Round table Series : Sarcasm is a way of life

Here I am again, this time presenting a new series which I would be calling a Round Table series. I know you must be thinking whats new in it, the difference in this round table, I want to  pen what go in my mind when I think about random things. It is fascinating for me sometime that obvious things which are accepted as they are can be so confusing to really accept as the arguments in opposition to that is so compelling which makes me wonder "Why". This creates a unique thought process in my mind and often confuses me to the core. This series is compilation of all these manifestations inside my head.

Sarcasm, Greeks roots meaning "to tear flesh, bite the lip in rage, sneer". This has been transformed to great extent and has accepted in modern times as a term to represent whit, sharp gibe, or often incorrectly (?) as a Taunt. Now here is the tricky part. Is being sarcastic is bad ? The answer is "I don't know". If we assume we believe in a family value system, I don't think any modern family will teach his kid to be seen as taking gibes at others kids, on the other hands he or she will be often punished to be doing so. Now what this means, do we socially not encourage being witty. If sarcasm is seen as sign of a sharp brain then why we don't encourage it ?

Another school of thought is is being sarcastic is a sign of sharp mind as sarcastic comebacks needs an intelligent brain which reacts to the situation and produce an outcome which is humorous and shows who is in control. Phenomenon which made Chandler Bing of Friends, a beloved character shows the society accepts good sarcasm. This seems to be an oxymoron to me, we don't teach this and often discourage this but if someone does it to perfection, we adore that.
I could have been your dad but the dog beat me over the fence
Zombies eat brains. You’re safe.

Is sarcasm is a culmination of an unhappy mind ? Sarcasm often serves as a vent of people's unhappiness towards others and situations. "Sometimes I need what only you can provide: your absence". is one example. Now imagine you asked a simple question to someone saying "How are you" and the answer is "I was doing fine until now ". What does this mean ? I mean what made the other person react this way to someone who basically asked a very simple question. Is the person really not in a good mood, which means was unhappy, or thought this question was a sarcastic question so he felt the need to respond it in such way.

In any which way, what I finally understood that being sarcastic is like a fine art, this trait needs a lot of precision and often the boundary between a great whit and abuse is very thin.

My Take On Twitter

Hi Guys,

Twitter, the phenomenon we all know, have experienced and may be suffered occasionally. I am really getting in to this "Twitter" now as I am tweeting my brains out day and night. I wouldn't say I always release a thoughtful insight in 140 words when I tweet. Often my tweets are crude, nuanced, cruel responses. Also, I spread the same kind from others as well when I "Retweet". This has started from yesterday and I am not sure if I am really enjoying this or am getting into this far too much for my own good. Also I noticed, I am not consistent in my orientation about things and I really wonder if this mania is something which empowers people to better communicate freely or make them slave of poor intellect. Also, we don't really know if we are becoming a hired gun for some one else in our process of being entertained. Here abuses are cheap, opinions are loose, loyalties change at a drop of a hat.

I see a lot of media channels using Twitter as well to their advantage. For good or bad, this is saving them from really hiring too many reporters or worry about there content publicity. They get a lot of content from each other and from the common public as well. Also, I believe the content received to them often is not used to the full advantage. Too many media house editors are blatantly publicizing their content like their interviews, shows etc. I don't have any problem in this medium parse' when it is used by media houses, I just have a feeling that in this blatant, non stop publishing, we may be missing the editorial checks and balances and therefore there is a risk of misreporting always exist. Also, this is like a "Teer" left from "Kaman", can't easily retract that from spreading. Too many examples we have already.

I would rather think since  we have this is a great technological invention, how best we can use this. I mean this is a fabulous tool can be used for data collection. Lot of people, agencies are already using this for the statistical analysis and analysis of kinds which is really fabulous. I think we need to extend the same may be in governmental planning for resources. May be by educational institutions, media houses as well to sample and gauge the contents peoples inclination.

Also, again for media, may be this can be used as we structured medium to collect news. I mean what it takes for a common man to report any incident through twitter. If he has a video clip, it can be uploaded to You tube and the link can be shared. Currently also, this is happening but I think this can be institutionalized to better use.

You think why I am rising now when Twitter is already something most people know, answer is I being a lazy was also introduced to twitter long before in its early days. I joined, enjoyed reading tweets, occasionally "RT" ing few things but I never really have understood its full potential and it working in full form. As I learned to use it now, I am blogging about it.

Traffic Signal Stories # Being in Front Row

Hi Folks,

Here its me again and writing again on small nuances from my daily travel experience.

I am as always travelling from my home in Murugeshpallaya, Bangalore to my office Electronic City, roughly 22 Kms and if we add up to the number of traffic signals minus the cheeky shortcuts I take so would come around some 50 mins bike ride. Now this is a long time and often amongst the chaos, I get the opportunity to thinks and shed some travel wisdom, which is the reason for this blog post.

This traffic signal monster which I consider to be a real blocker has some fascinating instances which are not only can be cherished but if are observed them carefully can help you in navigating your way with ease and can help you enjoy the ride.

The curse of being FRONT on the signal : Now this is interesting, as you would imagine, this is the most coveted position in the street, exactly in front of the traffic signal, in the first line. You feel the responsibility on your shoulders, you feel you are leading a group. Here is the true test of your leadership skill, how well you can maneuver vehicular army which anxiously awaits you to move or even stir. Your slightest of movement can send shivers to the last vehicle in the convoy behind you. This is a great power, but reaching here is not only difficult but can often be miserable also.
Reaching here : There are many ways and will explain them in detail below, it will explain the paradoxes in as well as how this position can be a great sense of happiness for one and at the same time can be a misery for other. If you are in the end, and you spotted a loop hole, a sneaky entry, or sideway track, which can immediately make you move from the very end to right at the front, nothing in this world can replace that feeling. You feel empowered, filled with joy and proud on yourself to achieve the impossible. Most amazing feeling indeed. Yours truly is one of the master in this art and yes I am proud of that. Other way is, if you coming from a previous signal, gazing lengths, driving with joy as you are set free and liberated, far you see a GREEN signal. You have split second to decide to either go for it or leave for others to take over and try. You decided to go for it, why don't you, you are filled with confidence from the previous time you encountered this and offcourse you trust yourself, you are the best driver in town isin't it, you are driving fast as you feel you are close to achieve one of the closest finish possible in this race and will appear in records for the same, it turns YELLOW. You are still hopeful, feels there still a chance, you increase the speed, it is the exact opposite of what YELLOW means but who cares, everything is fare in love and war and this is indeed not love, anyways coming back, you are racing and as you are just about to cross, BANG, you see the most dreadful sight possible, RED signal. This is misery aggravates if your targeted signal do not have time displayed to make you guesstimate. Anyways, you are shattered, feeling dreadful. You do not want to shut down your engines, you are still hoping against hope that you will be let go by some miracle.You are consoling yourself and trying hard to not let your unhappiness show out to the others, you see gradually the crowd behind you increase from a modest huge and so does your misery disappears. Once you see a great build up behind you, you are happy again, sense of pride comes back to you as you see so many loosers behind you. At-least you are in front. Not in the middle, not in the second row, you are at the top. Lot of facets of this life where you are not at the top or amongsts the top but in this zone you are the leader and no one can take this away from you. Anyways, when you see the huge convoy crossing from the second direction, you shut down, feel relax that at-least you have assurance that you will definitely cross next time.

There is a third way to reach at the front which most people do not realize, which is when you are allowed to take over by a kind soul from the front row when she suddenly realize that he can take a free left instead of waiting for this signal. God bless her, she got the wishes from all the vehicles till the very end.

As I was saying the great position gives you a great responsibility. Entire crowd behind you is ready for you to move, they are really waiting from signal from you. Your slight movement in any direction can send shock waves to the back. You shunted your machine, checked your messages, wassaped folks, tweeted occasionally, or in extreme cases took a nap, suddenly realize you are at the end of time and you are about to start. You switch the engines, feel ready, here is the place where your leadership comes. The responsibility of leading the convoy is in your hands, the signal turns green and here it is, You started, you are running like a maniac. You don't want to be left behind, specially by the ones coming from behind. You won this.

There is another thing to notice that not all front rowers are born leaders, some are just got there by either there luck or like by chance. In any case, these are the ones who are the most cursed by all. You know I always wonder why as soon as signal turns GREEN, immediately all the vehicles from behind blow a customary horn ? I use to think bad about them, use to really feels disgusted being with them. I mean, what the hell is this. Signal turned GREEN and you are blowing a horn, is that make any sense, off course the person ahead will move, you don't need to blow your trumpet to let him know. Person blowing horn was the most menial and cheap person for me. Specially as I lived in the UK which helped me in having this preconceived, judgmental feeling about my fellow comrades.

Now I am transformed, My preconceptions are dissimated and I can say I am a proud, reformed person. As I was talking about the non leaders placed at the top most often, this customary blowing of horn forms the basis of these poor souls to realize that the gates to heaven are opened, signal is turned GREEN and we can proceed. Had it not for these backesters to blow horn, line will not move, may delay the movement or in extreme case skip the GREEN. Hats off to these whistle blowers and  I am also a proud one.

Rejuvination

Hi Guys,

I am trying my luck with writing again, please bear with me.

Long time after scribbling in mind on almost all type of issues now I have again decided to start putting the thoughts on this place where someone can read and comment. As this is a continuation from my last post where I emphasized on the importance of virginity in one's life, I would like to admit I am also a victim of the virgin syndrome. Restarting the blog was something lingering in the back of the mind but to get this materialize took me, shamefully, 4 Years!!. I am myself feeling insane and how I could  have done this to myself and to my creative appetite.

Anyways, this is life and you do not really get always what to desire, you only get what you really desire.

As this is again a starting one, I will be again not going to be very specific on things but will start with my take of the current hot topic around. The rise of AAP,

AAP, the phenomenon ,

I think this was inevitable.. I think the polity in our country has reached this down that there is only one way left form there, which was to move up. I am not particularly happy with what AAP stands for really but I am not really comfortable with the other political options either, I am not naming anyone one individually because I genuinely feel, they all are same. Whenever someone from discrete intellectual background  or in other words "One who can speak good sounding English" ( There is a difference between good English and good sounding English)  speaks on television, he/she associate existing parties with their fundamental roots, inception roots and make them or project them better because of that. Even for once if I believe the current party is close to its roots, does this mean they are better then a new one upcoming or they have any advantage over their counterparts. World has changed in this last decade, and the change has happened manifolds. People communicate more, they have more communicative means, ideas are no longer a virtue of select few who can transcend them. In this day and age where the thoughts and imaginations are shaping lifestyles, choices, social parameters are we to really believe that the only option we have is existing !? That's not true, even the existing believes and fundamentals need rethinking, I am not saying that will change the fundamentals but who knows we may found that some rhetoric are not applicable anymore.

Let me now be specific and talk about the two major political parties, Congress, the motto of inclusive growth, secularism. I think the very idea is flowed and misleading. I am not saying the words itself are not relevant but how they are practiced and used loosely is shambolic.  How can we have a so called inclusive growth if we have a country so diverse and definition of growth for any sectarian representation differs from each other ? Anyone individual or community is a part of many sectors as well. I am defining any group as a sector cos they inhibits similar characteristics and are targeted community from planning perspective. A tribal  has its own challenges, way of life. Definition for growth for him is preservation of its land, growth of his family then infrastructure development or nuclear power or a space mission. An urban Muslim has his own set of problems, his problem cannot be bracket with problem of Muslim community in general though there may be some threads of resonance. Now this inclusive growth, which is used so incoherently, conveys nothing. For a layman like me, I don't understand anything from that what the parties grand stand is. If my representative is saying "VOTE FOR ME" as my agenda is "INCLUSIVE GROWTH" does this make any sense. Now comes secularism, what I read the meaning of secularism is State should not be a part of any religious belief of controls. If a party is claiming secular, how can I accept, "Hindu Marriage act" or "Muslim Marriage Act". There are large set of laws exist in our country which are applied differently to person based on its religion. Now this to me is not secularism. Anyways, some might argue that if we don't go by the literal meaning and understand the thinking behind the word, still cannot justify many appeasement practices. Infusion of this word again and again though sounds great though this is really is the reason for all division. Lets agree on one point that we are a single country and Secularism is inherited in our jeans. Secular India is a done deal now and verbally reinforcing it again and again will only harm not help the cause. This doesn't means the nation should stop and do not continue practice it honestly. That should and must be done always. In so far as the congress is concerned, these words, which they claim there cornerstones of agenda, are not only hateful but are dangerous. This infuses victim hood, sectarianism and all sort of nuisance in the country. Now why should I go for this party ?

the Other one, BJP, they need to really know what they stands for ? what I can think on top of my head is, Hindutva and good governance. I mean Hindutva, it it really a political ideology ? I mean isn't this is a slogan for some cultural organisation to pursue. I am really not against hindutva (I will leave the definition of hindutva to the person reading as there could be many definitions to this; I for one believes I, my friend Martin and Zafar are core Hindus, though we are not a BJP followers or necessarily practice Hindu religion ). This is my equivalent of  Secularism. I don't think political enforcement of this ideology is necessary. Good governance, I mean who can claim will give Bad governance ??!! Isn't this is given ! I mean, you have to give good governance if you are in government. Are we Indians who famously are called as "Argumentative Indian" are shying from debating this Oxymoron ? I mean this sounds absurd to me.

So what really means, these Old parties are also not really clear on their fundamentals, they need introspection and we need more introspection. Policies and vision document is a dynamic thing. Even our constitution is not stationary, this is a document written by older generation so the newer more wiser generation can change it.

This political vacuum has created the needed space for party like AAP. anything if it would have not been AAP would have generated the same kind on buzz and excitement amongst the people of this country. 

The Inception

"We cannot escape our origins, however hard we try"

The basis of all tenacity lies in the word “origin”. You however would be thinking, what is the reason for all this juggle, a person can live a consistent life and also can get away with all the problems and frustrations of life, without even getting a bruise. Yes this is true, the concept of metamorphosis is may be a universal truth, but certainly when initiation is required from within, it takes a lot of courage in itself.

Sometimes because of this classic un-alteration, we miss lot of things, lot of fun for that matter, which otherwise can form basis of something un-imaginary and un-thought off.

Let me ask you one question, how many of us always had a dream to learn to play guitar someday, almost everyone. Recall this street dog sleeping on road, it is stock-still, for one moment you will feel its dead, your constant honking will only help him adjust to another comfortable position. Finally, when you decide to take an alternative poor service road, Gocha! It has got life. The whole process of adapting a new thing lies in our ability to accept the fact that it is gravely important. If not, we will just not do it. Be it paying up electricity bills, to clear credit card dues, to pay insurance premiums and list will go on.

Yes, we belong to the same category; the examples are just few metaphors to represent a more serious problem, the problem to remain “Virgin”.

Virginity, it is a heavy word but when it comes to ‘our’ society, meaning will take a new definition. Culturally, we value this so much. It is deep rooted inside us, we give this an enormous importance. There has to be a perfect start, yes, we always wait for a special occasion which can became host to conceive this humongous moment. We celebrate this, we enjoy this and we feel engrossed. According to me, this mere collection of alphabets represents a more significant moral compare to its literal roots. This un-eagerness to loose our virginity does not signify we do not want to do it. This explains our increase in desperation the late we finally do it. With references to my technical background I would say, this is a very important principle which we needlessly apply to almost everything, be it a small thing as good as learning a guitar.

I am not a philosopher or a motivational book writer or if I should say a ‘Great Man’ but this has really hit me. The very concept of being called as a “Virgin”.