If you’ve been following me for a while, you must have noticed that the ‘chatty’ on my Twitter bio is actually a bad joke. By design, I don’t interact online. I figured out quite early on the internet that it isn’t a good place for fulfilling conversations. Why? Because it’s a gallery. And what happens in a gallery? Circus. When two people converse online, they are fully conscious that they are being watched. I don’t like that feeling as I want my content to be consumed, not me.
Besides, I’ve seldom noticed people actually interested in learning something new during an extended chat on the timeline. They are mostly engaged with each other to prove that they know better already.
Obviously, this philosophy doesn’t apply to everyone.
I am basically speaking for myself, something I don’t think I’d be able to on Twitter or Instagram or LinkedIn had I been going to and fro. In fact, on Twitter, I haven’t interacted for over a decade now whereas on Instagram and LinkedIn, sometimes, I at least do drop a line here and there but, again, I don’t engage in a long form conversations. Simply not good at it. If you want to talk, we’ll have to do it privately and without any fear of getting our words twisted and misunderstood by an unknown third party.
After all, whatever I post is essentially me talking to myself, with very little dependency on feedback. That said, last year, I participated in my first ever AMA on Instagram. It was quite an experience as I wasn’t expecting so many questions. So many curious young folks asking so many well-articulated questions. As a sequel to that event, I hosted my second AMA on Instagram past Sunday and I was damn exhausted by the number of questions I received. However, I tried my best to respond to as many as possible — if not in public spectacle, then in private.
Anyway, for what it’s worth, highlighting a few of the edited Q&As from this fun exercise in awareness and vanity:
When can I expect a book (from you)?
By the end of my laziness.
How are you so good with words?
I am comfortable writing because of the luxury of backspace but I suck while speaking.
We’ll die one day and our existence too will be wiped out. So what’s the point of all this?
True, but we are alive today.
Any advice for students?
Study hard, but more importantly, keep learning.
What does ‘being kind to yourself’ mean to you?
The first part is to not let others have the power to dictate the terms of happiness to you. The second part is to get comfortable with the idea of who you are and who you want to be.
Do you think Marxism will work?
I don’t know. Only Karl can answer this question.
When did you first start writing blogs?
June of 2007. Horrible poems.
Is it OK to not have any best friend?
Depends on who your last best friend was.
How do you deal with the fear of being unoriginal?
One way to look at it is, all the stuff that had to be said and experienced had already been done in about 7000+ languages and millions of expressions that we’ve got today. Yet, the trick is (to try) to say something new. Somehow.
What year would you travel back in time and why?
To that fateful day when fire was discovered – so that I can pee on it.
Do you ever get angry or frustrated or irritated or anxious?
Yes, all of the above.
How do you build a following?
You don’t. You focus on content. Following will emerge on its own (unless we are talking about an equitable brand). Most of us care too much about response/reaction and too little about creation.
What is the best way to capture a loving memory of your dog besides taking photographs with him?
Take longer walks, maybe.
What made you choose Mangalore after leaving Gurgaon?
Mangalore.
Have you told Ranga he is a goodboi at least once today?
Well, it’s offensive to call a greatboi a goodboi.
Your take on money.
Never be in debt.
What are you most thankful for today?
Family, friends and common sense (that rhymes).
Is loving tough when you know you will expect a heartbreak in return?
Anything with an expectation in place is bound to be a heartache.
Is It practically possible to have no expectations from anyone?
Nope.
How many tattoos do you have?
About 33. Wrote a detailed blog post on this subject last year.
When are you planning to start replying to comments on your posts?
I fail to do that hence we are a part of this awesome annual event.
Favourite food (vegetarian).
Anything cooked by Pallavi Shastry – she is the best PR for food.
What’s the secret?
I may not sleep well but I wake up every morning without fail.
Anything for someone who overthinks?
Overthinking is quite normal. Just that sooner or later, you must get down to solving the problem at hand.
Can one ever truly know/understand someone?
Nope. And that’s the best part.
If granted three wishes, what would you ask for?
The ability to sleep long. The ability to sing. The ability to dance.
Something about relationships you wished you knew when you were younger?
Nobody told me that Natalie Portman would never be interested in me.
What is love?
Whatever you define it for yourself. Ironic as it is, even hatred often has its roots in misguided love.
Very much interested in the music you listen to. Can you share your playlist?
Got about 75 playlists on YouTube. This is the first one.
Any word/phrase that has stuck with you?
Our school science teacher advised us to brush twice a day. After getting two root canals in 2019, her words have stayed with me.
Why do you think Messi is better than Ronaldo?
My eyes tell me so.
What social stigma that society needs to get over?
That poor people aren’t smart enough (and can’t think for themselves).
How to manage our insecurities?
Write them down on a page. Burn it.
How do you maintain your consistency?
I post consistently, yes, but only time can tell about the quality. The problem with content creation is you feel like you’ve done/written your best but a few months or years down the line, the same stuff sounds crappy too.
Is ignorance seriously a bliss?
Only for the first 15 minutes.
From your perspective, how do you define want, need and wish?
I want a million pounds. I need a million grains of rice. I wish for a million wishes.
How to know your actual self?
Perhaps by accepting first that we are hypocrites of the highest order.
Can love survive in isolation?
This pandemic proved that it does.
And that is a pretty good note to stop for now.
"I am comfortable writing because of the luxury of backspace but I suck while speaking." - I think 90% of writers happen to be writers because of this reason. Writing is easier than talking.