Why "Like" and "Comment" on FB Matters

I have been on FB for the past couple of years. Initially I read others’ posts. I didn’t have the guts to put like or make a comment. I worried about making mistakes and being called out. I didn’t trust my writing. So I didn’t post any. I admired those who posted anything- whether a political point they wanted to make, friends’ birthdays, sharing video clips they liked, even posting pictures of the food they ordered in a restaurant. I laughed many times, disagreed with some views on politics expressed by my friends, admired pictures posted by friends and anything and everything that made sense to them. I didn’t like the feeling of not being able to express myself. I called, texted and emailed. But felt exposed and vulnerable in opening up and making myself heard in an open forum.

I overcame the fear of being ridiculed by looking at and reading what was being posted. People made mistakes, said crazy things, posted pictures of themselves when they were miles away from being called handsome, disagreed with others viewpoints, wished people- whether it was Birthday wishes or get well messages, caught up with friends whom they had not seen for years, made new friends and posted what was important to them. I realized that they just didn’t care. What mattered was that they were able to say what they wanted, catch up with news about friends, relax after a day’s work and were able to do something different which required their participation other than just watch the TV or listen to music.

And drawing up courage from all those who did post, I started to put like and graduated to comments. I found myself arguing about politics heatedly with my friends and was able to continue with the good feelings I had for them. I was able to send wishes to my friends' birthday, thanks to the reminder by FB, and consciously made it a point to say nice things in all my comments except when I discussed politics with a few of my friends who know me well. If I read, I put like and if I needed to say, I wrote my comment.

It was when I started to write, I wanted people to acknowledge that they had read. In the beginning, I was disheartened to see a few likes on articles I spent writing for a few hours at times. Many texted, or let me know when I met them. I was glad that they did read but it didn’t give me the satisfaction of seeing likes or comments. I just couldn’t understand. Since it kept bothering, I told my close friends by calling, messaging or texting. They laughed at times. But it is an indescribable feeling for someone who wants to write and be accepted. Without my friend Padhu’s (Padmanabhan Venkatraman) comment encouraging me to write poems, I wouldn’t have continued to write poems after attempting one on Connecticut Shooting. Without all those who “Liked” or commented, I wouldn’t have dared to keep posting my articles.What other way than this forum to test myself before I begin to realize my dream someday to write a book.