THE MOUSE STORY

Internet has grown rapidly in our country in the last few years. When it came to our country, I remember it was a sort of luxury to common people as Internet then meant running up a huge telephone bill (as internet was provided through telephone then) at month's end. When I got the net connection our phone bill would often range between anywhere from Rs.4000-Rs.6000 per month! But things have changed now with so many service providers & private players in the market. Now you pay Rs.500 a month & enjoy unlimited surfing & downloading. Thanks to the broadband concept. People are now more net savvy & also dependant on the internet be it a Lilliput task or a Goliath task. Whatever you need is just a mouse click away.
Wow life has become a Mouse click! Socializing is done over the net through various community based websites like Orkut, Hi 5, Gazzag, Bebo etc plus chat rooms are available with video conferencing. Post office will perhaps become an extinct word from the dictionary to the next generation as E-mail is taking over fast. With websites like Secondlife & Stardoll people can choose avatars they like, dress them up the way they like & that too with branded apparels & go on a world tour virtually! Matrimonial sites are already there to find Mr. Perfect or Miss Adorable so I guess that day is not far away when marriage rituals will be performed over the internet through video conferencing to save time & money. You don't have time to buy gift for your loved one's? No problem choose gifts & place an order online in websites like Rediff, Archies, Ferns & Petals etc. they will get it delivered at your loved one's doorstep. Pay your Phone bills, Electric bills, taxes online with a click of the mouse. You need to transfer fund from one bank to another? Go to your personal bank's website & click on e-banking, done! Share trading is done online today again with a mouse click. Even you can hover around the world like a care-free bird with a mouse click, thank you Google Earth. I never thought a dirty, little mouse like Jerry would become so important in our life one day. Today all we need is a mouse & the world is at our fingertips!
Have we thought of the other side of the Mouse-clicked life? Aren't people becoming too much virtual these days? Ok I agree that in today's world where every one is running after money so that they & their offspring can survive in a if not lavish at least in a decent manner , time is a great constraint & hence internet & mouse clicks are the way out. But again there is a huge difference when socializing is done over the internet & man to man. The level of interaction is much higher in the second case. Secondlife & Stardoll are make believe world and are making the youth more brand conscious and behave in a lavish manner which is sometime getting out of the way for the parents. As far as gifts are concerned I think instead of getting them delivered, your personal presence on your loved one's birthday/anniversary is touchier.
So people do pen down your view points & your take on the MOUSE!