It was 5:30 in the evening on a rather sunny Bangalore sunday. I was watching the news on the TV. The usual stuff, politics, sports scandals etc. Suddenly I heard the phone ring. My friend,lets call him Murthy, asked me if I was free to meet up. Well I was bored all day so I was more that relieved to meet someone. Once we met, we discussed various stuff ranging sports to politics. And the moment we discussed politics and good governance, Murthy got a bit cynical. He kept on cursing the system. I told him that it would take sometime for things to change but he would not listen. I asked him for ideas to make things better but he didn't seem to care too much.I gave him concrete examples of how things are changing and how life is becoming better than what it used to be. I tried to convince him that things aren't that bad but he kept comparing our state to that of the the western powers. In the end, It turned out to be an inconclusive argument.
The other day I was sitting at home when I heard my mom, dad and Uncle talk about some topic related to how kids behave these days. They went on to say that kids who don't respect their parents are gonna suffer. They discussed their feeling about how children these days disobey their parents. I partly agreed with them considering the fact that lots a kids need some discipline and should learn how to talk to elders.But the went on to say that today's kids are useless and don't use their head. And are spoiling their future. They said that kids these days want bikes and cars and pocket money to enjoy. And yes, they came up with dialogues like "I bought a cycle when I was 26" etc etc. They went on say that technology is spoiling us further and that it has done more harm that good. Kids spend a lotta time on the computer and watching TV. They predicted that the same technology would kill us and that and that kids should spend more time thinking about how to earn more money for that family. I popped in and said that its wrong to only look at the negative aspects of today's technology and one must acknowledge and admire the boon in it. If it wasn't for technology, kids would not be able to talk to people who are thousands of miles away using the web chat. Kids can now book train tickets for their parents using a technology know as the internet. I argued giving many more examples saying that kids have become smarter with the advent of technology and kids are becoming more independent and that they must be encouraged. But, the elders again didn't care a damn and told me that I was too young and haven't seen the world. They could not give me any solid reason but did not consider my comments too.
It's a hot weekday. All of us are slogging trying to give our best at work. Finally we decide to give ourselves a break and head out to that balcony to have a cup of coffee. We relax in the shade and then someone pops up an argument. They say that the company is not good and it does not cater to the need of the employees. I ask them why they felt so. They said they don't pay us well. They went on to compare the company to the likes of google and they other biggies. I had a simple a question. Do we do work that deserves a paycheck of google standards? They were not ready to accept my argument. I asked them what they thought was needed to be done by the company to change its employees fortunes. And i didnt get one solution. They went on to say that I should not work very hard and should rather go home early and not work late as i usually do. I argued that at one end you guys wanna work less and go home early and on the other end you wanna big paycheck. They just smiled and said yes. I've been in several conversations with them and not once have they said that they like the company and are proud to be a part of it. They to compare the company with ones that are not even in the same segment as that of ours. When I bring out fact and figures they just shun it away and behave as if what they say is final and what the truth is doesn't matter. I mean give it a min and think about what you said.
There are many such examples that we come across in our day to day lives. Why have we become so cynical? Are we really living in such horrible times? Cant we admire any thing in life. Cant we take up responsibility to change things. why is the problem always someone else's problem. Have we turned blind to all the good things in life. Even the media always highlights the negative news and hardly considers publicizing the positive. Why do we complain so much? Why do we add to the problem rather than being a part of the solution? Do facts and figures not make any sense to us? Why do we influence people with negative thoughts though there is no basis to our argument? Why do we do this? Just to convince ourselves? When will we change? When will we contribute to the society. When will we start to encourage natural true talent? We don't care if we are right or wrong but we try our best to demotivate the and prove others wrong. When will this change? Will we ever become wise?
I just want to talk more about the example you have chosen to give in ur blog -> "elders blaming children for being disobedient". I am sure elders do appreciate the advantages of the technology. However as children are more occupied with keeping up on technology and don't give any time to their parents or elders at home, the elders feel insecured and this, kind of creates a gap and they feel that children don't care about them which is totally not true. So, if the children can spend sometime talking to their parents it might be a good solution for this misunderstanding.
ReplyDeleteAbout "Comparing our Country to other developed Nations", we do have a lot of things to improvise in our country. We need to swipe out the corruption. May be we need good politicians who can come up with strict measures to end all the corruption. Even public has a part of their responsibility here. I don't understand why a person can't be without throwing the waste on the road, at least the paper waste. They can take it home and throw it in the dustbin as our government is yet to put up dustbins everywhere! It's seriously not all that difficult!
When it comes to people complaining about the company and comparing it to google, just give them free advice of applying to google :P
I know that this blog was intended to question about why people's attitude is inexplicable. I found no point in appreciating those questions as they are the one's to be let into void. Focusing on the solutions to certain things would help more than complaining about why other people don't try to find solutions.
Why have we become so cynical? A:Discontentment with one's own achievement and comparison with higher achievers.
ReplyDeleteAre we really living in such horrible times? A:No
Cant we admire any thing in life? Cant we take up responsibility to change things?
A: Yes, we can. Simplistic living is the way forward. We need to go out of our way to take responsibility for the greater good. if you dont take it up, you have no rights to complain.
why is the problem always someone else's problem?
A: Ego
Even the media always highlights the negative news and hardly considers publicizing the positive.
A: Human mentality tends to incline towards the bad more so than the good. Is a policeman ever thanked for preventing crime? He's only fired for a crime that has happened.
Why do we complain so much?
A: An outlet of frustration.
Why do we add to the problem rather than being a part of the solution?
A: :)
Do facts and figures not make any sense to us?
A: They do, but we choose to ignore them coz it points out our folly.
Why do we influence people with negative thoughts though there is no basis to our argument? Why do we do this? Just to convince ourselves?
A:The legendary story of the crabs in the bottle.
When will we change? When will we contribute to the society. When will we start to encourage natural true talent? We don't care if we are right or wrong but we try our best to demotivate the and prove others wrong. When will this change? Will we ever become wise?
A: The key lies in not answering these questions, but in asking these questions itself because such questions helps one reflect on the nuances of our attitude in the here and now. The onset of change is contemplation of one's presence in the context created by these questions. One may argue against it but atleast he/she has thought about it. That's a good start buddy. People will change. They will contribute to the society. "Things start changing when one starts thinking"
I hope people start thinking when the questions are thrown at them. I hope they accept the truth their mind gives or should I say that I hope they allow their minds to give true answers to the questions?!
ReplyDeleteHope is a good thing.. May be the best thing.. And no good thing ever dies !! - shawshank redemption :) :)