Ever walk through a busy market in an upscale neighbourhood in Delhi- what do you see? there are several marketplaces today frequented by celebrities and commoners alike, notably eminent politicians and public figures. Some in particular have a host of Z-security guards (i believe that's the highest security cover available), surrounding them, protecting them in the event some common man should rub shoulders or try to talk to them.
ours is probably the largest, or one of the largest democracies in the world characterized by corruption, favoritism and self-promotion. It is emblemized in the fact that the sole aim of becoming a public servant is to NOT SERVE, but BE SERVED. Security covers such as those available to chief ministers, MLAs, MPs, etc. must be revoked. let them be treated like the common man. furthermore, protection granted to babus and other civil servants which are being grossly abused to avoid prosecution and more importantly, persecution, must also be revoked.
at the very least, it will compel these so called 'servants' to not act in a fashion that is likely to attract public censure. In the law of the jungle that seems to prevail in countries such as Pakistan, and discreetly in our nation as well, it is fair to just let the victims loose on the perpetrators- rather than try them to no avail.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Pinning the Blame
With the whole hullabaloo about Bhopal gas tragedy victims not receiving adequate compensation, the central government seems to have taken a stern step by setting aside a large fund for compensation and environmental impact.
who are we kidding? what happened to $400m+ compensation that was paid by Union Carbide? where was the GoM for the last 20 odd years? once again, the media have come to the rescue of the common man. who knows how long it will last, but one thing is for sure- the government doesn't give a damn. instead of taking responsibility- frankly, i don't trust them to pay the victims even this time around- they are trying to pin the blame on Dow Chemical? Dow had nothing to do with the tragedy- it didn't even own Union Carbide at the time.
Let's face it, once again, the victim is the common man but the criminal is not even Union Carbide. it is our own administration who has shafted victims time and time again and stolen public funds for personal gain. why weren't victims compensated 25 years ago? simply because nobody noticed. Union Carbide paid and got out- our civil servants sold us out yet again!
who are we kidding? what happened to $400m+ compensation that was paid by Union Carbide? where was the GoM for the last 20 odd years? once again, the media have come to the rescue of the common man. who knows how long it will last, but one thing is for sure- the government doesn't give a damn. instead of taking responsibility- frankly, i don't trust them to pay the victims even this time around- they are trying to pin the blame on Dow Chemical? Dow had nothing to do with the tragedy- it didn't even own Union Carbide at the time.
Let's face it, once again, the victim is the common man but the criminal is not even Union Carbide. it is our own administration who has shafted victims time and time again and stolen public funds for personal gain. why weren't victims compensated 25 years ago? simply because nobody noticed. Union Carbide paid and got out- our civil servants sold us out yet again!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
to ban or not to ban the Vuvuzela
Even if you're not a football fan, you'll likely have heard of the damned Vuvuzela, which has likely made more news that Japan beating Cameroon or Italy coming close to its WC finals opening match defeat. i've been watching football since 1992 and i believe this is the first world cup in which i can hear not the players, fans, referee or even the commentator- and i'm talking about TV.
Joseph Blatter, the FIFA prez says it's native to South Africa and will *not* be banned. to clarify, i'm not writing on whether i believe it should or should not be banned, but the underlying principle of the matter. The fans in favor of the Vuvuzela suggest that the world cup cannot be South African without the Vuvuzela. it's the taste of Africa so to speak. Me personally? I find it irritating and frankly, overdone. we can do much better without it. South Africa surely has a lot more to offer than a constant, high pitched, irritating buzz. Shakira's Waka Waka only comes a close second!
What is more important- fans, host preferences, majority mandate, players or the game of Football? I used to believe it's the last, but Football surely cannot do without fans and players, and surely their opinion counts. We have a situation where FIFA will not allow fans to wear jewellery (poor Ronaldo!) or any other signature 'marks', but seems to take no exception to something that is not only irritating, but is a serious health hazard. more importantly, what is the message they're sending out?
Next quarter, as India hosts the commonwealth games, we will find a complete ban on traffic movement, strict security which disallows banners, jewellery, plastic bottles and common sense. Plus there is likely to be yet another tax to fund non-attention to security measures. Is that going to be India's unique 'mark' on the CWG? or will it be large mounds of dust, poor infrastructure aka potholes on flyovers and spit stains on national monuments?
We will likely find the entire world coming together to criticize India on its poor preparation (c'mon, who're we kidding!) and poor spirit- yes i did say that. i don't think anybody is more excited than Ms. Sheila Dikshit. FIFA, take a step back and evaluate!
Joseph Blatter, the FIFA prez says it's native to South Africa and will *not* be banned. to clarify, i'm not writing on whether i believe it should or should not be banned, but the underlying principle of the matter. The fans in favor of the Vuvuzela suggest that the world cup cannot be South African without the Vuvuzela. it's the taste of Africa so to speak. Me personally? I find it irritating and frankly, overdone. we can do much better without it. South Africa surely has a lot more to offer than a constant, high pitched, irritating buzz. Shakira's Waka Waka only comes a close second!
What is more important- fans, host preferences, majority mandate, players or the game of Football? I used to believe it's the last, but Football surely cannot do without fans and players, and surely their opinion counts. We have a situation where FIFA will not allow fans to wear jewellery (poor Ronaldo!) or any other signature 'marks', but seems to take no exception to something that is not only irritating, but is a serious health hazard. more importantly, what is the message they're sending out?
Next quarter, as India hosts the commonwealth games, we will find a complete ban on traffic movement, strict security which disallows banners, jewellery, plastic bottles and common sense. Plus there is likely to be yet another tax to fund non-attention to security measures. Is that going to be India's unique 'mark' on the CWG? or will it be large mounds of dust, poor infrastructure aka potholes on flyovers and spit stains on national monuments?
We will likely find the entire world coming together to criticize India on its poor preparation (c'mon, who're we kidding!) and poor spirit- yes i did say that. i don't think anybody is more excited than Ms. Sheila Dikshit. FIFA, take a step back and evaluate!
Monday, April 26, 2010
This must be the axe effect!
I believe every day, Unilever India is hitting a new low in its advertising. I had a great respect for Unilever's products until frankly, their advertising has taken a more 'mass appeal' (I believe that's what their ad agency will refer to it as). In particular, the Axe deodorant ads, which appear to intentionally and with poor subtelty suggest- 'this deodorant will make girls want to have sex with you', are in awful taste- some of the other lesser known brands seem to have similar ads- now whenever i see an ad with scantily clad women, my first impression is- here comes another deodorant!
I am not a professional marketer- which in fact is one of the reasons i'm probably not more succesful (yet anyway) as an entrepreneur. I believe marketing is the life blood of a corporation, but frankly, i find these advertising campaigns in horrible taste, suggestive of a degenerative corporate culture which believes in selling no matter what the costs. i am embarassed to watch such ads on tv with parents and child (ren) along, fearing i may actually have to explain the ad to a child someday.
i recently received a chain email from a friend about some very interesting advertising- single page and very hard hitting. innovative, concise and very witty. yet in excellent taste- proof that people are not out of ideas. what troubles me is that kind of advertising marketeres are coming up with.
Now i'm sure i'll find atleast one or two advertising execs claiming- oh you're not the target market so you won't get it. sure i get it. perhaps it will now be also 'acceptable' to sell drugs to children, gambling to the poor and corruption to the masses- all because we're not the target market right? you can sell anything with scantily clad women it seems- except credibility.
I am not a professional marketer- which in fact is one of the reasons i'm probably not more succesful (yet anyway) as an entrepreneur. I believe marketing is the life blood of a corporation, but frankly, i find these advertising campaigns in horrible taste, suggestive of a degenerative corporate culture which believes in selling no matter what the costs. i am embarassed to watch such ads on tv with parents and child (ren) along, fearing i may actually have to explain the ad to a child someday.
i recently received a chain email from a friend about some very interesting advertising- single page and very hard hitting. innovative, concise and very witty. yet in excellent taste- proof that people are not out of ideas. what troubles me is that kind of advertising marketeres are coming up with.
Now i'm sure i'll find atleast one or two advertising execs claiming- oh you're not the target market so you won't get it. sure i get it. perhaps it will now be also 'acceptable' to sell drugs to children, gambling to the poor and corruption to the masses- all because we're not the target market right? you can sell anything with scantily clad women it seems- except credibility.
Monday, April 19, 2010
During college days, i recall reading in the "problem of the indian economy" textbook, why India's progress has been slow thus far. One of the reasons cited was our family setting- we are dwellers, who continue to live in the same house all our lives, 'lounging' around, particularly in joint families, on the community wealth (in this specific case, family wealth). this was suggested to have a 'free rider' effect, with unproductive units of society been propagated to generations and forth.
I was dumbfounded and enamored, totally in support of the view. Today, I believe my utter faith in the concept may have been somewhat exaggerated. With experience of having lived in both the US and India, i feel there are some noteworthy:
1. The US housing burder may be temporarily 'eased' off if a number of individuals move in with their families.
2. Family budgets may stand to benefit by virtue of 'large scale', with a number of basic expenses such as food, telephone, electricity, rent, etc. being spread over a larger base and thus reducing the per-head burden.
3. in-house chores and service costs of basic jobs such as gardening, plumbing and other handywork may be reduced by transferring loads to unemployed members- thereby increasing their productivity and reducing outward cash flow for the family as a whole.
4. older members of the family may be able to reduce their healthcare expenditures by having a family member take care of them. as a corollary, their health may actually improve in a more vibrant household, psychologically speaking (considering several millions of americans are in depression).
the free rider effect i mentioned earlier may well turn out to be a boon in this case. However, everything in life is a double-edged sword. For instance, the increase in homicidal tendencies may actually increase the litigation expenses in some families (kidding!). We as Indians have historically failed to protect what is our own- yoga, ayurveda, learning from the Vedas and so on. Will we hold on to our good values letting go of the bad?
I was dumbfounded and enamored, totally in support of the view. Today, I believe my utter faith in the concept may have been somewhat exaggerated. With experience of having lived in both the US and India, i feel there are some noteworthy:
1. The US housing burder may be temporarily 'eased' off if a number of individuals move in with their families.
2. Family budgets may stand to benefit by virtue of 'large scale', with a number of basic expenses such as food, telephone, electricity, rent, etc. being spread over a larger base and thus reducing the per-head burden.
3. in-house chores and service costs of basic jobs such as gardening, plumbing and other handywork may be reduced by transferring loads to unemployed members- thereby increasing their productivity and reducing outward cash flow for the family as a whole.
4. older members of the family may be able to reduce their healthcare expenditures by having a family member take care of them. as a corollary, their health may actually improve in a more vibrant household, psychologically speaking (considering several millions of americans are in depression).
the free rider effect i mentioned earlier may well turn out to be a boon in this case. However, everything in life is a double-edged sword. For instance, the increase in homicidal tendencies may actually increase the litigation expenses in some families (kidding!). We as Indians have historically failed to protect what is our own- yoga, ayurveda, learning from the Vedas and so on. Will we hold on to our good values letting go of the bad?
gender, age and other biases
As an old friend once pointed out rather poignantly, religion is nothing but a set of rules installed at a time of need. Society as an organic entity may well find religious 'notions' antiquated by virtue of need, wants and other aspects of contemporary life.
My wife is a stay at home mom (for the time being anyway). My mom was too. My father works and so do I. We have domestic help but certain duties are assigned to each individual- for instance, in my family, women take care of household responsibilities while men ensure that the external environment, money, etc. is taken care of. this of course, is a more broad-based division.
We study in management, that where more than one boss is present, chaos is likely to ensue. We as managers, executives, etc. find it extremely objectionable. Imagine two heads of household- both with 'shared' or 'overlapping' responsibilities in this context! In a family, there are unlikely to be very well defined boundaries of conduct and authority so if anybody says here it's possible, let them prove it rather than say it.
assigning duties is sometimes perceived gender, race or otherwise biased. We, in the Indian society consider the 'baniya' clan to be the traditional 'businessman' or 'trader'. I know several muslim craftsman who are simply fantastic at what they do! i'm sure there are others but i can't recall off hand.
Within the household itself, grandmothers tend to be the spiritual centers of the family. Grandfathers tend to act as monetary guides, delegating executive activities to sons, whose children bear the burden of 'training' for the next generation. THis mimics in my humble opinion, the structure of modern corporations starting with directors, executive boards and at some level, the interns and trainees.
is it so bad? I recall telling a fellow african (originally) roommate that BET is an example of what he termed later as 'reverse racism'. why do we feel so bad about calling a spade a spade. perhaps we're looking at the negative side of things rather than the upside. remember- calling someone tall can be both a compliment and the opposite....
My wife is a stay at home mom (for the time being anyway). My mom was too. My father works and so do I. We have domestic help but certain duties are assigned to each individual- for instance, in my family, women take care of household responsibilities while men ensure that the external environment, money, etc. is taken care of. this of course, is a more broad-based division.
We study in management, that where more than one boss is present, chaos is likely to ensue. We as managers, executives, etc. find it extremely objectionable. Imagine two heads of household- both with 'shared' or 'overlapping' responsibilities in this context! In a family, there are unlikely to be very well defined boundaries of conduct and authority so if anybody says here it's possible, let them prove it rather than say it.
assigning duties is sometimes perceived gender, race or otherwise biased. We, in the Indian society consider the 'baniya' clan to be the traditional 'businessman' or 'trader'. I know several muslim craftsman who are simply fantastic at what they do! i'm sure there are others but i can't recall off hand.
Within the household itself, grandmothers tend to be the spiritual centers of the family. Grandfathers tend to act as monetary guides, delegating executive activities to sons, whose children bear the burden of 'training' for the next generation. THis mimics in my humble opinion, the structure of modern corporations starting with directors, executive boards and at some level, the interns and trainees.
is it so bad? I recall telling a fellow african (originally) roommate that BET is an example of what he termed later as 'reverse racism'. why do we feel so bad about calling a spade a spade. perhaps we're looking at the negative side of things rather than the upside. remember- calling someone tall can be both a compliment and the opposite....
Friday, April 16, 2010
A need for community
I've always been a rebel at heart. i must admit that i've sometimes taken so much pleasure in 'rebelling', that i've actually counter-argued against a stand that i agreed with. however, sinful pleasures aside, I must sadly mention that i attended a close relative's funeral today. it's a sad affair really, a lot of relatives were present and while the deceased was aged and his death probably a release to himself, one must recognize an individual's presence, particularly when he's left us.
I write this blog today solemn-ed somewhat. Being a rebel, i came to know how important community really is, especially in today's day and age, when people are increasingly 'individualistic', rather than 'community' oriented. I for one, have no idea how to even conduct myself in a temple, much less have any knowledge of any hindu 'processes' if you will. My guess is that i'm not alone, and in such a time, it is community that comes to the rescue- one offers knowledge of this, another that and so we create a 'pot' of information (often unfortunately, opinion). however, nothing in life is one-sided. with good comes bad, and vice versa.
At the end of the day, i realized something sad, that family, especially extended ones, seem to come together only at major occassions- weddings, parties, anniversaries, etc. however, it seems only in death are we truly coming together, sharing in each other's sorrows, which is truly more difficult than sharing joy. furthermore, we seem to forget animosities, grudges and so forth, only at this sad 'occassion', recognizing there is a bigger issue at hand.
Till death we stay apart, in Death we unite....
I write this blog today solemn-ed somewhat. Being a rebel, i came to know how important community really is, especially in today's day and age, when people are increasingly 'individualistic', rather than 'community' oriented. I for one, have no idea how to even conduct myself in a temple, much less have any knowledge of any hindu 'processes' if you will. My guess is that i'm not alone, and in such a time, it is community that comes to the rescue- one offers knowledge of this, another that and so we create a 'pot' of information (often unfortunately, opinion). however, nothing in life is one-sided. with good comes bad, and vice versa.
At the end of the day, i realized something sad, that family, especially extended ones, seem to come together only at major occassions- weddings, parties, anniversaries, etc. however, it seems only in death are we truly coming together, sharing in each other's sorrows, which is truly more difficult than sharing joy. furthermore, we seem to forget animosities, grudges and so forth, only at this sad 'occassion', recognizing there is a bigger issue at hand.
Till death we stay apart, in Death we unite....
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Of Fanatics and Patriots
How easily we forget loyalties. Until only a few weeks ago, we were lambasting MNS and Raj Thackeray for his nonsenscial, provocative and undesirable speeches and today we're fighting over whose city wins the IPL. More importantly- whose city to support! have we forgotten the first initial of the IPL- Indian! somebody even went to the length to suggest that supporting a team other than your own cities is like calling somebody else your father![cross my heart- it's true!]
Granted that other nations take inter-club rivalry in sports such as baseball, football, american football and such rather seriously. One friend even informed me of a physical threat they received in an American bar for supporting another team. Really, with all the inter-state commotion, do we really need more?
surely supporting a sport is more important than supporting a club isn't it? Maybe i'm completely off the mark here. If I am, we will one day see our own nation saying "let cricket go to hell if india can't win".
The latter friend mentioned above, also told me of an individual he knows who is such a 'fanatic' supporter of Sachin's, that god forbid should somebody criticize him that he will bite your head off. is this really a fan? has anyone reading this post seen the movie- "the Fan"?
the other day i had a rather lively and animated discussion with a friend about various social subjects- it was a major refresher from the usual attitude i see in fellow indians, who get peeved about the minutest thing. this individual (whom i shall not name)- not only did she not take anything personally, she also calmly and with interest, replied with reason and justification, rather than blowing her top off, reciting curses and the like, in her defense. Glad to know there still are 'Indians' out there!
Granted that other nations take inter-club rivalry in sports such as baseball, football, american football and such rather seriously. One friend even informed me of a physical threat they received in an American bar for supporting another team. Really, with all the inter-state commotion, do we really need more?
surely supporting a sport is more important than supporting a club isn't it? Maybe i'm completely off the mark here. If I am, we will one day see our own nation saying "let cricket go to hell if india can't win".
The latter friend mentioned above, also told me of an individual he knows who is such a 'fanatic' supporter of Sachin's, that god forbid should somebody criticize him that he will bite your head off. is this really a fan? has anyone reading this post seen the movie- "the Fan"?
the other day i had a rather lively and animated discussion with a friend about various social subjects- it was a major refresher from the usual attitude i see in fellow indians, who get peeved about the minutest thing. this individual (whom i shall not name)- not only did she not take anything personally, she also calmly and with interest, replied with reason and justification, rather than blowing her top off, reciting curses and the like, in her defense. Glad to know there still are 'Indians' out there!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Why can't we be reliable and professional?
I recently had a conversation with a client in the US who had hired an Indian vendor to do some research work and was gravely regretting her decision. Lured by the low bid, she chose to work with this vendor thinking he or she could deliver the goods she required. Unfortunately she was badly disappointed, with the vendor going MIA (not returning calls, responding to emails, not sticking to deadlines). furthermore, the vendor started making lame excuses for non-performance, trying to pin it on the client that she has crazy expectations.
this is not an isolated case. There are numerous, far too many for comfort, cases of Indian vendors behaving this way. in fact, the CEO of an MR firm in Delhi once told me that he was great in marketing but was weak in operations. it lives up to the Indian motto- talk big, deliver less. i've myself hired Indian vendors on multiple occasions- logo design, writing, etc. and am constantly peeved at the sheer lack of commitment, communication and delivery. at the end of the day when they're fired, they shoot back saying it's your fault!
if you don't believe me, ask around- Indians are famous for this. switching off the phone, making excuses for their absence and what not. one time, i hired a logo designer who completely ignored whatever i said, and gave me something way too late, that i couldn't use.
despite the fact that we're one of the most educated races in the world, pride ourselves on our long history and culture, we still can't get our act straight. we're renowned for being late, we never follow up and we somehow still don't take quality seriously. so much so, i recall an IT vendor here who never bothered to send me an invoice for a payment i had already made, despite repeated calls and requests.
in fact, i've seen the same culture in banks (including HDFC and Kotak, although the latter is somewhat better), but somehow we have managed to grow at the second highest rate in the world. it's shameful that we will criticize other countries for whatever reason, but never bother to look inside!
what gives?
this is not an isolated case. There are numerous, far too many for comfort, cases of Indian vendors behaving this way. in fact, the CEO of an MR firm in Delhi once told me that he was great in marketing but was weak in operations. it lives up to the Indian motto- talk big, deliver less. i've myself hired Indian vendors on multiple occasions- logo design, writing, etc. and am constantly peeved at the sheer lack of commitment, communication and delivery. at the end of the day when they're fired, they shoot back saying it's your fault!
if you don't believe me, ask around- Indians are famous for this. switching off the phone, making excuses for their absence and what not. one time, i hired a logo designer who completely ignored whatever i said, and gave me something way too late, that i couldn't use.
despite the fact that we're one of the most educated races in the world, pride ourselves on our long history and culture, we still can't get our act straight. we're renowned for being late, we never follow up and we somehow still don't take quality seriously. so much so, i recall an IT vendor here who never bothered to send me an invoice for a payment i had already made, despite repeated calls and requests.
in fact, i've seen the same culture in banks (including HDFC and Kotak, although the latter is somewhat better), but somehow we have managed to grow at the second highest rate in the world. it's shameful that we will criticize other countries for whatever reason, but never bother to look inside!
what gives?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Circle of Life
we gained independence in 1947 and ever since we've been complaining about the independence people have to reproduce. the government has spent gazillions in funds to promote birth control, family planning, even giving out free condoms in health fairs.
Who knew that a social evil would come to the rescue? Bear in mind, i do not condone it in any remote sense- female foeticide is despicable! not that i doubt the administration's ability to control it- they can't! however, one thing is certain- the people who kill the girl child are inadvertently solving India's population woes by committing proverbial genocide- they are killing the reproductive abilities of the country!
i might well be the first one to think about it! am i saying it should happen? NO! however, what you reap, is what you sow, in the words of RATM. the people committing this heinous crime, nay, SIN, are earning their just rewards! The phenomenon is very decentralized i would say- the people killing the girl child, are reducing their own family's likelihood of proliferation.
i have renewed faith in god and mother earth and above all, the great design!
Who knew that a social evil would come to the rescue? Bear in mind, i do not condone it in any remote sense- female foeticide is despicable! not that i doubt the administration's ability to control it- they can't! however, one thing is certain- the people who kill the girl child are inadvertently solving India's population woes by committing proverbial genocide- they are killing the reproductive abilities of the country!
i might well be the first one to think about it! am i saying it should happen? NO! however, what you reap, is what you sow, in the words of RATM. the people committing this heinous crime, nay, SIN, are earning their just rewards! The phenomenon is very decentralized i would say- the people killing the girl child, are reducing their own family's likelihood of proliferation.
i have renewed faith in god and mother earth and above all, the great design!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Order in Chaos
quick off the top of my head entry
i come home everyday from work, only to find the traffic increasing. only 3 months ago it used to take me 15-20 mins, while it now takes 25-45 minutes depending on how unlucky i am.
what i noticed on more than one occassion is that i tend to get through an intersection much MUCH faster if the lights are not working. anybody else notice this?
it seems that a single car breaks down, the slightest diversion and we have a traffic jam 1/2 KM long. however, it still seems more desirable to be able to wiggle your way through a light in less than minute than waiting in a line at the intersection for 10 minutes.
i come home everyday from work, only to find the traffic increasing. only 3 months ago it used to take me 15-20 mins, while it now takes 25-45 minutes depending on how unlucky i am.
what i noticed on more than one occassion is that i tend to get through an intersection much MUCH faster if the lights are not working. anybody else notice this?
it seems that a single car breaks down, the slightest diversion and we have a traffic jam 1/2 KM long. however, it still seems more desirable to be able to wiggle your way through a light in less than minute than waiting in a line at the intersection for 10 minutes.
Friday, January 8, 2010
networking with little or no real networking?
i am a member of a few networking sites, primarily Linkedin and Facebook. the others i have registered on are xing, marzar and maybe a couple more here and there. my reasons have been well defined in my mind- facebook for my personal network and linkedin for professional networking. i'll even stake a bet and say that these are probably inline with most people's perceptions of the respective networks, including the networks themselves.
i've found that on either site, particularly linkedin, people are adding numerous contacts to their list all the time, while there is little actual networking. i can prove it- i have at least 10 contacts on my high school list on facebook, none of whom i ever speak to, and i have empirically proven it. 80% of the time when i msg some of these people, i don't receive a response.
on linkedin, i have had a few experiences where people either simply do not respond, or get irritated when you ask them to help you with something or seek an introduction. this despite the fact that people call themselves LIONs or open networkers. on the other hand, the hypocrisy lies in the fact that they rarely if ever examine their own barrage of Q&A, free advice or adding people at random, just so they can be placed on an irrelevant mailing list.
i would appreciate any insight on why bother even posting a profile when you're never going to use it! is it just a numbers game? perhaps an ego issue where you can get a leg up just by showing off your 10,000+ contacts?
i've found that on either site, particularly linkedin, people are adding numerous contacts to their list all the time, while there is little actual networking. i can prove it- i have at least 10 contacts on my high school list on facebook, none of whom i ever speak to, and i have empirically proven it. 80% of the time when i msg some of these people, i don't receive a response.
on linkedin, i have had a few experiences where people either simply do not respond, or get irritated when you ask them to help you with something or seek an introduction. this despite the fact that people call themselves LIONs or open networkers. on the other hand, the hypocrisy lies in the fact that they rarely if ever examine their own barrage of Q&A, free advice or adding people at random, just so they can be placed on an irrelevant mailing list.
i would appreciate any insight on why bother even posting a profile when you're never going to use it! is it just a numbers game? perhaps an ego issue where you can get a leg up just by showing off your 10,000+ contacts?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Ruchika's case
so i have been watching the news and reading the paper like every other indian. front page news these days seems to be centered around petitions to bring justice to Ruchika (i can't remember/spell) her last name. the latest i heard yesterday was that the former DGP (i think that's the right designation) will be booked or has been booked under the 'Abetment of Suicide' clause, if you will.
i have two things to say about this, before which, i want to clarify my position on the case. I am on Ruchika's side- it's not the hardest thing to believe that a corrupt government official has once again molested the common man- in fact most of us are common men, i should say.
1. the media has once again shown its positive side by bringing much needed publicity to an otherwise 'buried' case. i've been involved in an excellent project in the past, related to the 'new media' revolution in the US and other western countries, and i think we're still pretty lucky to have a relatively 'good' media.
2. someone was over recently (i won't say who) to see me and he mentioned very quietly (which i don't blame him for, considering how sensitive people are about the subject), "You are only hearing one side of the story". now to his credit, he is not suggesting that the IPS officer is innocent. however, it underscores a very important aspect of civilized society that we as Indians forget. if we want justice, we can't go about doing our trials in monkey courts. we have to be fair and just, and while the IPS officer may be corrupt, he isn't necessarily guilty on all the counts that may have been or will be presented.
it's important for India as a developing nation to remember that there is a reason that courts exist- to offer justice. justice isn't obtained by violently or vehemently but blindly taking one side. we must keep our 'emotions' at bay when we take a call- support Ruchika- all the Ruchikas in fact. However, don't let popular or some random person's opinion get to your higher ability to decide justly.
MAY JUSTICE PREVAIL.
i have two things to say about this, before which, i want to clarify my position on the case. I am on Ruchika's side- it's not the hardest thing to believe that a corrupt government official has once again molested the common man- in fact most of us are common men, i should say.
1. the media has once again shown its positive side by bringing much needed publicity to an otherwise 'buried' case. i've been involved in an excellent project in the past, related to the 'new media' revolution in the US and other western countries, and i think we're still pretty lucky to have a relatively 'good' media.
2. someone was over recently (i won't say who) to see me and he mentioned very quietly (which i don't blame him for, considering how sensitive people are about the subject), "You are only hearing one side of the story". now to his credit, he is not suggesting that the IPS officer is innocent. however, it underscores a very important aspect of civilized society that we as Indians forget. if we want justice, we can't go about doing our trials in monkey courts. we have to be fair and just, and while the IPS officer may be corrupt, he isn't necessarily guilty on all the counts that may have been or will be presented.
it's important for India as a developing nation to remember that there is a reason that courts exist- to offer justice. justice isn't obtained by violently or vehemently but blindly taking one side. we must keep our 'emotions' at bay when we take a call- support Ruchika- all the Ruchikas in fact. However, don't let popular or some random person's opinion get to your higher ability to decide justly.
MAY JUSTICE PREVAIL.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Welcome Post
Hi guys,
this is my first ever post on my new blog "the true patriot". why do i call this blog what i do? really it ties in what i feel about our nation, our society, etc. etc. etc., and my philosophy around the Emperor's New Clothes- yes the old nursery tale we used to hear in Kindergarten.
i feel that we're living in a society with cliches, hypocrisy, double standards and all that stuff. all i aim to do via this blog is to voice my concerns, feelings and impressions about all those things, and hopefully do my bit for the nation. i believe true patriotism is not about singing bollywood songs, watching indo-pak war movies or waving a flag. it's about doing something! not pretending to do something!
I welcome everybody's comments, positive or negative. All i ask is that you participate, share and help. if you're part of the MNS, or believe that criticizing your own country is a bad thing, you're not helping, you're making it worse.
thanks and i hope this is the start of something truly great.
this is my first ever post on my new blog "the true patriot". why do i call this blog what i do? really it ties in what i feel about our nation, our society, etc. etc. etc., and my philosophy around the Emperor's New Clothes- yes the old nursery tale we used to hear in Kindergarten.
i feel that we're living in a society with cliches, hypocrisy, double standards and all that stuff. all i aim to do via this blog is to voice my concerns, feelings and impressions about all those things, and hopefully do my bit for the nation. i believe true patriotism is not about singing bollywood songs, watching indo-pak war movies or waving a flag. it's about doing something! not pretending to do something!
I welcome everybody's comments, positive or negative. All i ask is that you participate, share and help. if you're part of the MNS, or believe that criticizing your own country is a bad thing, you're not helping, you're making it worse.
thanks and i hope this is the start of something truly great.
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