Delete it!

In recent times, ‘communities’ devoted to the Bishnupriya Manipuri community in Orkut have seen a staggering growth. And so the responsibilities of the owners maintaining these communities have increased. Members joining these communities must be now diligent to their activities.

By Rishikesh Sinha, New Delhi

We all have witnessed how the social networking site like Orkut has developed itself to the present stage. Ask any active Orkuttians, the gradual progression that took place in the Orkut. They will nod a ‘yes’ answer. Now, users have more control over their profile than it was before. And it is a good sign and especially at this time when ‘privacy’ is taken seriously and given due importance. Things are changing fast in Orkut, as new and innovative features are being added daily; thus enabling us to express in much better way to our friends and to all those who are associated with us.

All is not well

Unfortunately, it has a flip side as well. The unfathomable impact and influence Orkut has, comes falling down as house of cards when the so called moderators and community owners brazenly click ‘delete’ button. I suppose, we all Bishnupriya Manipuri people (active in online and in Orkut), who have listening to our amar thar joined to couple of Brishnupriya Manipuri Orkut’s communities, know it. When they went to the particular community and found all their writings had been deleted. By doing so, the community owner has not only lost the faith of its member, but it has deleted the richness that comes from the strings of messages that were created by the people who have poured in their heart and soul to their creation. Now, it is the turn of the members to show their strength. How? Unjoin from the community who hasn't respected your emotions. Simple. One more thing, if you find that while joining any Bishnupriya Manipuri community, it needs approval from the owner. It is better not to join in such community. After all, how many Brishnupriya Manipuri people are bestowed with the Internet facility? It is a complete nonsense act.

No doubt, writing in the Orkut’s community is just like participating in a personalized ‘Group Discussion’ where candidates sit opposite to each other and contradict and support their views. There are many pluses while participating in the community’s forum. First, the communication is direct to the receiver. Second, it is just like one-to-one session. You bark, you put theories, churn out history supporting your facts. Third, nobody is there from outside to watch you and your online activities. Thus, you are safe! Fourth, the feeling of oneness and belongingness that shrouds you. However, the particular Bishnupriya Manipuri community owner has, hitherto unknowingly failed to give the environment to its members for which they all had come.

Another serious concern related to these so called Bishnupriya Manipuri community owners is misusing of their power by banning many members. It seems they are running to their unbridled whims and fancies. It is not that all are same. Some owners are very responsible. Here is one of my well kept secret that I have been keeping close to my heart: I have been banned in one of the Brishnupriya Manipuri community! I got aghast to find the truth that the owner has banned me. Obviously, very funny! Not an issue.

Members Beware

Now, coming to those members who end up writing 300 word plus write ups in forums, they should NOT become a nincompoop. And must understand the energy and time they pour in to their writings should be respected, appreciated or at least made available to innumerable readers online. However, they must know that the rich content that they have created in Orkut are not indexed, cached by search crawlers. They don’t have any significance in online. Once deleted, as it has happened this time, it can’t be retrieved and hence your whole effort comes to naught, unappreciated. If you love writing and don’t want to face such harassment, launch your own website, blog or participate to other blogs and websites maintained by a few. This will give you a truly devoted wide audience. That you can’t even imagine.

Conclusion

It is not that one should not become the part of any community. Communities do help us to come close and interact with each other. Ironically, it comes for many a playground and, for many a battlefield and a discussion table. With such activities taking place in the communities, the owners must be responsible and use their power judiciously. Since at the end of the day, we are very few and can’t allow anyone to harbour feeling of animosity and mutual disrespectedness.

Please SUBSCRIBE to the Bishnupriya Manipuri Blog.