Why do we react to everything around us

I'm referring to the public display of one's private thoughts over social media platforms. This is something I've always pondered about. Recently, a friendly discussion on a private group on this topic led to resurfacing of random bits of introspective analysis that had been filed away at regular intervals in my head. 

Yes, social media is meant for social and public discussions without which their existence will be threatened. However, it surely has become a double-edged sword in our lives. We cannot ignore it yet we have to steer clear of giving it too much importance. We seem to be not getting that balance right and end up being rather too serious in our attitude towards life. 

Many moons ago, I had written about how we have lost the sense of humour these days. Who could get miffed over what we'd never know! Opinions are being expressed every nano-second. I see a chain reaction for every single incident or issue that has happened either within an immediate circle or somewhere far flung in some other part of the world. You never know what could trigger violent reactions in people who otherwise seem rational and calm. 

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It's not always about issues that may have affected you personally, in the case of which it's perhaps understandable that the person considers public ranting as a means of expressing frustration/opinion/raising concern. I see opinions expressed for every single, stray, random incident that could have happened in some corner of the world but has shaken or shocked you enough to be outraged. Even if these are just temporary outbursts, a venting outlet, a sort of catharsis for the person in question, I wonder wouldn't it have been more beneficial to pick up the phone and talk to a close confidante and let out the frustration? Why choose a public platform? 

Why not, you ask? Because this invariably results in a ripple reaction. A second person expresses disagreement and another third person consequently picks up a fight with the second's disagreement and a totally different fourth guy who is silently watching the scene unfolding has taken umbrage over the opinions expressed and chooses to lash out separately, juxtaposing the events in a completely different light. Again, we see ripples being created. Rinse. Repeat. Just imagine the whirlpool of negative energy that we are consciously or sub-consciously producing. And, this whirlpool has far-reaching effects only because you chose to make your private opinions  public, to even those who need not have known it in the first place. You are entitled to your opinions and thoughts but is it essential to create a drama and fuss over everything? 

Another problem with social media is that it forces you to comment or like or retweet someone's status. We are so consumed by living our lives online that we feel compelled to share our thoughts on every single update on our timelines. On a normal day in our lives offline we'd generally ignore many facets of our fellow beings because otherwise, our lives would become a living hell. It is only prudent to pick and choose our battles in our already frenzied and difficult lifestyle. It's healthier for the mind and body too. Yet, when it comes to our online lives, we want to jump into every single thread of conversation. It becomes a matter of great pride and compulsion to mark your presence amidst the melee. No wonder, we give rise to funny and newly discovered syndromes like the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)! 

If we could just mind our business and scroll past our timelines like we would on a stroll outside our homes, life will be so much better for everyone, no? It's really not needed to voice your opinion every single time and that too for an audience you don't really care for. We have not yet matured to take disagreements in our stride and if you accuse the other of intolerance it is only because you are the other side of the intolerant coin. It does not mean one is right and the other is wrong. 

What are your thoughts? Have I opened a pandora's box? I promise to not get offended ;-)

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How to churn out successful posts?

The answer to this should be a simple one. Using good content, right? After all, content is king. Well, only partially. Even a formidable king needs a capable cabinet and a great army of soldiers. Likewise, content is just a part of the many other ingredients that make a post, especially on a professional website, attractive and satisfying to read and assimilate.

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Now, it's been a while that I'm writing content as a freelancer. Up until recently, I'd work on the specs mentioned by the content team and draft it out. The rest of how the article got published or added value to their page was totally the lookout of the team I was not a part of. My job and responsibilities ended with the 'send' button. Sure, the content was completely mine and I made sure I was doing complete justice to the people who were paying me, but I really had no control over the edits that went in or the way the article was offered over the world wide web.

However, lately, I've had the fortunate chance to work for a vibrant start-up with a very close-knit and dedicated team. It's here that I'm able to see the whole picture at a broader level and at the same time be a part of all the tiny, excruciating bits of details that add up and make a beautiful canvas for the readers. These rules are of course not generic and most of the behind-the-scene working style depends on the nature of the company, its products, and services. This being a parent-kid related portal, everything that goes in gets packaged to appeal to the said target audience.

Here are 7 things I've learned that helps to hit the bull's eye:

1. The content matters but presentation even more

Think of this as a construction site where you lay the foundation stones, the iron frames, and the slabs. This is the content. The buyer, however, is attracted only by the end product which comes after a lot of scrubbing, polishing, and adding colourful hues to the facade.

I can write a piece on my personal blog, edit it to my satisfaction, add an image and publish it without any more care. However, an article on a good website has to pass far more layers of quality control. For instance, it cannot have a random title, the SEO and keywords (devil's hands that play truant) need to be worked on, the images have to be carefully sourced and rightfully attributed and such other details. All the minutiae follow a process to meet strict quality standards.

2. The final product you see almost never coincides with the first blueprint

You start with a concept, a broad idea. You then work your way into getting the framework right to arrange your thoughts neatly and start filling up the details. However, the idea evolves, matures, and finally blooms into something that is very different from the initial draft. The draft undergoes several iterations and when it finally emerges, it is beautiful, with the soul intact.

3. It's always a team work

You cannot work in silo. Especially, when it concerns the face of one business connecting several others like a needle and thread on a criss-cross knitwork. You need to subscribe to the broader business goal, hold your own amongst some tough competition and yet bring something new to the table each time. With several such layers to function cohesively, you need several hands. Your claim to success cannot be yours alone because there were a lot of factors that contributed to making your piece stand out.

4. You need to have many a critical eye

Cannot stress on this enough, right? Even when you write a piece for yourself on a personal blog, editing matters. So, when it comes to a larger platform, with a much larger audience you cannot be careful enough. It really pays to have several critical eyes comb out the content thoroughly.

5. Polish until it shines

Even as you edit, you need to re-evaluate the content through the eyes of a dispassionate reader. A factually and grammatically correct content needs to flow smoothly, have eye-catchy images, unbroken links, and a crisp appearance. Looking at it with a fresh mind like a dispassionate viewer needs objectivity and patience. Knowing what will work and what won't comes with experience. So, the final polishing happens till the piece shines out bright and glowing.

6. Market, Promote, Push the content

A no-brainer when you're in a professional environment and cater to an eager and demanding audience. Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, think of all the social media platforms. You need to mark your presence in each of them. It helps to maintain a fixed time and schedule to share and re-share your blogs, videos, and tweets.

7. Let go and focus on the next

Despite the amount of passion and work poured into each type of content and information sharing, the moment you place it in the reader's hands, you have to learn to let go. The next task awaits you and you need to summon the same amount of passion, energy, and enthusiasm like it were your first project. 

Now, as I introspect, I do realize that this applies not just to professional blogs but personal ones too, no?

What is it that you'd add to these points? I'm all ears! :-)

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Being online yet not out of line

It's a long accepted fact that most of our communication today happens over Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter and the likes. The difference between a reply and a response is becoming blurry. Emoticons have replaced lengthy explanations; not to mention made it easier to convey a confused look or ecstasy over something. Whether you're feeling blue or euphoric, whether you want to cringe or ROFL at something, just click the right icon and you are sorted.

http://bit.ly/1Bz9kgz

But, not all is hunky-dory with the instant messaging world. If we aren't careful, we could fall prey to quick-sand of narcissism and impatience that throngs this world.

Haven't we all experienced the restlessness after we post something on whatsapp or FB? We wait with bated breath for that first 'like' or 'comment'. Much like the girl in this Tata Docomo Ad. The messenger Aps have made it worse by adding features that lets the person posting or sending the message know whether the message has been read by the intended person! So, depending upon which side of the message you are, you are either catching your breath waiting for that someone to respond or fuming that despite the double ticks in blue or 'Seen by', the person has the audacity to not reply!

The itch to respond immediately is quite real too. Over-analyzing thoughts crowd our head and we worry that we'd appear rude if we do not hit the 'like' button or comment on a fellow-comrade's post despite leaving our footprints of online presence elsewhere at that hour!

And, then there are the perils of over-communication (if there is something like that) and misunderstandings. A simple comment is torn to shreds by trying to understand the emotions and intentions behind it. Punctuation, pauses, smileys all play a crucial role here. A colon instead of a semi-colon can cause two friends to war. Could a one-liner reply to a lengthy discussion mean that the other person took offence? Is then an apology due? Oh, the confusions!

Fragile relationships do not stand a chance since you are always comparing how friend A reads and 'likes' every post by acquaintance B but ignores you (her bestie?!). Isn't it better to pick that phone and call the person to have a heart-to-heart chat instead of agonizing and staring silly at your computer screen?!

The truth is there is life beyond Facebook and Whatsapp and not everyone thinks about you all day like you do. They have themselves to think about, right? So, lets move on and not base our judgement about people in our lives upon how they behave in social media. Remember, there's always a side that is never revealed out there.

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