India, Sept. 13 -- This column was born of exasperation.

I was on the verge of quitting my housing society's WhatsApp group. The endless stream of "Good Morning" images, pixelated saints and recycled quotes had worn me down. I considered posting a blunt message, asking people to stop clogging the chat. My thumb hovered over the "send" arrow, with its heedless paper-plane icon.

What would be the point? It could only polarise and certainly wouldn't help.

I considered leaving quietly. But I didn't. That conflict, between irritation and belonging, is why I am writing this.

Every morning, the ritual repeats itself. A neighbour shares an image of a rising sun with a greeting in glittering fonts; another invokes a saint with a line from scri...