Skip to main content

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.
Labels:

Comments

  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

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Presumptive Society

Today's world is hyper connected.  I am not so sure what it means but you hear it a lot.  It is probably hyper but not sure how connected it is.  Sugar (fermented or not) is available in many ways than before and so getting hyper is easy.  It is probably more a threat than cocaine since it is sold legally. And what is this connected stuff?  Most people I encounter seem disconnected from reality.  So going back to this assumption that we are connected there are subtle and no so subtle instances of how brands and companies and middle men try to portray someone - A linkedin profile for somebody working for X years at a place advertises to the connected network that so and so is CELEBRATING X years @ Such and Such Inc. Do we know if (s)he is celebrating or cringing?  Perhaps a better way to portray will be - So and So LASTED X years @ such & such inc. Then it exhorts the readership to go ahead and congratulate them for this lasting effe...
2 comments
Read more

Of Jims and Johns

Here is another essay on the subject of first names. As in birth names. Or names provided to an offspring at birth. While the developed world tends to shy away from the exotic like Refrigerator or Coca Cola for their new production there is a plethora of Jims and Johns and Bobs or Robs. Speaking of which I do not think there is a categoric decision point at the time of birth if a child will be hereafter called as Bob. I mean have not yet met a toddler called Bob or Rob for that matter. At some point though the parental instinct to mouth out multiple syllables runs out and they switch from calling the crawler Robert to simply Robbie to Rob. Now speaking of - it is strange that the name sounds like something you would not want Rob to do - i.e. Rob anyone. Then why call someone that? After all Rob Peter to Pay Paul is not exactly a maxim to live a young life? Is it? Perhaps Peter or Paul might want to have a say in it? Then there is this matter of going to the John. Why degrad...
2 comments
Read more

On the go(zay masta) in Japan again

Cool cat the Japanese are Tokyo at dusk  My second visit to this land of the rising sun after almost a decade. Back then clearly I was wet behind the ears product manager and likely didn’t pay attention to all (efficient) things Japanese. But today I did and of course continue to be impressed. It is as much the obvious stuff like on time travel that is both clean and comfortable and all that which makes it possible. The impressive landmark and landscapes that these humans have put together despite their cramped (or because of it) surroundings and precarious geological conditions could amaze a novice architect among us. But it’s also the little things that someone had to think about which have a phenomenal impact on day to day lives that make the Japanese stand apart. Below are few random examples- 1. Providing a very fine machined wooden toothpick in every packet of wooden chopsticks. The said chapsticks are simply set on the To Go counter of any food vendor/ convenience store wher...
Post a Comment
Read more