Hello Steemit Family. You at some point have heard of or are a frequent user of WhatsApp. No doubt, I love the technology behind it. You being able to use an app for SMS, International and Local Calls, sharing of data at very affordable rates globally provided you have access to internet. That is absolutely remarkable, No doubt.
Like with every technology, people for some strange reasons come with their own set of rules, some of which I don’t subscribe to. For instance, you find yourself in a group having been added by someone either in your contact list (the Admins) prior to your consent. You have no idea what the group is about neither do you know the majority of the members therein.
I really don’t take that move lightly. It shows disrespect and lack of courtesy and etiquette. It’s common sense that before you are added to any group or even a social set up, an invitation has to happen. What happened to making a call, knowing how someone is doing, then requesting them to be part of a group? I’m the kind of person who exits immediately with no apologies to make if such a move is pulled on me.
Then there are groups you find yourself in to plan an event say a wedding, a birthday party, baby shower etc. If you are a member or planning to attend the event, it makes sense to be in the loop of what’s being planned. The discipline I have adopted to avoid distractions and my phone buzzing all the time is to mute such groups to one year and exit immediately once the event has taken place. Of course after thanking everyone who has been part of making the day successful.
What I seriously detest is people who use WhatsApp groups as a platform to fund-raise money whatever reason that may be. It’s like people have completely lost a sense of decorum or are divorced from reality as to how real world operates. Just because we happen to be friends and you have some sort of financial emergency, do not go create a group and go ahead to ask for cash directly. That’s not the right way to go about things.
Social behavior is changing with advent in technology. But the basic human values of etiquette and respect have to be upheld in all forms of communication. That said, I’m a member of five groups on WhatsApp, I already feel that those are way too many but all are relevant at this stage in my life. How many of such do you have on your phone? What have been your experiences with WhatsApp groups, good or bad? Kindly share that on the comment section below.
