What would you do if robbers entered your house? Would you confront them? Would you try to escape? Or would you disappear into the attic with your Dell laptop and update your Facebook status?
A remarkably sanguine student at the University of Georgia reportedly chose option No. 3.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 20-year-old Nitesh Bhakta happened to be at home in Cartersville, Ga., when he heard his grandmother scream.
He told the Journal-Constitution that he opened the door to his bedroom and saw three masked men. The callous might wonder why he didn't immediately rush to comfort his grandmother. Still, Bhakta's choice--to hide in the attic and update his Facebook status with: "HELP, ROBBERS, NO PHONE"--seems to have worked out quite well.
His grandmother and 17-year-old sister had reportedly been tied up. And Bhakta, who didn't have his cell phone with him, thought Facebook the best option.
And here's where you might consider which of your Facebook friends are real, and which are merely ciphers. For, according to Bhakta, many thought he was joking. Even his best friend thought it might be mere fun.
However, after a few messages back and forth, he sensed the creepy tone of reality and contacted the Bartow County sheriff's office.
After all, Bhakta had messaged him with things such as: "Idk if there's a straggler in my room don't want to get taken hostage." There doesn't seem to be too much humor in that.
The police responded quickly. The alleged robbers, meanwhile, heard the sirens and reportedly ran in all directions. Some directions are better than others, as one of them was caught. A couple more should reportedly be easy to find, as they left behind their cell phones.
Still, Bhakta--whose profile picture is that of a sleeping dog--seemed remarkably alert to the fact that Facebook's instant population was his best bet. He told Atlanta's WSBTV: "Facebook was like the only thing where I knew I could reach someone instantly that was on chat, you know."
Everyone is on Facebook. Sometimes, it seems, that can actually be a good thing.