WKND

Have you been ‘ ghosted’?

- 30.09.2016 • volume 32 • issue 33

his has nothing to do with ghosts or spooks, though you might feel a tad spooked about it. What happens when a good friend blocks you from, say, Facebook or IM ( instant messaging), and then refuses to reply to emails you send or text messages you hammer out ( in growing desperatio­n)? You have absolutely no idea why you have suddenly become persona non grata; and remember, this used to be a friend ( at times, even a best friend) — not any random contact who may have been doing a random spring cleaning of his/ her contacts’ list ( and decided you are no longer very relevant in his/ her scheme of things). I hear this is a new “thing”, quite akin to breaking up on Facebook or via Whatsapp. Unlike the older, simpler times, there’s no time or occasion to have a face- to- face to figure what exactly led to such a turn of event, and all one can do is take pot- shots. While doing so, many are utterly devastated. Because there’s a certain clinical- ness attached to the whole matter. In our feature this week on “ghosting”, we speak to a few folks who’ve been the victims ( i. e., have been “ghosted”) and those who have perpetrate­d the act. We also get you the psychologi­cal lowdown on the phenomenon. No ghost- busters though.

Who can say enough is enough to pasta? There are, reportedly, 350 kinds of ‘ em. I recently tried to crack a quiz ( on Playbuzz) on ‘ Can you name all these 30 kinds of pasta?’, and got about 25 of them correct — enough for Playbuzz to ask me if I was a pasta chef. So I’m very chuffed that we have pasta on our cover. Also, check out an interview with an HR specialist; quite a reversal of the game, I must say, when I get to ask the tough questions. But you’ll be happy to know that human capital is still the most important asset a company can have. Travel takes us golfing — to Scotland. And Bollywood goes on the trail of the fortune hunters: those stars who “believe” in “luck”. All this and much more.

Enjoy reading wknd. and have a great weekend.

GHOSTING is THE new “THING”, quite akin To Breaking up on Facebook

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