Context: This appeared first on Facebook.
When you think you know everything about a subject, a great way to learn online is to argue with people on social media.
When you think you know nothing about a subject, a great way to remain sane is not to argue with people on social media.
In my early days, I was the former, and did in fact argue a lot, just to learn I knew very little. Social media raised my consciousness and taught me more about social equity, feminism, caste, religion, and politics faster than I could have read up about them, though the knowledge was still superficial and had to be reinforced and expanded with books and other reading. That said, I cannot praise the power of social media enough to teach you how to construct an argument, first in your mind, and then on paper/screen. Arguing on social media is not just about trolling. It can teach you. If you wish to learn.
Now, however, I rarely engage. I have realised that people either do not read what I have written, or do not understand (sometimes purposely), or do not care before commenting. They are here either to flatter or just pick a fight. I have no use for flattery. And I am done sharpening my debating skills. So, I refuse to interact (mostly), even if sometimes, my fingers itch for a riposte. I have even stopped ‘Like’ing comments because frankly, what’s the point? I have written what I had to. Others have taken from it what they wished to. I have had my say. I have nothing to add. If I had anything further to say, it will appear in subsequent posts. People can read it there.
I seldom check back on a post (after I have edited it a million times, of course; but all of this happens in the first half-hour of posting) or see what people are saying, who shared it, who is saying what on shared posts (I even remove myself if tagged so I do not have to be notified that someone is taking a shit on me on some post someone else shared on their wall), and who is agreeing and who is ripping me apart.
Don’t get me wrong. I have great regard for my friends, and those who know, know. But, I put in a lot of effort in my writing. A. Lot. And I am fatigued at the end of it, and not even in the same neighbourhood as the mood to engage further on the same subject. I have done my reading, my thinking, my constructing of my argument, my articulation of it, and sharing. I am, for the lack of a better word, spent. To repeat, I have nothing to add.
Indeed, once I write a post, it’s more or less, ‘Ja Simran, jee le apni zindagi.’
So, how do I engage with others then? Over the past few months, I have reduced this to people who call or WhatsApp me. Do I read other people’s writing? But of course, I am on social media precisely for that. About 80% of my time on social media is reading others’ thoughts and assimilating them into my perspective. I do not engage there too. Because I know that people whose thoughts I like to read think as I do. They don’t care about ‘Like’s and ‘Heart’s and comments and flattery, angry retorts and whataboutery, challenges to duels and expressions of adoration. They are there to write. And be read.
Lately, I am a lot on Twitter too. And I have the same policy there, though no one knows me on that platform and my writings get no response. That is fine.
So, what is my point? It is that social media can be used to raise one’s consciousness on specific subjects one chooses and from a particular set of people one must curate carefully to learn from. Other than that, it is full of useless, unproductive stuff that will destroy your ability to focus and sponge time off your clock before you know it. It will change your thinking. But it will also waste your time and reduce your ability to work productively. It can make you a wiser person. Or it can dumb you down. Depending on how you choose to use it. And how you choose to let it affect you.
By the way, if you have come this far, consider visiting my blog https://kedar.gadgil.com and buying me a coffee. Your ‘Like’ may not do much to me. But coffee will certainly help!
