Orkut….well…….I was a relative ‘late-comer’ here. It turned out that the whole of my class was already on this place and I wasn’t even aware of what the hell this was. But that was a year back.
One of my friends sent me an invitation and so I was now a part of this useful(with strings attached) community of ‘friends’. Yeah well……a lot depends on what your definition of a ‘friend’ is. You need to get that straight before you start Orkutting.
The good thing about Orkut is that you can become a member only when someone sends you an invitation. Probably a way to keep a check on the number of members. Though I don’t think it serves the purpose 100%. Orkut is a great way to get in touch with old ‘friends’(depending on your definition) and lost classmates whom you never even talked to while you were in school. Also a great way to get in touch with people who tell you that they are in your class….but you don’t seem to be aware of the fact. They will be glad to elaborate on their identities provided you ask(and even if you don’t).
*Components:-*
*Your profile**: You can create a profile with your real name or something crazy. Also your details are classified into 3 categories – social, personal, professional. Depending on who they are(or WHAT they are not and what they want to be), people will furnish details about themselves – which can be changed any time. So, today, I may be a non-smoker, non-drinker ‘sweet gal’ with no body art except for ‘pierced ears’ and my ‘ideal match’ could be ‘formal and decent’….tomorrow, I can choose to be a chain smoker, heavy drinker, ‘bad babe’ with a ‘strategically placed tattoo’ and my ideal matches could be ‘bad boys on their best behaviour.’ I can also change my relationship status from single-to-married-to-committed-to single again-to married-to open marriage etc. Your photo can be your own or anybody else’s. So, you can chose to be Amrita Singh on one day(fe….) and Michael Jackson on another……you can also be animated if you choose. However, most people suggest that your own photo should not be put up here as it can be easily misused and ‘animated’ in ways that you probably won’t be able to laugh at.
*Scrapbook:** Is just like your notebook at school….where you are supposed to write meaningful stuff but in most cases, it is blank or either filled with things that are not meaningful. Only difference is that in school, you get to write only in your notebook….here everybody’s is public property. Abbe tu toh….bahut padhai karne ka man ho raha hai…….idhar aa….mein teri book bhar daalu….and then you can vandalise other people’s property and thereby cause them to get scared or angry. If you do not want other mortals vandalizing your scrapbook, you can block them….but the world’s population is too large….and there isn’t enough time. Also the same person can have 5 identities(or more)….toh zinda murda ho sakta hain and vice-versa….the non-existent may also become existent….etc. Nahin samajh mein aaya?.good….I like your innocence.
*Beggars:** These are people who you don’t know you and who have never seen you but yet they think that you are ‘beautiful’, ‘sweet’, ‘cool’ and ‘interesting’….they request….er….beg you to PLEASE be their friend….which is where your definition of ‘friendship’ is to be analysed and if necessary changed and then you may choose to ‘befriend’ that ‘person’ or reject him/her. Some such morons also think that ‘they are sure your inner beauty exceeds your outer one’……and you can never understand when they got to take a look at your ‘inner’ beauty. Compliments are okay….but some morons are hell bent on proving that they have done a Ph.D on your inner, outer and and all other ‘beauty’ or whatever adjective is the subject of Ph.D.
*Ratings:** You can rate your friends….their levels of 1)coolness 2) trustworthiness 3)sexiness
*Communities:** These are collections of people who share a particular interest. Where they are supposed to discuss topics relevant to the ‘subject’. A good moderator will try to keep it that way but in the absence of one, every subject might be mixed up with other subjects that are not relevant to the subject and therefore you cant make out what subject the community was made for and you shall be subject to things that you do not want to be subjected to.
But good moderators ensure good communities and good members have the same function. In this case, they’re a great platform to share info and ideas.
Even while I am typing here, I have received messages from some of my friends which I shall be replying to and also a few morons who are ‘waiting for my reply’….for all these morons….I have a sweet message that is the outcome of my ‘inner beauty’. “Keep waiting….”
For my ‘friends’….i.e. the people I know and whom I meet in real life and who are not simply virtual, “Your chain-smoker….heavy drinker friend with the strategically placed tattoo is coming….”