“What happened dude? Did you have a break up recently?”
I meet a friend after a long, long time (after 8 years to be precise); and above all, this is what he had to say. I was a bit surprised and amused.
“No. Why?”
“I saw your recent Facebook post and thought you might have broken up.”
I don’t have a huge friends list (a conscious decision) unlike many who have 1000+ friends on their facebook profile and I like it (who doesn’t?) when people actually read/view my posts. But seriously, one post!? And that too, if I remember clearly, was a video of a song that I recently came across and liked. Yes, it was a sad song, but not exactly a break-up kind of song. And forget about what it was, even if it was a hardcore sad break up song, one post is all it takes for people to jump to such inferences? Well, I guess we have too many Sherlock Holmes clones these days; but the Baker Street detective must be ashamed at their harebrained conclusions.
Why are people so eager to jump to conclusions based on such a low sample size? Even statistics says that you need at least 30 observations (‘samples’, in statistical jargon) to make any predictions about the nature of anything! Stereotyping and gossiping are two most favorite activities of 99% of humans. The entire worldwide trillion dollar business of tabloids and TV channels runs on this trait.
Alright, if someone posts continuous sad status updates or likes (not 30 but may be 10 at least) then you may infer that he/she is heartbroken. But 2-3 posts and you think I am heartbroken of late? Give me a break!
One of my friends was (note that I am saying ‘was’) a fantastic writer who used to write crazy one-liners about various professions. He suddenly stopped writing (or publishing his posts). When I asked him the reason, he said that he writes under a pseudonym because most people are insecure by nature. You post some humorous status about doctors and the whole medical fraternity will feel as if you have violated their basic right of dignity. You write something about Monday morning blues and your whole office (including the peons) will view you as a potential attrition threat. Its true! By the way, this is why one should never keep current (or even former) colleagues on your open publishing list; unless you have some really cool colleagues which is as rare as an accountant with an interesting personality (There you go! If one wrote that under his/her true name, he/she would get a pile of notices from practising accountants that would look more deadly than an income tax department notice).
I had, in the past, in fact received a smart-a** ‘suggestion’ from a contact (who thinks that he has attained ‘inner peace’ – his words, not mine) that I should not post/like bikini models’ photos on facebook as that sends ‘wrong signals’. Are you F kidding me? I mean, as a man if you did NOT like lingerie models, THAT will be a hell of a huge wrong signal!
And by the way, I post heavily and regularly about cricket too. Why not infer that I am aiming for a place in the ESPN panel of cricket experts or that I am planning to buy an IPL team? I adore a certain Ms. Shayk and a certain Ms. Huntington-Whitley; why not assume that I am dating them or some other lingerie model?
But then, may be we like to draw only negative/insulting/derogatory conclusions.
