blues or whatever… My point is pretty simple: the netiquettes is just this conscientious thinking—when is it right for me to be a pretended character and when is it not? I could say a lot more things, you know! But I’ll leave it to you now…

Comments anyone?