Social media have proven to be of significant impact to our world today; individually and corporately. It's prevailing influence and effect cannot be ignored. Through this media we've come to see people learn and adopt all kinds of things. With the constant rise in the growth and advancement of these media system, it only implies the influence will grow to be more than what it already is.
Years back, it meant a physical connection or interaction to affect an individual or group of persons in whatsoever sense. There has to be that coming together to actualise this reality of influencing another. This means that whatever that could be and was achieved, to impact or influence something or someone had to follow this path.
Today however, we're blessed with the social media. A means of engagement that interconnects people from far and near, of known and unknown identities to each other for a shared form of interaction. Through the several social media platforms, it's undoubtedly true that what we've come to see and listen to can have an impact on us.
The means through which this is actualised can be in the forms of moving visuals or static graphic contents or written ones. In whatever sense, these things we come across on the social media can leave us with great lessons to think of.
Recently, I watched a reel on Facebook. It was a skit that left a big message even with the little humour presented alongside. The skit featured a guy who fixes vehicles—something known well as "mechanic". While doing his work, a lady passed by hurriedly who unknowingly dropped a file containing important documents of hers. In a bit to be a "good Samaritan", he left what he was working on in pursuit of the lady to return the documents. What happened next was the painful thing.
Catching up and calling her attention, she pushed him down before he could utter a word. She began ranting about how his unclean self will shamelessly try to stop her—something in that line were her words. I guess she thought he was trying to approach her; nevertheless, a rude attitude from her. Going ahead and meeting with the person she was to present the documents to, she discovered it was missing from her bag. The guy she pushed earlier was actually holding the documents, she recalled the incidence. Hurriedly, she went back to his shop, to plead.
His boss who witnessed everything wouldn't allow her retrieve the documents from the guy, though it seemed like the guy would be willing to easily return it to her. At then end of the video was the striking point. He asked, "what would you do if you were in my shoes?". Huh! That's a huge one I thought.
Watching that reel gave me something to reflect on. One is how we might tend to discard and disapprove people even without knowing their intents. People should be given the opportunity to express themselves first before taking our actions, and that we can do in a polite manner. However, it's a different case when the character of the persons are known already.
Secondly, it's a reflection on his question, "what would I do...?" The best form of revenge I believe is to not be like the person. If I decide to retaliate; and in this case hold on to the documents or keep them away, would I be different from her? It's a big reflection for me because I know it's easier said than done. But then, what if it can be done?
This is my entry for the Hive Naija weekly prompt, week 89.
Images are AI generated