Orkutting

Just had an argument with my folks this morning about a photograph of my significant other and myself that I’d put up on orkut. Will not delve into the details... but it was amazing to find out how many people are on it... and how news (read: gossip) travels faster than the speed of light!

Surely you've been invited by someone to Orkut, and if you haven't yet, believe me, it's going to happen soon!

After being launched quietly in late January 2004, orkut managed to rack up over 2 million members in about 8 months. I don’t have info on latest statistics... but from what I see and conclude.. the membership has gone into orbit!!

With member profiles that range from the über-cool to the socially awkward; the eloquent to the grammatically impaired; the overtly religious to ones who can’t talk about anything but their genitalia!

The ‘do-gooder’ profiles...

“All I can say is that I am the kind of person. I do everything that my heart permit to my brain to make ur life shining.”

The ‘motivational’ ones...

“Rain drops falling from the sky have nothing in mind. No matter how tough the drop is, it still reaches its destiny! So be positive always.”

The ‘concise’...

“Male. Homosapien.”

And the plain confused...

“i don't want 2 go in future 4 the superb life and trying 4 the same i believe in god. be my friend and get a safe cupboard 4 u feelings without any locking key cause it's a matter of trust rt i love myself and u all. i m simple..but difficuilt 4 u to know me”

And among these millions of profiles, some of which are fake, cloned, dormant or orphaned, lurks an online dating site.

For those unsuccessful in their pursuit of love in the real world – an attempt to find solace in the virtual world.

“My ideal match: Decent looking (I mean presentable) woman. It would be nice if she is a little funny. She needn’t be extremely polite and respectful. Just that she should love ONLY ME.”

For some others - an exercise of vanity.

“Hi dis is DJ n kal shyam ko kya kar rahi hai mein yeah sab nahi puchunga becuz I’m sure by now you are drooling over me ....................so whaaaaaaazzzzzaaaap........”

And then there are the success stories and the almost-there-but-not-so-successful.

Although, I do think a large number is just out to find friends and maintain existing relationships in virtuality. And if you thought you’d enjoy such a virtual world in all its clemency, out come the pranks, ego-hassles and a little thing called news-getting-to-all-kinds-of-people-you-don’t-want-involved.

Yet there’s something addictive about it. An urge to know if you’ve been ‘scrapped’ or your profile been viewed. An urge to seek connection. An urge to be accepted.

The virtual world does have an alluring appeal - triggering the need to check in over and over again. Even asking our friends and significant others to check our books while they’re on their own self-obsessed journeys. And updating our profiles with every mood swing, every betrayed emotion and every change in our bowel movements!

And there are many that prefer the online interaction to the normal physical interaction in the real world. The potential for anonymity seems to bestow added confidence. You can’t kiss someone or be punched in the nose... but there sure is a lot u can do within the virtual boundaries!

This is why I feel that while these online sites transcend time and geographical boundaries, they seem to tie us down to computer terminals. Our leisure activities now include staring into our computer screens, instead of the old-fashioned hanging out with people in the offline world.

With the hundreds of online friends that we boast of, how many do we go to when we are sick or stressed? How many do we count as a confidante? With whom do we share our joys and sorrows? Isn’t that what friendship is all about?

In the name of social networking... are we just drifting apart?