My residential complex benefits from a very nice community. And technology is great to unite these beautiful people, especially through a Google group.
This virtual group is a great tool to share useful information (from the number of a nearby doctor to the contact of the fish delivery guy), to post some classified ("help! I move out and I need to sale this furniture), to get household help, to propose new activities (writing group, toddler football class, etc.) or to advertise on the next exhibition cum sale.
No, really, it is great and I carefully browse through the dozens of emails sent everyday by members.
But there are two things I really enjoy in the google group.
The first one inadvertently comes from the people who are not technology savvy. It is quite annoying, but I cannot help but quietly laugh at these people. First, you have to understand that when you reply to an email sent on the group, every member gets your answer, unless you carefully make sure to reply only to the sender.
Ok, let me give you an example.
Email
"Hi everyone, I would like to start an aerobic class for ladies. The coach is great: she helped Karina Kapoor get back in shape! Please let me know if you are interested (we need at least 10 people) and when you would like the class to be held. Bye, Zara.
Reply 1:
"Hi Zara, yes, sounds great! Count me in"
Reply 2:
"Yep, am also in. Anytime from 5 to 9 pm"
Reply 3:
"Hi Zara, it was nice to see you the other day. Let's catch up for lunch! Come over to my place. Love, Sana"
Reply 4:
"Great, I love da areobic. am freez mon, tue, wed, 10-11 am.Cu" (sic!)
Reply 5:
"Hi everyone, Zara again, please reply to me only"
Reply 6:
"Count me in"
Reply 7:
"Me too"
Reply 8:
"am in"
Reply 9:
"Guys, STOP SPAMMING US AND REPLY TO SENDER ONLY"
Reply 10:
"am in"
Reply 50:
"F***, REPLY TO SENDER ONLY"
.....
I especially relish the replies of the angry people who are getting spammed, but are thus ironically spamming every one. But I do pity the organizer. You need so much energy to please the maximum to discover the following week that only two people have turned up at the class.
The second one I savor is the old chestnuts that haunt us every two three months. These are usually things that agitate a dozen of angry people, disturb a few offering solutions, annoy the majority of indifferent readers trying to navigate through the tsunami of spams, and eventually hibernate till the next burst out. My favorite topic is the clothes hanging from balconies.
As per the building rule, people are not supposed to hang out clothes to dry from the balcony railing. Any rule being made to be violated, a happy few dare to expose their clothes for various and sometimes very valid reasons.
Our angry resident keeps quiet for some time, silently teething, observing the criminals, sometimes taking pictures, bitterly comparing his beautiful and prime residence with the Indian chawls. The more colorful the clothes are, the angrier he gets.... until he cannot bare it anymore.... For therapy purposes, he has to speak, he has to scream!!!!
How dare you, you little insect, not educated or well behaved enough to go by the greatest standards of living that we all maintain? How can you shamelessly entertain us with the view of your flashy saris, your shabby underwear and your old fashion shirts? I refuse to witness the pettiness of your existence! Behave and hide your wardrobe behind your four walls, like the top class people we all are here! You little people...
Our helping guy tries to rationalize the problem, arguing that, yes, it is difficult, especially during the monsoon, not every house has a drying area, but, eh, that's life, these are the rules and let's try to do our best for the sake of our great community, ok, guys?
But, that does not satisfy the uptight guy, seeking revenge: We need to complain once more to the facility management! We have already pointed them sooooo many times, but nothing is done. This time, enough is enough! This has to cease immediately. We cannot, I insist, cannot tolerate that ANYMORE!!!!!!
I will spare you with the dozens of angry and colorful emails that are exchanged. I get slightly annoyed reading those, a little guilty also (erm, you really want to know why?) and definitely outraged by the harshness of certain comments.
But suddenly, the flow stops. It is quiet again, the storm is gone. Our days are only punctuated by harmless and innocent classified emails. You don't know why. The problem is still there, but people are tired discussing it, until the next time. A time that I am secretly looking forward to!
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