"CLICKING SECONDS" in "REALISTICALLY-SPEAKING: BEING ROMANTICALLY-CHALLENGED"

Everything takes seconds in digital life, especially in social media. Just a few clicks and all is done.

It takes seconds to say hello and wave goodbye. A single line gets different, various interpretations. A picture tells a thousand words, or probably even more.

Click, click, click. You see? It only takes seconds to do it all. Read a controversial article about the politicians you hate, pointless celebrities you loathe, and follow your favourite public figures - perhaps to death. Every second matters. Wait, what? Watch out. You might miss a lot.

The best part? You can go back to being a child. Play games, but don’t let yourself get caught. Your boss might not be too happy, you see? Every second counts. It’s more than just about money. It’s part of your life.

Are you happy? Has your sub-conscience been slowly tainted by your underlying addiction? Those multiple clicks, don’t you love the sound?

Click, click, click.

Another thing? You can take part. Who knows? You might be the next centre of attention, the talk of the town. These days, everyone can make comments. It doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong. Each soul yearns to be heard and acknowledged. Religion has become an excuse to insult each other. It’s not a problem, you might say. They don’t have to know. You can appear like the highest moral standard itself. Only God alone knows that you’re holier-than-thou.

Trust is broken in seconds, relationships ruined. Lifetime friends turn into mortal enemies. Death-threats fly off handles, like ego driving on a high-speed chase. Suicide rates go flying sky high.

All because of nasty words on your timeline. A ‘delete’ or a ‘block’ button is usable, but how do you nurse those invisible wounds inside your heart? Just because no one can see them doesn’t mean they’re not there. They’re real. They can be far more severe.

Everything takes seconds in digital life, especially in social media. Just a few clicks and all is done. It may well be a tool to bridge the gap between you and your love over there. What can I say? LDR is a pain. A few seconds of clicking ‘like’ on their pictures are not good enough. You need to see them. You have to feel them. You want them near so badly, wishing the distance and schedules were much more bearable.

Of course, every second with them is precious. Still, you’d rather give them more…because a few seconds is ridiculously not enough!

R.

(Jakarta, 6/11/2014 - from The Couchsurfing Writers’ Club Meeting @Anomali Cafe, Setiabudi One - 8:00 - 11:00 pm. Theme: time. Sub-theme: seconds.)