I want to be your secret lover

Ifran - Sometimes, we receive a friend request on Facebook from a person we do not know. We accept or refuse it based on the profile picture, on our relationship status, or simply on our mood.

No matter what you think, one day you will find yourself chatting with someone you do not really know: someone you are not even sure even exists, someone who ticks you off poking you all the time, someone you poke all the time, just, someone.

You will not only find yourself chatting with this anonymous person, but also laughing with them, telling them stories, or talking to them about whatever crosses your mind. But if by any chance you meet “anonymous” somewhere in real life, you will act like you don’t know each other because

            1- You remember all the nasty words you wrote to “anonymous”

            OR

            2- You just found out that “anonymous” is ugly.

For me, social networks are a way to explore the world, as long as you also explore real life. There is no harm in getting to know other people through social networks, unless it is your only interaction with other people. There is no problem in having a virtual life in addition to your real life, for it is almost the same if you talk face-to-face with someone at 9am and virtually to someone else at 9pm.

More than that, social networking offers you two extra bonuses:

            1- There is no way of getting an STD in a virtual relationship.

             2- You can easily stop talking to someone who is annoying you.

             In other words, you are in control of the whole situation.

However, virtual relationships can ruin your life. There is always a risk that “anonymous” clicked on the “add” button only to spy on you. It can be your parents who created a fake profile, and, oh, wait. Did they discover pictures you never expected them to see? Hum, Kevin, why are you wearing your sister’s bra?

It could also be your boyfriend or girlfriend impersonating an irresistibly sexy lady or a charming, well-to-do lad, and then they ask, “Are you really single, Kevin?” Hum, alright Kevin, by now, you are indeed single, bye.

Today, people are getting more comfortable in expressing themselves in front of a screen rather than in real life. Why is that? It might be because we don’t have to think twice when typing. Today, we all use those fancy words on Facebook: those useless synonyms we look up on Google to impress “anonymous.” This person seems to be an intellectual, but in reality, both of us excel in the synonym “googling” game.

Everyone is brave when it comes to the Internet. Once on Facebook, I insulted a big tall guy who stole my girlfriend. I took my revenge. Oh, I felt like Hulk flexing his muscles. I felt so brave. But on the Internet, you only upload pictures where you look good. You upload what you think will please “anonymous.” In other words, you will be made in China (fake).

Can’t it be the same in real life? Many extremist groups were inspired from the virtual world. They lived their lives far away from any regular human contact. They spent all day, every day on a chair, in front of a screen. What shall we expect from such conduct? A William Shakespeare version 2? Surely not.

Virtual relationships are like smoking cigarettes: you smoke it the first time, you like it. You smoke it a second time, then try weed. You get to liking weed, and then, when you always want to fly high…. BOOM. Game over.

Well, enjoy your virtual life, but watch out! I could be “anonymous,” and you may want to be my secret love. I blame it on you.

Edited by Katrina Bushko