Whatsap vs real world

Over the years we have all developed a very "evolved" WhatsApp personality.

In some cases, the quirks and peculiarities of our Whatsapp persona have often mirrored some aspects of our worldly personalities.

In others however we are insulated by the impersonal nature of texting, and get to develop a persona or an avatar of the people we long to be, or the inner self that finds no expression in our daily lives.

We prevent our daughters from falling for lovemachine23583@fu2.com
saying it's probably some sweaty old guy in his gym pants, eating Cheetos and drinking red bull and vodka in his recliner.

Pity we don't examine ourselves with that same level of scrutiny.

Are we really the cool funny happy people we portray ourselves to be on social media?
Or we just overweight old farts trying to stay relevant in a world that has moved on.

We have always known that we are able to complain about the bad service over the phone while being truly terrified of saying anything in the flesh. So why can't we see WhatsApp and the social media as an extension of that phenomenon?

With WhatsApp you can literally reach anybody across space and sometimes when it comes to old friends, you reach across even time.
(if they don't block you that is)

We don't Stutter, or fumble for words and we are able to switch apps and lookup concepts and movies and trivia on the fly and seem all-knowing and witty. it's amazing, but it's all smoke and mirrors.

When everyone is gone AFK  and the last share and retweet did, we are still old, and overweight, and still on the couch.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great and I totally dig it, and would not have it any other way. We should all be allowed a forum to be the best version of ourselves. Be allowed to dream big dreams and even if it's just for a moment to feel what it's like to be loved, admired and appreciated. And to feel part of something big and important.

It's very much like a drug and much more addictive.

One goes to sleep replaying all the threads of all the myriad conversations.

Often in the midst of a word storm, of funny and fast back and forth one slips up and either reveals too much, or steps on somebody's toes.

Then it's agony until the short attention span of the herd moves on and one is free to roam and explore again.

None of this is new or newsworthy, except that we forget that we aren't the only old fat guy trying to type and balance a slice of pizza at the same time.

Imagine if all the people you admire and follow are exactly like me. Old and fat and on the couch and soon you will realize it really doesn't matter. We are all who we want to be online and in the real world.
Who says they have to be the same person.

With the wonders of modern medicine and makeup, I might actually be a beautiful woman with long legs and really lovely hair.
The brilliant white implants that look so perfect, almost natural.

Question is who are you?
Really.

M Parak 2017