When Rudeness is Condoned

Courtesy - a word that signifies politeness, respect and civilised behaviour is so commonly uncommon these days! Perhaps some would call me overly sensitive, but the truth is that most of us exhibit this 'learned behaviour' of condoning and acting rude in order to get things done. Let's start with how the boss treats his subordinates or how a teacher reprimands a misbehaving student. Granted, sometimes students seem to have asked for such treatment from those who seek to protect and guide them. But is this reason enough?

Looking back, I get the feeling that we are quite deep into the concept of being 'authoritative and commanding' in order to seem accomplished. We are so desensitised to bad manners that when the thin line of polite behaviour is breached we barely notice how easy it is to move to being openly harsh and cynical.

Perhaps this might help getting the point across. I came across this post in a forum I regularly visit, and I guess I should not be surprised by the crude and callous remarks made by one of the regulars there. But the point is not even that this obnoxious guy actually made a rude comment, but that the remark was intended at someone who had tried to help out a person with a query. Accoording to the strongly worded allegations of Mr. O (couldn't resist calling him that as a short form for obnoxious!), the person who tried to answer a question had neither the skills required nor the language expertise to post a reply in what Mr. O termed as 'amateurish'! And then this person also had the gall to rephrase the entire mail of the poor guy into a two-liner. Now, the original was atleast a page long and admittedly not a great work of literary credit! But did it deserve this kind of stinging critisism? I don't think so. In this case however the other members did vocalise their unhappiness with Mr. O's post.

Thank god for small mercies!!

Forgiveness?!

What does forgiveness mean to you? As the nasal voice of Brian Adams croons on the radio "...Please Forgive Me..." do you stop a moment to dwell on the topic? Thinking of a past when you wished with all your heart that a friend you hurt inadvertently, will suddenly be attacked by a selective amnesia and actually forgive you? Or perhaps fervently wish that you could just move past that little incident by forgiving the cruel words of a colleague?

Whatever the word 'forgiveness' may mean to you (I am fairly certain it means something to you!), the fact is that most of us have trouble admitting to having forgiven someone. "Why should I? He doesn't deserve it!" These are words I have spoken myself, and I realised that they really don't make me feel any better. So is revenge the key to the problem? Hardly.

Forgiveness a topic spoken about by some of the most powerful teachers - from Hindu seers and Sufi masters to Jesus and Buddha - is also perhaps the least employed. So is forgiveness the key to happiness. There is no way to know unless we try it! Learning to forgive is hard, but it is surprisingly healing. Forgive and move on. It works!

Have a Minute?

This is one beautiful message. So simple in content yet holds deep meaning - I just had to blog this!

What does it cost to have a Celebration ....
Jus Imagine...

A winter evening.
Four friends.
One barsaat.
Four glasses of chai.

Hundred bucks for petrol.
A rusty old bike.
And an open road.

Maggi noodles.
A hostel room.
4.25 a.m.

3 old friends.
3 separate cities.
3 coffee mugs.
1 internet messenger.

Rain on a hot tin roof.
Pakoras deep-frying.
Neighbours dropping in.
A party.

You and mom.
A summer night.
A bottle of coconut oil.
A head massage.
Gossiping about absent family members.

You can spend >hundreds on birthdays,
thousands on festivals,
lakhs on weddings,

But to celebrate all u have to spend is your Time.

So Would U?!

Interesting Blogs Out There

I seem to be making more post these days but fact is there are just too many interesting things out there you jus can't help writing about it. This one on plaigarism was so detailed and informative it had me hooked ... no less mind you. Check it out here:
http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2006/04/10/what-do-you-do-when-someone-steals-your-content

Its worth the read really...

Ans then this one is with a twist! It talks about an age old human emotion ... Told with the right tinge of femisnistic sarcasm! One helluva blog here:
http://www.guessaurus.com/2006/03/13/let%e2%80%99s-talk-about%e2%80%a6-sex/

Call it crude if you will; for me though it just nails it right on! Great going gal...

When Techie is IN

Isn't it strange how in the midst of all that's happening around us, we seem to have lost along the way the little things that made us happy and the smallest joys? I know I am sounding nostalgic yeah yeah! But it's true you gotta admit. Well what made me think of writing this obvious fact now? No nothing more than that I was casually browsing around and I find that the effect of technology is practically everywhere. And far from feeling a sense of pride I felt hopelessly left out! You know sometimes how all this technological innovations and all can make you feel overwhelmed; but this was not about feeling like it was all too big to take: more like - now where did I miss that race to try out the little gadget myself.

Perhaps in all this rat race of keeping up with the latest fads and the striving to reach the Tech Guru stature, we have missed a few things here and there. My mom talks about how the little radio in the home she grew up in would suddenly conk off and then they would have to employ some outdated tactics to get it talking! How cute I say - but my mom responds 'nope it wasn't all that fun dear'! Yeah I guess not...But you know what - I wish I had had that kind of life you know so atleast all this technology would not have been so tiresome. I mean I was born when TV was a hosehold name and stereos weren't all that uncommon.

For many of us, Hi-Tech is what we grew up with. And I am glad I am part of it - Yes. But then sometimes you do wish things weren't moving all that fast - 'slow down a bit' you wanna scream. And no it's not like things have gone too far, you just want a break .... period. And that's exactly what I felt when I see websites that host some way too Hi-Fi stuff or people's blogs that scream - Technology! We have all talked about this ... but there is no escape. So what have I decided to do about it? Nothing! I am gonna move with the tide - Oh yes absolutely! Yup, I am gonna try that new phone and the new kid on the block - the iPod too! So to you Techie geeks - cheers! We are not bogged down by all that stuff; we want more - we would say that won't we?!

My First Blog

My First Blog. What do I write about? I am not quite sure. And with so many topics to write about, it is virtually impossible for me to decide really! Still I figured I might as well start somewhere. Though I do maintain a personal journal, blogging intrigued me for the freedom of access to the general viewer and provided exciting possibilities. As a writer by profession too it offers me plenty of scope to extend my repertoire to personal jouranalling online ... ok ok no word coinage ... blogging! So here goes ...

Like I was saying I wanted something of general interest to write about. And then it struck me that an incident reported a while ago was more than just interesting. I am talking about the so called 'student rampage' at a well known college turned 'Deemed University' near Chennai. And there have been other incidents reports from then on.

In fact the media's dismissive attitude of the arrested students and the lack of social support to those affected is absolutely enraging. Yet, the masses choose to be silent witnesses. A letter I wrote to the Editor of leading newspaper received no attention. So then I thought I might as well put it in my blog. Even if I choose to join the silent public, I can atleast show a degree of defiance.

Here is an excerpt from the letter that went unnoticed.

It is pretty unfortunate that students in this country are treated with utmost disrespect and disregard. The incident reported in the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed University) seems to have taken a backburner under the more ‘front-page worthy news’ including the US President Mr. Bush’s arrival in the country and the Union Budget.

It’s even more unfortunate that an esteemed newspaper such as ‘The Hindu’ also took to this trend and chose to give second priority to news that could well decide the prospects of the so-called ‘future citizens’ of the country.

Isn’t it time someone seriously questioned why those ‘responsible’ individuals, who establish educational institutions in the name of imparting value-based instruction and technological excellence, are only in the business for accumulating wealth and influence? Is there going to be no voice against perpetrators who claim to be ‘moralistic’ while they go around assaulting the innocent and even do not cringe from refraining to murder all for the sake of monetary gains and political power?

It is newspapers and television that can act as effective media to act more responsibly, and substantiate claims and provide unbiased information and justice to the deserving. Albeit that there are reports of television crews affected by the incident, the media seems to have given it a lesser preference for coverage. Should the media not stand up in its own right and act as the rightful voice of people whose economic means do not allow them adequate defense and justice?

So much for the media's social role.

What is your opinion on this subject? Would you like to critique my blog? Post your comments!