C A M A R A D E R I E

         

         What is camaraderie? Camaraderie is defined as good natured rapport between and among people. In other words, it simply means goofing around with people!  Camaraderie is a social process that is conjunctive. Meaning, it conjoins or binds people together. As long as there are people interacting with each other, then expect camaraderie to burgeon. However, this social process is already on the verge of extinction. In a few more years, camaraderie will make it to the registry of forgotten virtues. Sad but true.

         

        Technology has paved the way for easier communication. Just open your computer or your mobile phone then the world is already at your fingertips. You can send a message  to       anywhere, from anywhere. Social networking sites have made it easier for people to connect and re-connect with each other. You can expand your social horizon by just one click. Internet technology has benefited us tremendously. But sadly, it has made human communication frosty and distant. In this wi-fi era, face to face interaction has already become optional. Yes, there is Skype. But nothing beats the physical presence of the person you are talking to. Instant messaging has made communication instant and effortless. But it has also made communication, very impersonal.

        A prerequisite to camaraderie is the physical presence of people. How can we feel warmth, sincerity, and compassion in the absence of such? It cannot be denied that we find joy in the company of others. In my social science classes, I always emphasize the idea that “no man is an island”. In other words, man cannot live alone. Like it or not, we need other people in order to survive. I am not saying though that we have to be dependent on each other at all times, for we need to learn how to stand on our own two feet. However, as a general rule, man cannot exist by himself or herself alone. Can you be the sole provider of all your needs? Nein. Man is always situated in an interconnected network of needs. We need each other, period.

        Let this blog entry be a tribute to camaraderie before technology erases it. Let this be a reminder that human interaction is at its best when we come face to face with each other. Let us enjoy technology but not at the expense of our traditions and values. Hail to camaraderie!