Driveby

[karanguni]

Come home to reports of Mumbai going up in flames; my thoughts go out to anyone who might have friends or family involved. CNN updates are here.



It drives me kind of crazy to sit in front of the television or the computer pressing refresh and wondering how on earth the world seems to pass by so easily if you go away for 48 hours. Maybe it's just the country I live in, but when I watch live reporting and people trying to sift facts from fiction and it occurs to me how dangerously peripheral my knowledge of the real world is - how much do I know? All I know is stuff from whatever I read, whichever newspapers I follow, my proximity to a device with an internet connection. It would take just one grid failure to turn me into a deaf-mute. Shouldn't I be in better tune with my world, the people in it and the things that happen than this?

I remember wanting to be a reporter when I was a kid; that or an anchor or a writer or a journalist. This place is a good place to get those kinds of dreams squashed, and in a hurry. But it's been less than a week since I finally tossed 12 years of institutional education on a backburner, and already I feel more like a human being than I've felt for -- more than half my life?

Maybe I should be braver than this, and reach out more.

Comments

[guingel.livejournal.com]

I'm completely embarrassed because I have no reason not to have heard about this and your entry here is alerting me to what has been occurring since Wednesday.

I suppose, actually, my reason for not being informed is the same as yours - that you were away. I rely on my friends list to update me with anything really big that happens. I know it's irresponsible but usually it works. :/

I was totally shocked to read those news stories. It's so horrifying and so scary and huge. I had been feeling. . . comfortable about the state of the world, I guess. It's so sad.

[karanguni.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the internet spoils people sometimes - though it's really been mad, with Thanksgiving and all. I've taken to weaning myself off flist dependence; adding RSS feeds for CNN and the New York Times helps, not to mention that these days I'm a newspaper and television-news junkie.

♥ We do what we can.

[celes-grant.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I take comfort in knowing that our world is vast in that respect. But I do know what you mean about being worried for disconnect. Even at my job place, it's impossible to get things done without internet. Without computers.

...if I'm completely missing the point, don't mind me XD

[guingel.livejournal.com]

My problem is I'm a huge wimp. I get really upset knowing about all the horrible things going on, really pessimistic and depressed. . . but then I feel bad not knowing cos I'm so irresponsible. Getting it through friends kind of. . . it softens the blow not just because it's slightly indirect but because with the bad news there's an immediate confirmation that there are nice people in the world and stuff.

[karanguni.livejournal.com]

World's such an overwhelmingly huge place, innit? D: *salute* I will be your news junkie! 8D

[karanguni.livejournal.com]

It's a scary thought! All the specialisation we do - sometimes I just want to get my hands dirty and go out and see the world as opposed to getting it second hand.

[celes-grant.livejournal.com]

Definitely something I would encourage. I've seen a lot of the world in comparison to my family. But it's from a deep-seated desire to know and experience... that and I had incredible opportunity.

If you can do it, don't hesitate. You'll be challenged, but the experience and the insight you gain is totally worth it ♥