Our virtual arguments seldom feature in the real world

During those times when I manage to get away from the Internet, and the constant bombardment of stories, commentary and news gleaned from various news portals and Facebook and go out into the real world, I always feel like I have stepped across an invisible line and have literally walked into another world.

While I am talking to people face to face, rather than virtually, I realize that quite a few have absolutely no clue about the “hot” discussions taking place across keyboards all over the island.  I remember this used to happen to me a lot even before the source of our news and gossip became online; I would assume that others knew what was happening because they watched the news and/or read newspapers as well, only to be told that no, in fact, they did not bother with any of that because it simply did not interest them.

There are, of course, issues which do end up being discussed by everyone because they can be felt at close hand: the endless traffic/parking problems for example, and the robberies by organized gangs, just to name two. Irregular immigration is another topic which cuts through indifference and gets people talking. But, compared to the countless number of (usually, political) arguments which erupt so frequently on FB, I see little reflection of the same relentless debates “out there”.

Leaving aside the incurable news junkies like myself, the average person uses the Internet and social media sporadically at best, picking and choosing very selectively.

I have come to several conclusions about why this is so.

First of all, save for those fanatical souls who go around mentally pigeonholing and labelling people according to whom they assume they vote for (“he’s Labour”, she’s definitely Nationalist), the rest of us are quite happy to just treat our friends and acquaintances as, you know, people, rather than gnawing at this tired old bone of party allegiance. However, on FB especially, it is not always possible to get away from the obsessive political fanatics because, like flies during rih isfel, they seem to be everywhere.

I remember quite clearly during the heat of the election campaign how several people complained that FB had become boring because it had been taken over by political arguments, even between those who had previously been friends. Lines were drawn, walls of defense went up and unbelievably, even friendships were ruined (which doesn’t say much for the friendship). People were even unfriended and blocked. Thankfully, in real life, however, we choose who to hang out with, don’t we? I cannot for the life of me imagine myself cultivating friendships with people who are persistently turning anything and everything into an excuse to flog the usual, tired PN vs PL argument. To use the Italian expresssion, che palle.

I cannot for the life of me imagine myself cultivating friendships with people who are persistently turning anything and everything into an excuse to flog the usual, tired PN vs PL argument

Another reason why reality doesn’t always seem to match our sources of news is that the sheer volume of information being thrown at us every minute often leads to overload. It’s too much and we cannot cope with it all, so we switch off. It is also very transitory – do you remember how hotly people were debating the sale of Maltese passports? If it is mentioned at all now, it is only done fleetingly, in passing, and although many of us still grimace at the whole idea, it no longer seems to invoke the same passions.

Then there are the other issues which are just so complicated and technical that few people can be bothered to get all worked up about them. The complexities of the elusive contracts involving the new power station, the switch to the interconnector, changing from Heavy Fuel Oil to gas, and the fact that the Labour party has still not delivered on any of this just do not seem to spark that much interest with the general public. So even though the Opposition has a very valid point in continuously pointing out that Labour has reneged on its electoral promise, I keep my ears wide open to see if anybody at all is talking about this when I’m out and about, and zilch, nada.  Is it complacency? Is it a feeling of helpless resignation because no political party within living memory has ever kept its promises, or is it simply because the average person simply doesn’t care? Sure when there are power cuts people shake their fist at Konrad, possibly muttering a few choice expletives, and firing off caustic remarks on FB, but then, with power restored, life goes on.

And finally, I think the reason why the virtual world so often jars with what is really happening outside is that, well, life is happening. Friday rolls around and people plan to socialize, party and enjoy themselves, booking Sunday lunches and going on Saturday afternoon shopping sprees. Life is short so live for the moment, seems to be the motto.

We are all busy in our own little world of our own making: jobs, careers, studies, exams, graduations, marriage, births, raising children, dealing with teenagers, coping with traumas, marital break-ups, illness and tragedies and even death.  Who can deal with all this and simultaneously keep up with the interminable ebb and flow of the news landscape? Leaving aside the incurable news junkies like myself, the average person uses the Internet and social media sporadically at best, picking and choosing very selectively.  They catch a glimpse of a news story here and there, sometimes not even bothering to read the whole article but simply reading the headline.  We are in an age when news spreads within seconds but our attention span has deteriorated proportionally.

It is also a world shaped by that which is shallow and facetious, in which Kim Kardashian’s impressively substantial derriere and what Moira Delia wore for the Junior Eurovision overshadowed almost everything else which happened this week.