Over-dependence: Over-Dependence Makes Life Spiritless

By HARSH KABRA

I often surmise that the virtual world isnÕt any more inviolable than the real world, when I fret over the growing menace of hackers.

Businesses the world over are ploughing back billions of dollars and thousands of hours every year into building defences against computer viruses. But they seem to be waging a losing battle as hackers find new ways of exploiting security flaws. Often, these hackers have no other motive than to enjoy the ÒhighÓ they get from disrupting a complicated programme.

WhatÕs most disconcerting is that their unholy designs are founded on our over-dependence on computers. We are an impatient lot, unable to take even a momentÕs delay in our stride. Worse still, we are seldom prepared with appropriate back-ups for eventualities. This makes it easier for hackers to precipitate grave losses through masterly incursions.

LetÕs remember that over-dependence on something only incubates vulnerability. Economists can never emphasise enough the perils of over-dependence on external markets, underscoring the importance of indigenous demand and purchasing power. Companies that are over-dependent on any one industry and fail to diversify businesses, much like investors failing to diversify their stock portfolios, also fail to exploit market imperfections and get hurt by the smallest piece of negative news about that industry.

An over-dependence on esoteric, high-sounding theories, meant more to intimidate than enlighten, only creates more doubts. Those who swear by religion and who over-zealously quote scriptures only encourage over-dependence on the written word rather than understand the spirit behind them. So we quote scriptures without comprehending them and this misunderstanding fuels violence and aggravates sectarian friction. Some attribute lack of culture to an over- dependence on rationality. We all bear witness to how over-dependence on techno-logy and scientific achievements has lessened the use of the body and brain. This has given rise to both mental and physical inertia and illnesses.

In our lives, we seem to be growing over-dependent on things that we have little or no control over Ñ luck, looks and pedigree, for instance, making life spiritless. We are over-dependent on money and external rewards for happiness; on material pleasures for contentment; on outpacing others for giving meaning to our lives; or on matters of faith for an identity.

Expounding on self-exploration, philosopher Soren Kierkegaard speaks of over-dependence as an instance of bad spirit resulting from attempts to escape anxiety. He explains that even if we know that we have ventured into such an attempt, we concoct reasons to evade it, developing a desire for degradation and taking perverse pride in destruction.

Over-dependence means desperately holding on to other people, places, or things to give our lives meaning and direction; of allowing them to rob us of autonomy, independence, and personal responsibility for our own actions; of the ineptitude to take self-initiated steps to get our life into control, order, and direction. It also means letting the need for approval, fear of rejection, and feeling of insecurity immobilise us.

Over-dependence makes us feel directionless. Let us remind ourselves that over-dependence is a ÒcontrolÓ issue and itÕs time we discouraged exaggerations from making lifeÕs over-dependence addictive and insurmountable.