Showing Off — Splashing Oneself Visually in Social Media
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 4 Apr 2022
Dr. Ravi P. Bhatia – TRANSCEND Media Service
A trend that has become visible today among the well-to-do younger generation is to show off and display oneself on the Social Media. How? One method — going to shopping malls and buying expensive clothes and footwear, or going to some poor localities to donate food, old clothes, etc.
There are many other ways also — go to some well known monument like the Taj Mahal or Qutub Minar and get a photographer to take your photo in front of it. If you don’t have a separate person to take your pictures, a selfie will equally well perform this function.
I know some persons who claim they are popular in some embassies. Wonderful — shake hands with some officials and have photos taken in these places. Some people claim they love their large fluffy pet dogs. This affords a unique method of splashing one’s love for animals by allowing the dog to sit in one’s lap or petting it lovingly.
People have their birthdays once a year but some fashionistas celebrate their birthdays for a week before it and a fortnight after the event. How? Well let’s use our imagination — informing the press what one intends to do on that fateful day, whom one is inviting, etc. Then splash the photos of some VIPs who come to wish the person, in various poses and attires. Of course, a huge birthday cake will make the event more dazzling.
These are tricks to remain in the spotlight by youngsters. But we have also noticed that some officials or former decision makers trying different techniques to remain in the spotlight even after they have remitted office as years have gone by. Some stand as if on a pedestal, some look at the skies and pretend they are detecting some aliens who are trying to land nearby, or by trying to show they have seen some beautiful birds in the sky. Some just sit awkwardly on a ladder and show they won’t fall down from it.
If you have been awarded for some achievement, a photo of an official handing the award and a few people clapping at the event, do wonders for your pride and popularity.
Why do people want to remain in the spotlight, is a natural question. There may be a few answers to this complex question. Many of us are mentally or physically troubled by today’s circumstances and lifestyles. We may feel lost or isolated. We may lack self confidence and peace. But display of oneself in the social media as described above may, to an extent mitigate this isolation in some people. However, there may be better ways of remaining peaceful and self confident — by yoga, by meditation, by participating in a religious discourse , by paying respects to a religious icon, etc.
There are other ways also — by traveling, learning to play music, doing charity to people in distress. Reading and writing and penning down one’s thoughts and ideas, as I am doing now are also fruitful avenues for imbibing peace and joy.
So friends, let us share our thoughts, peace and joy.
The author paying respects to a religious icon
______________________________________________
Dr Ravi P Bhatia is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, an educationist, Gandhian scholar and peace researcher. Retired professor, Delhi University. His new book, A Garland of Ideas—Gandhian, Religious, Educational, Environmental was published recently in Delhi. ravipbhatia@gmail.com
Tags: Social media
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 4 Apr 2022.
Anticopyright: Editorials and articles originated on TMS may be freely reprinted, disseminated, translated and used as background material, provided an acknowledgement and link to the source, TMS: Showing Off — Splashing Oneself Visually in Social Media, is included. Thank you.
If you enjoyed this article, please donate to TMS to join the growing list of TMS Supporters.
This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.
Dear Ravi ~~
As always, wise and deeply human thoughts emanate from your mind, wisdom, and spirit from New Delhi through the channel of Transcend Media Service.
May this be read, understood, respected, and practiced by many, for it is our egoic-selves that cannot see, unable to break through the mirror.
And yet, we all search for such Light that is within us. How strange.
With a separate bow to Antonio C.S. Rosa, Editor of TMS for his great endurance and efforts for peace.
Your friend in Kyoto,
Rob
Thanks Rob for your empathy and spiritual bent of mind
Yes Antonio is doing great work by bringing out TMS regularly
My good wishes to you and your family