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Do you know someone there?

I have often encountered people of Indian origin ask the same 'in the box' questions to me regarding my habits, history, education, job, upbringing, travels and on and on. I am of course referring to the idle chit chat that follows after they learn a little about what I do or where I have been. This is typical of the culture of trying to define what suits their limited mindset or awareness potential and the questions follow. Here are some choice examples - 1. After learning we were traveling to Malaysia this summer - Do you know someone there? My carefully worded response was - In fact it is exactly because we know no one there that we are visiting. One person also asked so - are there people there? or a milder version - So what is there in Malaysia - as the incredulous follow up. To which one can choose a wide variety of responses if you know what I mean. 2. So then you must be going to India after that? To which - this is a vacation I said so fill in the blanks. Such responses no doubt leave this public aghast and scandalized which is the reaction I am dearly looking for. Some brave ones will on breaking ice (as in a newly introduced person) take off in the vein of - so you must be in IT no? Earlier this was also crafted as - are you in computers? I know it is quite a physical feat to perform the latter yet that not(wit)standing they plough on - so you did your MS here? Which university? None of these questions pertain to reality but happen to be the mold the 99% adhere to and hence this obvious line of questions - I get it - but then I also find comedy material for free. This implied proximity to people based on certain location drives me nuts. The thinking being since you are in the area you would make it worth your while to also include three other individuals who you sort of know or knew to be part of your itinerary. Ahem - that is exactly not the plan. I think that is the same flawed thinking that created Facebook. Who really wants to mingle with people that you forgot 12 or 20 years back? Perhaps you forgot them for a reason? Their lives might be 180 from yours or in a space that you do not subscribe. They may have a new religion or live an ascetic lifestyle. Perhaps most people live predictably therefore people feel at ease chasing down these past friends. To say you have 5000 friends on Facebook is farcical by that token. These are not friends - merely electronic avatars. Most are equally clueless of your existence and want an option to while away their time when they have nothing better to do.
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  1. RajendraAugust 5, 2012 at 6:16 PM

    I totally agree, but as long as it's free and harmless, it's cheaper to 'facebook' than to shop.

    ReplyDelete

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