When people lose internet connection for a day or two or may be a week even, they hail it as the best thing that happened to them. And when they get back online, you’ll find a cheerful and more than a tad sanctimonious update on Facebook or blog that talks animatedly of the quality time successfully spent away from the clutches of the Monster That Binds You To Itself With Tentacles As Strong As Steel And Never Lets You Go aka the internet. Unsaid words: Oh you poor sods stuck here, what do you know about the joys of being away from the net?
It is as if the forced abstinence has given them new life and also the right to look down the nose at those who had continued their *virtual* activities while they were enjoying the *real*. Never mind if you do take take time off regardless of the state of your internet connection. There will be mention of how they finished pending work, read a wonderful book, played with neighborhood children, lazed around looking at the clouds (or stars as the case may be), looked up a long lost friend and much more in similar vein, all because the internet failed them.
Call me a fool if you will, but wouldn’t it have been much simpler (and ideal) to merely switch off the modem, seize the day by its collar and make it your own? Why place your bets instead on random occurrences like the service provider failing to keep his part of the bargain and/or lightning striking and burning off connecting wires to enjoy life to the fullest?
Just today I read about someone’s phone conking off. Apparently the fact that it had was giving the person a lot of peace. Like, really? If peace was what you wanted, why wait for the phone to conk off? Expensive way to get oneself a little peace methinks. First shop for one and lighten your wallet considerably, get all those distracting apps and THEN wait patiently (No one even knows how long that would take) for it to die so you can have some of that peace you have been hankering after. How about simply logging off or putting your phone in silent mode till you are ready to take on things again?
Why hand oneself over to vagaries of internet connection and smartphones to get what you want out of life? Of course many don’t, they seize the day and make it their own, internet or smartphone notwithstanding.
©Shail Mohan 2015
Shail's Nest 
When one has to wait for things to cease
And then chase, hold, grab or seize
‘Tis under delusion
A false compulsion
And, of course, mild mental disease!
It is not so mild either.. the disease.
In a limerick! 🙂
It is the other way for me, Shail. I was without the internet and had loads of pending work and deadlines to meet….and god, I cursed the service provider.
But I totally get what you are saying. It is like we look for an excuse, when we ought to be seeing the action through. The rules are simple – want something, get off your backside and do it.
You and me, BlogwatiG! (that rhymed perfectly!) 😀 And I totally agree with the rule you mention: ‘want something, get off your backside and do it’
Beautifully put. Of late, this has become a monotony on social media’s status updates and the of course the social butterflies’ tweets! “Off to a long holiday to the hills. The best part, there’s gonna be no network connection!” Wow! I’d rather put my phone on flight mode for the time being and be disconnected. 😀
Another silly thing I often hear from people: “You know I enjoyed being sick for three days. At least it kept me away from work!” Just take a day off!
Why do people look for so many reasons and adverse consequences for things to set things right when it’s just so simple to do it. Avoid playing a game or watching a movie on your laptop on evening and step out of your house to enjoy a stroll! Why complicate things so much!
I hear you. It is as if they want circumstances to take their decisions for them. That’s fine if that is what they like, but making a virtue out of it is laughable! Why complicate, indeed, the answer is so simple! 🙂
Love your comment! 🙂
How did you spend your day today?:)
The usual. Only my phone was misbehaving, the net was working fine 🙂
We are an undisciplined, addicted, irresponsible lot…we humans(I had to be a tad sanctimonious with that too, frumps the invisible collar) 😉 We need reasons, justifications, analysis and punch-bags so we can keep our drama of life and act like we are Shakespeare 😛 And now, I wait for summer break, lack of internet and lots of agenda-less time so I can look down on all the super-busy, always on the go people.
Lol @drama. I am looking forward to the ‘looking-down on the super-busy updates’ of yours 😛 😉 😀
Meh! That’s just an excuse to hide their frustration!! My phone conked off and it was very frustrating not being able to be connected; wondering if I missed my husband’s call or a phone call from the school about my kids!
I like to remain connected too 🙂
I agree completely. Chance happenings like these and everyone is Goody Two Shoes. How hard is it to make it happen by yourself? Strong will, none. But, preaching, by god, plenty.
Bingo! That last sentence says it all. 🙂
Haven’t you heard ‘Good things come to those who wait’,
and we are strong believers in destiny and fate;
to take things in our own hands we always hate;
so our group of like minded people please do not berate. 🙂
Oho! A champion for the cause, are you? 🙂
Couldn’t agree more :). The average human brain usually waits for the things to come around in their favor without any effort.
I cannot possibly switch the phone off for the fear that my parents are too far and I feel the need to be available in any case of emergency.
I don’t see why we cannot have the phone and also a quality life. 🙂 I too prefer to be connected and available for calls. 🙂