Before I start, let me make sure that are you on Facebook? Do
you have a Twitter account or a blog, and I am sure most of you do have at
least one, with the abundance of smartphones and iPads today I do not think you
will be playing Temple Run all the time. If ancient people (yes, ancient) use
the pen-pal section in magazines to interact with different kind of people
around the world, we are lucky to have the internet for us to stay connected
with friends and for us to widen the circle. It is one of the most influential
invention in the human history that has totally change the way we communicate
with people, at the same time benefit us a lot in various possible way.
Being on Twitter for about a year, I have witnessed a lot of
things that need to be discussed about for the sake of humanity. I have never
had any Facebook account, and honestly I got nothing against people there or
still there, and I only use my twitter account which I had since 2010 recently
due to the fact that I am always left behind due to my inability to ‘connect’
with people online. So I decided to be active on Twitter and it does not take
so long for it to make me think, “Am I really filled with hatred, or there are
just some people who need to go offline?” and I am sure some of you agree with
me. And for educational purpose only, I present to you, the five types of
people we meet online, or maybe more.
This humble piece of writing does not mean to hurt, to offend,
or even directed to anyone. It is just my analysis of how people react socially
on circumstances which require them to display their qualities to the public in
order to gain something, like how male peacock evolved to have brilliant
colours to attract females, we human develop a lot of traits which somehow
reflects our true motivations, either to gain acknowledgement from people or just
to be annoyingly visible. It is up to you to decide.
The Pageant Queen
Sadly, they only got stage online. Okay that is too cruel, but
how can you not be annoyed by the picture tweeted like they have been
scheduled, and how they are trying their best to make themselves look
presentable with Photoshop, or Instagram for the lazy ones. I got no issues
with people who post pictures with friends or family, but being an adult who is
mature enough, I think we know who is trying so hard to get attention from the
online community. Yes, they do have fans
which mostly guys, but honestly I do not think some picture in bikinis need to
be shared with everyone. It is up to you if you want to share it with your
loved ones, but to tweet your picture in skimpy outfit for everyone to see, it
is like you are inviting some crazy stalker to your front door. And this plague
is not exclusive to female; some model-wannabe boys also prefer to go shirtless
as they search for possible mates ambiguously in terms of gender, and it is
funny how they seem proud of their “shirtlessness”, which I think is cool, if
you are a model for Giorgio Armani. And there is also drag queen which I do not
think we need to talk about and I thank god I did not follow any.
The Bad Boys
Follow them on Twitter, and you will get latest update on
clubs, DJs coming to town and all the parties they had been too. Maybe they will
display some hints about alcohol consumption, or even drugs, which they seem to
be proud of and they are telling you about it without any regret. They will
make you feel like you miss something in life, like you did not party hard
enough yet for this one lifetime. They will be showing you a sample of “How
young people should live their life” and maybe end up in a police station
someday. And their profanity is notorious, as they somehow have a bad word
choice or maybe just limited vocabulary. Go against them online, you will get
the best comeback or maybe even some replies that sounds threatening, but do
not worry there is no need to go to any police station as they are just like us
normal people outside who afraid of being alone. Pity them.
The “Makcik”
Some are really old, some are old at heart. Most of us want to
be young forever but their choices are somehow against the norm. Their topic
range from the latest Malaysian artist gossip, or just some girls who just got
bashed by posting their racy photos. They are the juries online, judging you
from head to toe, scrutinizing your every move. They will tweet some details
about people they hate, and would react to other Makcik if they do the same
thing. They will tell you about every place they had been to, every restaurant,
and if you are lucky maybe you will get to see what they are eating at the moment,
as we are poor and could not afford what they are devouring. Most Makcik is
like satellite, they would orbit on the Pageant or Bad Boys, trying their best
to reply every tweet which they feel they need to, showing their social status
as only one-class lower than them. Most Makcik are single, mostly, and they
would not mind retweeting tweets which they feel they can relate to with their
sad love story with the guy who they stalk every morning, and much worse if
they compose their own tweet which might be grammatically wrong if they are too
proud to write in Malay. If the Bad Boys are trying to show you how much they
live their life, these Makcik really need a life.
The Politician
These rebellious youngsters or old peoples are what our nation
should be proud of. They are so well-versed in politics, which interpreted in
their own way, and they never hesitate to tell us their views, even when most
of the time we did not ask them to. Updated with latest news and rumours, they
are so full of things they need to say but too shy to speak on the podium.
Instead they chose us, unlucky followers to listen to their views which are
true somehow and we should really vote for them. If they work together, they
could build a nation which is prosperous with their own nuclear weapon, but
instead, they chose to fight with each other, try their best to outwit their
fellow online Politician. Say something wrong against their favourite political
party or leaders they can fight endlessly, even when you have stopped replying
them due to excessive laughter. When they fight, they want us innocent civilian
to witness their victory over their foes, but the best for us to do is just sit
back, and enjoy the show. Never, I really mean it, never join the fight or you
will end up being one of them. We should be proud of having these brilliant
people and we should pray for their success as they would be debating for our
rights in real life, not online.
The Preacher
Okay now you will label me as an Antichrist or someone who
against religion and I can promise you that I do belong to a religion and I
respect all religions and we all know that religion is good for mankind, as it
brought a meaning and reason for our life. But the people who feel like the
religion needs them to present it to the world, are the reason people avoid
this holy calling, and I do not think it is necessary to stick to one approach
when people clearly ignore you or maybe annoyed by your daily prayer post, as
prayer are between you and God, not to be displayed on your tweet. Maybe their
intention is from God, but the sickness in their heart distorts it as it is
impossible for the message of the religion to be hated, if not because of the
person delivering them. And for what purpose do you feel the need to display
your piety to others, as it induce people like me to talk about you okay this
might be personally directed (evil laugh) but it would not kill anyone for you
to keep your mouth shut when it come to this issue. People will listen when
they want to listen. The more you annoy them, the further they go the other way
and you should me mature enough to know that. Please grow up everyone.
And now this really displays my disappointment on the online
community, which I think could be better if you just be more cautious with your
action online. All written here is just my general opinion on how people
interact and establish their online character, how they want people to look at
them. If you feel like you are one of the types described, it is up to you on
what you are going to do about it. Just think, with the capability of the
people at that moment, how scholars from ancient (really ancient, take example
Aristotle) could be maybe much wiser then people in the age of internet.
Imagine if they get the access to the internet like us, maybe our civilisation
would be much more advanced from today. Or maybe they will just sit in front of
their laptop like us, addicted to social networking sites. Who knows?
