Sunday 1 July, 2007

Is Orkut affecting adolescents?


The Orkut website has been in news lately, with the Shiv Sena vandalising cybercafes in Kalyan, on the outskirts of Mumbai. Apparently, they were protesting against certain hate-communities on the website which allegedly contained derogatory material about Shivaji and the Shiv Sena supremo, Bal Thackeray’s family. Community-websites like Orkut have been accused of being guilty of allowing, if not promoting avenues for slander. Recently, a bunch of school students of the Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai posted derogatory comments against their School Principal.

These are issues in the public-social domain, but there are more serious, probably inconspicuous effects of community-websites like Orkut that need attention.

It must be noted here, that this article does not dismiss nor challenge the exciting and positive functions of a website like Orkut. Orkut, for the purposes of this article has been used as a generic term, and any mention of the site is intended to cover all community-websites in the nature of Orkut.

My greatest concern is for youngsters, adolescents whose primary parameter of self-image is their peer settings. Traditionally, in a country like India, youngsters' social perception of themselves have been based on how well they look, their academic performances, their proficiency in sports, communication skills, fine and performing arts and probably, their general knowledge.

But now, with the advent of the media and consumerism in enormous proportions, the basis on which adolescents may determine their self-perception amongst their peers, is likely to be based on a different plane all together. With the easy access to and availability of images and products that were once only representations of the ‘Western’ sensibility and lifestyle; the greatest means of being ‘accepted’ and ‘belonging’ to the ‘perceived society’ out there, is your cool-hot quotient. You either gotta be ‘cool’ or ‘hot’.

And perhaps, it is this grey area in which websites like Orkut may have a detrimental effect of adolescents’ ideas of self-image; their urge to ‘belong’ may suck out young girls and guys of their distinct identities, and make them a part of a uniform mass. Rather than believing in and enjoying what they are, they are likely to chase a desire to be either hot, cool or both.

Let me explain.

As I said before, the intent of sites like Orkut is unquestionable and highly noble. Naturally, to bind ‘birds of a feather together,’ the sites require you to post a list of your attributes. That’s where it starts -the urge for ‘one-upmanship’. The basic human desire to flaunt his/her smartness, to convey how he/she carries her ‘attitude’ on his/her sleeves, how they care a damn about the world, how individualistic and unfazed they are by the constant appraisal that people make of them.

But the truth is, we care. All of them who quote the Bible of Individualism, The Fountainhead as their favourite book in a bid to sound like Howard Roark are in fact, absolutely unlike him. Roark really doesn’t care, he doesn’t seek ‘social sanction.’ An Orkut-user does.

The genuine joy of capturing moments as photographs on film has given way to an Orkut-driven photography, “This is my best snap, will go Orkut!” Spare a thought for all those not blessed with attractive bodies, features and faces. Spare a thought for adolescents again, now they will be appraised by millions of people worldwide. The ‘stunners’ have no problems posting all their photos on the album, the mediocre lot may actually go out and get a portfolio done as now there are people out there to evaluate them; the not-so-lucky ones suffice by posting their side-profiles; looking-left, looking-right. I even know of someone who posted his/her snap looking down. The idea is to draw more and more people to be ‘your friends.’

But aren’t friends supposed to accept you the way you are? Why this need to ‘convince’ them of your style and attitude; aren’t class and substance rather ‘personal’ characteristics that emerge when you meet someone, speak to them, experience them as individuals?

Imagine the mental turmoil of a fourteen-year old girl/ boy who is out there to impress his/her crush – he/she’s out there, registered on all ‘communities,’ from ‘Mozart to Metallica,’ from ‘Formula One to Football’ and from ‘Che Guevara to Cubism to Calvin & Hobbes.’

The best photos go in the profile/album; snaps that highlight his/her best physical characteristics or ‘cool’ or ‘hot’ “image”.

The addiction to add more and more ‘friends’ is stripping the hapless soul of peace and concentration. More friends mean greater appeal – they love me out there! More 'stars' mean higher peer acceptance!! Am I worthy of being only an 'acquaintance,' a good friend,' a 'best friend,' or am I a plain 'nobody'?

The open e-mail account called ‘scraps’ has anyway, stripped him/her of privacy – everything’s bare now. Scrap fast, scrap ‘smart (more sarcastic, more caustic than the one who scrapped you) – show him ‘his/her place!’ Have a personal vendetta against you? Scrap it on Orkut, it'll be a while before you will be able to remove the scrap - welcome to a new form of blackmail. I have your photograph which might embarrass you, treat me well or I'll post it on Orkut!

The quest is to keep your image smart and smarter…and smarter…. and cooler…and hotter….

According to the website, Orkut has a simple mission – Orkut is an online community designed to make your social life more active and stimulating. Orkut 's social network can help you maintain existing relationships with pictures and messages, and establish new ones by reaching out to people you've never met before.

Undoubtedly, go out – interact, enjoy, make lifelong associations. I know a few couples that met through Orkut and have now vowed to spend their rest of their lives together. But, they were slightly older and mature.

I come back full-circle to argue the same contention I started with. What about those on the puberty-curve? Is too much of socialisation, actually depriving them of being their natural selves?

Spare a thought…


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Friday 22 June, 2007

Let's get talking!!

Welcome to Café Rashomon!

First post: Café Rashomon started posting on July 1, 2007!

Café Rashomon aims to share stories & concerns about people & places and encourages its readers to present their multiple perspectives about events and happenings around us - social, cultural, religious, economic, political; simply everything! The blog derives its name from Akira Kurosawa’s seminal film, 'Rashomon,' wherein different people present entirely different, yet equally plausible accounts of the same event.