Empty social chatter
> There are just too many casual and mindless good morning postings that are so light on substance that they mean nothing
out my good morning message.
I may add some personal queries or info to make the message more personal. It may be slower or tedious, but at least, that’s more genuine.
I’ve been placed in some WhatsApp group chats with good morning messages littered all over. I refrain from sending such messages further.
The senders seem to relish in competing with each other to see who has the most attractive posting or design.
It’s the same with a WeChat group comprising my relatives in Hainan.
Every morning, there would be a flurry of good morning messages. Then, in the evening, the conversation switches to what numbers have emerged in the daily lottery, and with no messages in between those times!
Then there is another WhatsApp group that I’ve been roped into where the administrator had specifically stipulated that there should not be any good morning messages.
This is because the group chat operates with the maximum 256 people permitted in a chat group. So if all 256 members were to send out good morning messages, imagine the clutter.
But there are some ‘illiterates’ who still send such messages. And they’re supposed to be in a group aimed at coaching them to become accomplished writers!
Consequently, there are some who question the administrator’s directive on restricting good morning messages, in the name of democracy.
“Kurang asam” as we say in our local lingo, or lack of comprehension.
Or are they trying to appear literate, impressed or hiding behind those fancy good morning messages?
My ex-colleague, A.R. Amiruddin, doesn’t send me good morning messages daily, but shares his occasional columns in another newspaper instead.
That’s genuine, because they are his compositions. I get to read what’s on his mind, instead of some sugary messages penned by someone else.
In return, I do send him digital postings of my Borak-Borak articles. In that way, we get to ‘share’ our thoughts and stay in touch, although we live some 400km apart.
Some of you may argue that because we were journalists, we can then conveniently share our columns. Others may not have the luxury.
Not necessarily so. One could still ask in a genuine manner like “What’s for breakfast?”, “When are we meeting up?” or “Have you lost some weight?”
They sure beats something like: “This message is to remind you that you are beautiful, talented and one of a kind. No one can stop you from doing anything that is on your mind. Good morning.”
Jeff Yong, after making his mark in the twisty maze of mainstream journalism, has finally decided to enjoy what he does best – observing the unusual and recounting the gleeful. He can be contacted at lifestyle.borak@gmail. com.