"To Blog or not to Blog"- by Speedy
Keeping in touch- "To Blog or not to Blog, that is the question"
Mahendra "Speedy" Gonsalkorale
A version of this was posted in January 2016, and I felt it might be helpful to revisit it. Come on, my friends, release those thoughts lurking in the background and share them with us!
The Blog was born in 2011, that is 14 years ago! The proud Father was the late Lucky.
I have been wondering for some time why our Blog is not as
popular as I was hoping it would be. If we consider how interactive it is, by
looking at numbers who comment, then we do fall short by quite a margin. The
total number of persons who have commented is below 20 and of these there are now
less than 8 very active people.
The questions I am posing are these.
- Why is the comment rate low?
- How can we get more people involved?
- How many of our Batch colleagues actually use it?
- Does the Blog serve a purpose? Is the time and effort made by Lucky so unselfishly, worth it?
- Is it worth resending a questionnaire by email to get the answers?
We did one in 2020. There were 30 responses from 74 sent out, a rate of 40.5%, which was bigger than I expected with only 3 in Category (a) Hardly ever visited the Blog. - I posted the findings in the Blog and here is the Link:- https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2020/11/speedygroup-interview-about-our-blog.html#comment-form ).
Or is this a wider issue about how school friends or
University friends keep in touch? We have moved in different directions and we
have built up new friendships and we may feel a need to move on putting our
past behind us, especially if that part of our past is something we want to
forget. We have formed groupings within us based on where we live and our own
interests. Our circles have widened and those who we consider worth keeping in
touch, we still do but the criterion has to be much wider than “he/she was my
batch colleague”. The bonds that we had then have to be very strong for them to
survive the ravages of time. We are pleasant when we see each other, but life
has taken us in different directions, and we have moved on. We may not feel the
need to rekindle the relationship.
Then, there is the question of priorities. There is never enough time to do what we wish to do, and looking at the Blog may not be a priority.
Like a good restaurant, if we enjoy the experience, we will come
back!
There are other possible factors such as familiarity with
computers and the Internet. I still have friends who get their children to set
up their TV, check their email!
How much a person uses anything depends a lot on how useful
(enjoyable) it is to that person. The Blog may be an avenue to display our talents (music/poetry with me and
writing/painting with ND and painting with Chira). It may be a pleasant way to
spend time reminiscing. It may rekindle old friendships. It gives us an
opportunity to rejoice at the success of colleagues (e.g. Lama), it may be a
medium to recall with pleasure a time we were together at a critical phase of
our life, it can be a way to show our appreciation to our Teachers, it could be
a medium to enlist help for a good cause connected with our Medical Faculty. It
has also reminded us of our mortality with the growing number of obituary
notices.
I have posed many questions and indicated why the Blog still has much to offer. I am a firm believer in putting the past
behind and moving on. There is no time like the present moment but the present
moment could be enriched by learning from the past; but avoid dwelling in the past pondering on the “what might have been”. That kind of reflection, the “what
might have been”, is pointless, corrosive, and a recipe for discontent.
But to me, what is important in the final analysis is not
how frequently we keep in touch but the ability to pick up and continue from
where we left. I felt that very much at the last Batch Reunion when I met
colleagues after so many years.
So come on my friends, pull out your fingers and start
typing on your keyboards either as a comment, or as an email to one of us. As
for me, I enjoy reading the Blog and contributing to it and shall continue to
do so.
Please send anything you like to post, to me by email if
you are uncomfortable about writing a new post, send me a draft and I am only too happy to edit and publish it, or
publish it as it is if that is your wish.
In conclusion, I am proud of our Batch, a Batch of achievers and an example to emulate.
My dear Friends, I am sure most of the Batch would love a short update on your life since you left the Faculty. Where are you now, what was your speciality, anything you like to disclose about your family, any achievements you are proud of, any special talents? Any memories of signifiance about mates or Teachers or anecdotes? Just a few ideas from me. You can just email me with a list or story and I can put it togther (only those that you provided- I won't add anything new).
ReplyDeleteDear Speedy I love keeping in touch with friends & family I truly appreciate news about the achievements of our colleagues even those of their spouses. & grand kids
ReplyDeleteI love reunions face to face. so much news is shared. Both sad
& happy. Given that these face to face reunions are becoming more & more difficult due to travel restriction's & health conditions etc the very next thing is the blog. Hats off to Lucky for starting our 62 batch blog. Sincere thanks to you Speedy for continuing it. Grateful thanks to all those who contribute regularly but also to those who write infrequently when ever i read tge blog i cease on the news and savor it & digest it
long live the blog
Wonderful to have your response Pram. We all know the extent you go to try and keep our batch together. Your Forever 62 group is one such activity and also the trouble you take to try and get a meeting in London when you visit. Thanks a million.
DeleteMahendra
ReplyDeleteI am thankful to late Lucky for Creating our Blog and to you for keeping it alive. I must admit I had not been visiting the Blog till late 2020.
You started interviews with me on 12.12.2020, and ever since that day I have been involved with 25 articles including 16 postings of paintings till 28.8.2024
I enjoyed doing these interviews with you. I was happy that you published My achievements in Ophthalmology. I felt rather awkward as I felt I was boasting, but you did it in a manner that you highlighted my achievements.
I feel your interview on Ask the expert was useful to everyone as most batchmates have had Cataract surgery or awaiting Cataract surgery. My daughter Anjali's video on Phaco Cataract surgery showed how it is done in detail.
I had not done any paintings and not gone for any classes but started painting looking at the picture on my Laptop. I enjoyed painting and was happy to send to the Blog and thankful to you for publishing them. I had sent about 200 odd paintings and what more can I paint.
I feel we should keep our Blog alive. It is a very good way to communicate with each other by commenting on articles published.
We are informed of demise of our batchmates via our Blog.
I think most of us are octogenerians and we have to exit from this universe soon. So keeping the Blog alive we will get the news.
Let us keep our Blog alive.
Long live our Blog !
Chira
Hello all
ReplyDeleteThe blog is a fine forum to remain in touch. It is benign and non intrusive. My thanks to Mahendra for managing it. There are a myriad of reasons why we can’t be regulars on the blog. Even just a short clip or a hello is a help and a boost to us all in this our autumn of life. When you can just read what we have done before. The past is a nostalgic journey well worthwhile.
Best wishes
Nihal D Amerasekera
Hi Speedy,
ReplyDeleteI firmly believe that old friendships are to be treasured. That's why 5 of us JC, Sura, Lucky,Ganesh and myself got together to organise the first ever Reunion of the Class of 62 in 1988. Sadly, of that organising committee only Sura and myself are still alive .
Since then we had our Silver Jubilee Reunion in 1992, the first ever Reunion including batchmates resident abroad in 1997, the Ruby Anniversary celebrations in 2007, the 45th Anniversary celebrations in 2012, and our Golden Anniversary in 2017.
It was amazing how we could pick up conversations as if we were in close touch and how we could recall so many incidents from our student days. You may remember the Batch Quiz I conducted which caused much amusement at one of the Reunions. I remember you even made a Blog entry of it
Inevitably, we have changed from bright eyed young medics to more serious Octaganarians.. myself being the last to reach that exalted status. Organising big Reunions now would be an impossible task.
So our best solution is to continue with the Batch Blog. - the Inspiration and Brain Child our dear Lucky, which you have so lovingly nurtured.
Please don't get discouraged Speedy by the poor response. I am certain that there are many who read but do not comment.
How about publishing a Then and Now photographs . Or how about a Guess who Quiz?
Long live the Blog !
Suri
Chira and Suri, thanks a lot for your positve and encouraging comments. The then and now photos sounds an interesting idea but I wonder a bit about its acceptance!
ReplyDeleteHello All
ReplyDeleteI just hope and wish our batchmates can spare the time to meet and greet on this friendly forum despite the many tasks that consume our time. Many regulars who have done much for this blog have departed this world and others for very valid reasons cannot now be a part of the forum. We accept their choice and wish them well. For those who get work published on this forum they need to know there is someone out there seeing what has been printed. If they see and don’t comment we will never know. One can email Mahendra any comments that require publishing if commenting is a problem. It is a lot of work for Mahendra to manage and housekeep the blog. We must also try and make it worthwhile for him. I am sorry to sound like an old school teacher but I just do not know how else to get this message across. Our blog is in its last legs and needs your help and input. Lucky Abey may be watching quietly the going’s on in this forum which he setup all those years ago.
The above comment is from me. ND Amerasekera
ReplyDeleteThis is what Lucky posted as a comment many moons ago:"To conclude this long comment on a happier note, I have now discovered (mainly through private e-mails) that many members of our batch do visit the blog regularly although they don't contribute. I must also take this opportunity to thank you all for keeping the blog going and giving a much needed wake-up call to others in the batch. I do appreciate your efforts to keep my enthusiasm alive at all times through your much valued contributions and comments!"
ReplyDeleteHi Mahen ,
ReplyDeleteI can understand your disappointment and frustration with poor participation of us batchmates in the blog when you expend so much time and energy to keep it going. There was a time when Lucky Abey found it disheartening too, as you found in the poem written by me “Is There a Fog you cant see the Blog “ on September 16 th 2017 indicates.
As Nihal has said- there a myriad things that crop up in our lives even now that takes our time away from the blog.
In spite of it all, your efforts at keeping the blog - our only link with each other- alive is very much appreciated. Thank you.
My poem “Treasured” which you were kind enough to trace in the blog dated
15th December 2018 says it all .
Treasured
By Rohini Anandaraja
Just names we were in years gone by,
In a batch of one fifty- it was no surprise.
Aiming to be doctors- or at least to try-
We entered a faculty- innocent, naive and shy.
There were hurdles to jump and trials with ‘rags’
In survival mode we did as we were bade.
Rude labels our seniors stuck on our backs,
‘Twas a nightmarish start- of tyranny it smacked.
Many in our batch we didn’t come to know,
Nor any of their talents and genius in store.
T’was a time to stay apart- our culture said so-
What a chance we missed our batchmates to know!
Through all of five years we rushed around,
Not daring to glance above the ground !
With books and bones and thoughts profound-
T’was no time nor place to fool around.
Some worked hard while others cruised
In worlds of their own with not a clue
As to how their efforts would bear their fruit
Or where in the world they’d put down roots.
We learned of maladies of the human race ,
To treat the afflicted with compassion and grace.
To tread our paths in Hippocratic ways-
“To cure sometimes, relieve often, comfort always.”
Soon we farewelled our student days
To follow our paths in diverse ways-
To nurture our families so they didn’t stray
In foreign lands from home far away.
‘Twas a hard task indeed as one would know
With strangers around and to go it alone-
Though thankfully the kindness these strangers showed
Blossomed into friendships for years to forge.
The days were long, there was much to do
Life was too busy to say ‘how do you do’
To batchmates unknown- let alone those one knew,
T’was a roller-coaster ride- so challenging and new.
Years disappeared in the quicksands of time
Children grew up , their own paths to find.
Then surfaced from our homeland isle,
The ‘Guy of the blog’ with new friends on line !
T’was a joy to ‘see’ our ‘missed’ batch-mates-
Their magic with words, music, photos and paints !
The botanists, humorists and sportsmen of fame
Who extended their friendships via cyberspace.
I’ve cherished you all and the efforts you’ve made
To brighten my days in amazing ways-
The generosity of your friendships will always remain
Treasured in my heart till the end of my days.
With appreciation and thanks for wonderful friendships made and renewed through the blog, specially those who have “broken the walls” (borrowed from Cyril’s post) to extend their friendship to me.
Wishing you all happiness always.
Rohini
Mahen thanks for "re-posting'" your previous essay "To Blog or Not to Blog." It is important to do a little soul searching now and then. Rohini, your poem says it all! We went in multiple different directions after graduation, but reconnected because of the blog. If you remember, we (you and I) completely lost track of each other after 1967 until Lucky and the blog reconnected us! So I vote that we keep the blog going as long as Mahen is willing to be the administrator, and is willing to give it the occasional 'tune up.'
ReplyDeleteAs Mahen said at the beginning we should share the thoughts "lurking in the background." We have acquired some wisdom, I think, along with all we have experienced. Sharing our talents, memories, opinions and stories gives our friends a great deal of pleasure even though they may not comment frequently. Now that we have WhatsApp groups it is much easier for some to stay in touch that way. The blog may have its ups and downs, but we should keep it going as long as we can, and as long as Mahen is willing, (Thank you, Mahen)
Srianee , I do remember that you reached me after years of ‘disconnect’ which was a huge surprise to me - and I am very grateful. I had lost touch with all my batchmates and I am sure they didn’t even know of my existence until Lucky Abey came on the scene . As I have said to Mahen, I feel it is certainly worth continuing with the blog as long as he is comfortable doing the hard work- we can only try to help along the way.
DeleteI enjoyed Rohini's poem that says it all. Great to hear from you Srianee. The impending demise of the Batch Blog is not through anyones fault or carelessness. As the famous aphorism goes "Nothing is forever". There was a vibrant Blog for the 1960 faculty entrants which has now stopped functioning.
ReplyDeleteOur regular bloggers are keen to see it through and their spirit is willing. For those contributors, writing is getting harder as is painting and also singing. Reading and writing a useful comment requires time and effort. It is so wonderful to hear of the love people have for the blog. I relive the life and times of the blog with great affection and wistfulness.
The Blog still has life left in it! Thank you Pramilla, Rohini, Suri, Srianee, Nihal and Chira for your comments.
ReplyDeleteWhen Blog readers have a bit of time to spare, just look at the "Post-Category Index" on the grey area on the Right side (below the "Most Recent Comments") , and arranged in alphabetical order, and pick any subject,e.g., "Old photos", and you will see all the relevant posts in sequence (when you come to the bottom, you will see "Older Post" to continue till there are no more to show. At any point, you can click on the comments for that post and read a wealth of stuff related to that post. I guarantee that you can have some real fun!
I shall continue to posts as I receive them and as I said before, contributions from ALL are welcome and please don't feel that you have to be a Shakespeare or Wordsworth to send me an article. I found that reminiscenses of our Batch days are always appreciated and another area would be an update from those of you who would like to share some good news with your mates; it could be an achievement, yours or a family member, or something that you have done which you are proud of and want to share. Please send me an email with contents and I shall publish. e.g., I was so pleased when Douglas Mulgirigama told us how he published some books in Psychiatry in Sinhalese.
As I say, "your happiness is our happiness"
For me, Friday night is music night. I have a glass or two of white wine and listen to the music of my childhood and teenage years.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Doris Day sang it way back in 1956, those poignant lyrics still ring true:
When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother what will I be?
Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?
Here's what she said to me
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be
When I grew up and fell in love
I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead?
Will we have rainbows day after day?
Here's what my sweetheart said
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be
Now I have children of my own
They ask their mother what will I be
Will I be handsome? Will I be rich?
I tell them tenderly
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be
Que sera, sera
Nihal, It is interesting that you have a special night for listening to old music! It sounds very relaxing. I am someone who often needs background music when I am doing something at home or driving. My choice depends on my activity. If I need to concentrate on what I am doing, I usually turn to my collection of classical music. I find that classical guitar music played by Andrés Segovia or the cello by Yo Yo Ma helps me concentrate. When I am attending to boring housework, such as laundry, I will turn on rock music or jazz. The wine is not part of it, definitely not when I am driving.!!
DeleteThe awesome force of destiny
ReplyDeleteIndeed !
ReplyDelete