Superpower

Superpower meaning, the most powerful nation, is a term used with reference to USA and erstwhile Soviet Union. It was largely based on the military/muscle power and weapons arsnel they possessed. The two nations used to engage in a variety of tactics to be one up, like espionage, counter espionage, triggering and supporting wars and what not. Today India is poised to be a superpower soon!

With due respect to the erstwhile superpower, existing supe powers and superpowers in the making, here I present superpower altogether in a different league. This is another superpower in the making and you as well as I might be the superpower. Whenever I am connected to the Wi-Fi and am surfing the world wide web, I feel mighty and powerful. I can know about anything or any topic under the sun. It is the most empowering tool on earth.

I can make friends on WhatsApp or face book with anybody living in any remote place on earth, I can tweet my opinion on twitter, participate in debates and make myself heard. The greater number of followers I have, more powerful my presence can be. Pinterest and Instagram give the platform if I am a connoisseur of art and related matters. So much more is there with regards to communications.

 I can know everything about anyplace without travelling there. When I travel, I can meticulously plan and be prepared. My travel. including tickets and hotel booking can be organized without any hassle. With google maps any place can be located even in an unknown country.

Sitting at home I can buy the most sophisticated computer to Dung cakes for any Puja. I can compare the prices and get best deals.

One of the highly abused features is the medical knowledge. I am confused, and may not follow, but I read about all the fancy weight loss diets, health tips and what to eat and what not to eat. Like most of the people, I try to find out the probable disease I or any of my family is suffering based on the symptoms, from the web search. Also, I try to read about all the medicines prescribed to us, including their side effects. In preliminary conclusion I always felt that I was inflicted with the most dangerous diseases and was having most of the side effects listed out for the medicines I was using.

You can go on and on about being information superpower to no end. I also acknowledge that there are many such superpowers out there. My word of caution is that the best benefit can be obtained only if one uses their power judiciously. Information overload can be a burden on the brain. At the end of the day all the information has to be processed and internalized by human brain.

Our time matters and money matters. No point in knowing in detail about Lamborghini when all I can afford is a Maruti car. Friendship with unknown persons and resultant mess with the possibility of being murdered is a big no no!

A search with any word after www…. will give you information to bury oneself. Information overload without application is of no use. Not to forget to mention, the havoc that can be played when in the hands of Hackers. Money from accounts can be syphoned within minutes and sensitive data can be retrieved. Misused power can be catastrophic.