Four workers died when the drone struck a condensate storage tank at Khor Mor Complex, Dana Gas said in a statement to the ADX
mena2 hours ago
A few weeks back, I decided to do a Facebook detox. Getting out of the loop by "deactivating" my account (not deleting it). Temporarily. I was inspired by a friend who keeps flitting in and out of a state of Facebook detoxification, and she'd told me nothing changes, life goes on; in fact, it gets better, because one actually gets a break from reading updates such as "So-and-so is at the Emirates lounge, drinking Coca-Cola, feeling good" and "Feeling blessed" (because the chickens came home to roost?).
I'm not particularly 'active' on Facebook so, at first, I wondered why I couldn't be happy with simply not visiting FB. But then, I realised there was no way I could stay away from clicking on that damn icon on my phone (I'm permanently logged in); I 'enter' Facebook on reflex, and end up gawking at somebody's execrably bad cover picture.
So, I needed a sense of closure - even though it was going to be short-term closure.
There was some annoying protocol. FB asked, for instance, why I was doing this? Why don't I (simply) log off instead (is Mark Zuckerberg a mind reader?)? Stopping short of exclaiming, "Why don't you mind your own business?", I clicked on the lamest option in the multiple choice list ("I'm taking a break!"). One last pop-up was: "Your friends will miss you!!!" alongside photos of people I haven't interacted with in the past three years. I determinedly clicked 'Deactivate'. And the deed was done. I was in detox mode.
Then, the problems started. My father - who is online once in 10 days, so what are the chances of him messing around on Facebook the very day I deactivate my account? - SMS-ed me to say I should "check Facebook at once" because he's posted something frightfully important on his page.
"Umm, I'm doing a detox."
"What vices have you incorporated into your life that you need to break free from them?" he asked sternly.
"No, no, not that kind of detox, a Facebook detox."
"You're going to be missing out something extraordinary if you don't check my page!" he persisted.
"Yeah, yeah, it'll be the first thing I check when I'm back." In six months' time.
The next day, a friend called to tell me how disappointed he was I couldn't join him and a bunch of other nice folks for dinner last night. The gossip quality was top notch, he added.
"But I wasn't informed about this dinner," I sulked.
"Of course you were! It was flagged in our Facebook group, you must have received a notification."
"I deactivated my FB account," I said miserably, and hung up.
Meanwhile, one of my closest friends - who I know for a couple of decades now - blew out quite a lot of candles on his birthday. and I clean forgot to wish him. In the pre-detox era, I would get early morning Facebook notifications (plus firm instructions like 'Write on his/her timeline'); the dependency syndrome had come to such a pass that I'd stopped making mental notes of birthdays (forget about making entries in my diary or setting phone reminders). I received a stinker from my friend on Whatsapp the day after his birthday - which went along the lines of "Out of sight, out of mind? That's what fair weather friends are for. Glad to know you." I hung my head in shame but I was still hell-bent to see my detox through.
A couple of days later, my mother called to say one of my cousins had gotten engaged - ending years of speculation on him being misogynist and, therefore, a confirmed lifelong bachelor. "Why wasn't I informed?" I shrieked.
"I thought you already knew," she responded. "Some photos have been posted on that computer game, what's it called, Facebook? Your father showed them to me - when he was playing Facebook."
That was it. Last weekend, I checked back in. I have been reduced to posting photos of the prawn curry I made at home. But at least I'm not missing out on life.
sushmita@khaleejtimes.com
Four workers died when the drone struck a condensate storage tank at Khor Mor Complex, Dana Gas said in a statement to the ADX
mena2 hours ago
Experience the future of comfort and convenience with innovative smart furniture, elevating your lifestyle through seamless integration of technology and design
business technology review2 hours ago
The device is equipped solely with an AI-powered personal assistant tasked with carrying out a multitude of practical tasks
business technology review2 hours ago
Jayden John Jacob unveils the world's first free mental health app exclusively for men
business technology review2 hours ago
Astra Nova is incubated by the Hashgraph Association & Gotbit, positioning it as the flagship game of the GCC region
kt network3 hours ago
Innovation is also playing a crucial role in shaping the off-plan landscape
kt network4 hours ago
Schools continued distance learning during the rains and in the aftermath of flooding to safeguard the well-being of students, staff
education4 hours ago
Watch as he descends from the sky, parachuting straight into the heart of the action
uae attractions4 hours ago