Timelapse.

The internet has been evolving, and so has the way people perceive it. A long time ago, I remember people used to talk to anyone they found on the internet. They were more interested in speaking, chatting, and connecting. It was about finding more time to be with your people than anything else. Even though you met them on a daily basis, it still wasn’t enough, and the internet opened a new door for people.

A call could disturb others, letters required time, and other means of communication were simply not there. The digital inbox became a thing because it offered complete freedom without disturbing real-life experiences. You could chat at night and no one would be disturbed, or in the morning or evening. It was a silent retreat you gave to yourself.

Time started evolving. The magical experiences turned into daily routines and then into the new normal, to the point where people are no longer chatting with anyone. Either you text for work or because of work. Even the receiver is aware that the conversation is transactional. You text someone because you think of them or find them interesting, because that is no longer the norm. Now, you text only when you have work, a proposal, or a purpose.

Humans created the system and then molded it to their darker behaviors. What was once used to connect is now used “for connection,” not connection itself. And this didn’t happen simply because of people, but because people made it conventional. People hate normal because it feels boring, yet it feeds their ego. They don’t find themselves separate from the crowd, so they make sure their “I” stays protected and different. All regressive steps are followed: late responses, no responses, forgotten responses. These all come from the same behavioral pattern where humans try hard to look different and be applauded for it.

It is not something openly said, but an inner projection largely motivated by this core sense of satisfaction. You will see humans mostly talk and respond like bots, like zombies very predictable and similar. How did this become a thing when everyone was trying to be different? Because the core system works on similar wiring.

The world is not becoming smarter or more aware, nor more depressed or boring. What is lost is the meaning of core excitement. And it can reverse if a person recognizes that the new normal is not normal, but a privilege in hand. The “self” you try to portray to others is simply a lost soul wrapped in mature or deep themes. But if you unfold many layers of it, you will realize that the self is not the same as the portrayed reality.

This is not about conversation or texting, but a deeply rooted behavioral problem we are facing. You can see this clearly in the fact that we can’t find the time to say even a few words to someone.