Hi all of my currently minuscule viewership,
I am back .. after a long hiatus ..... and hope to be more regular in the near future at least .....
Will post more on my exploits at IIM Calcutta in the coming days ....for now ... just leaving you witha lil 'thought'-pourri
I tried so hard and got so far.....
In the end it doesn't even matter ....
So should I quit and hit the bar????...
Naah... that just makes me fatter ..... :)
Lesson:
Trying and failing in life
Is the trick to smooth sailing in life
ciao for now ..... and ..... I WILL BE BACK ......
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
It Ain't the Last Time
This is an as-of-yet incomplete poem which I have been writing..... incomplete because I am unable to think of an appropriate ending ..... if some inspiration strikes you, please help me finish it ...........
Jack was a bonfide crazy ass,
Both were friends from their teens to their twilight,
You can't really say they were the best of friends,
Fate took her to places far and beyond,
Both were friends from their teens to their twilight,
What is that feeling which don't have a name,
There lived a pretty, old lady at the end of the lane,
Jack used to think her a little too vain,
And she wished Jack could just act his age,
40 years were time enough to get on the same page.
Jack was a bonfide crazy ass,
Mary had always been a cheerful lass,
and she just wished Jack could see the light,
get out of his stupor and learn to do what's right.
Both were friends from their teens to their twilight,
And whenever they spoke, it always ended in a fight;
But each saw through the other's furious mime,
coz It ain't the first time, It ain't the last time.
You can't really say they were the best of friends,
But they were always there for each other in the end.
He was her crutch when she had broken a leg,
She had dropped him home after his thirteenth peg.
Fate took her to places far and beyond,
while he stayed feeding the birds at the small pond;
Yet often it happened, while petting a meadowlark,
He found her standing at the other end of the park
Both were friends from their teens to their twilight,
And whenever they spoke, it always ended in a fight;
But each saw through the other's furious mime,
coz It ain't the first time, It ain't the last time.
What is that feeling which don't have a name,
You can't call it love, no....it ain't the same;
But they always felt the tug of an unspoken bond,
which brought them together, time and again, at the pond.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Mental Accounting
I came across this statement while reading 'Fooled by Randomness':
"Statistics have proved that people prefer to earn $60,000 knowing that others earn $50,000 than earn $70,000 when others are earning $80,000"
Let me offer my un-expert analysis of this statement.
The Argument
At face value, it appear that it is a stupid mental accounting error made by most people because surely it would make more sense to have more savings in the bank with the $70K package than to have the satisfaction of earning more at $60k.
However, I would like to point out that it does not matter whether you earn $70k or $60K or $5. You can't eat the money, and wear it as protection from the elements nor can you live in it. What matters more is the value associated with the money e.g. how much food will $100 buy you in each of the two cases.
Let me illustrate further. We don't not have a single international currency (the dollar or Euro is a re-hashed arrangement). So we have to make all calculations by factoring the exchange rate in. As such it is much easier to be a rupee billionaire in India that to be a dollar billionaire (The rupee vs. dollar exchange rate has varied wildly in the 38-52 range in the past decade). So it is better to have $100 in your pocket than Rs 100 (at least while you are in India)
By analogy, the actual value of the money you have is the purchasing power that it generates. Hence, I can conclude that $60K when everybody else is earning $50K will give me an upper hand in terms of purchasing power (i.e. simple barter value) than $70K in a $80K neighborhood. So the mental accounting fallacy derived in this case is a fallacious argument in itself i.e. there is no mental accounting error. This was my first impression, which I was forced to alter when I realized there is more to this problem than appears at first dig.
The Googly
The twist in the tale is that purchasing power in terms of price of goods is not affected only by the earning power of a small part of the population. The people in the statistical study probably had a fixed set of people (e.g. family, friends and co-workers) and not the average of the entire population. For example, a construction laborer will arrive at a much lower 'desirable' remuneration that say a Wall Street high flyer simply because he has benchmarked himself with respect to those who keep him company. And the overall purchasing power is a function not only of the differing remuneration but also the number of people belonging to each category.
So, the real mental accounting error is committed by benchmarking to the observable rather than exhaustive sample set. And what is even more amusing is that this mental delusion of superiority (wealthier than thou) is even resistant to hard observations (e.g. having to cut down on luxuries) and is revised only in extreme situations (not being able to make ends meet) where survival rather than favorable comparison becomes paramount
Conclusion
So, a mental accounting fallacy does exist in this situation; albeit a different one from what I thought initially.
Corollarily, I realized that defining others as the observable sample would have avoided this hazard and hence wording your conclusion is pretty important.
"Statistics have proved that people prefer to earn $60,000 knowing that others earn $50,000 than earn $70,000 when others are earning $80,000"
Let me offer my un-expert analysis of this statement.
The Argument
At face value, it appear that it is a stupid mental accounting error made by most people because surely it would make more sense to have more savings in the bank with the $70K package than to have the satisfaction of earning more at $60k.
However, I would like to point out that it does not matter whether you earn $70k or $60K or $5. You can't eat the money, and wear it as protection from the elements nor can you live in it. What matters more is the value associated with the money e.g. how much food will $100 buy you in each of the two cases.
Let me illustrate further. We don't not have a single international currency (the dollar or Euro is a re-hashed arrangement). So we have to make all calculations by factoring the exchange rate in. As such it is much easier to be a rupee billionaire in India that to be a dollar billionaire (The rupee vs. dollar exchange rate has varied wildly in the 38-52 range in the past decade). So it is better to have $100 in your pocket than Rs 100 (at least while you are in India)
By analogy, the actual value of the money you have is the purchasing power that it generates. Hence, I can conclude that $60K when everybody else is earning $50K will give me an upper hand in terms of purchasing power (i.e. simple barter value) than $70K in a $80K neighborhood. So the mental accounting fallacy derived in this case is a fallacious argument in itself i.e. there is no mental accounting error. This was my first impression, which I was forced to alter when I realized there is more to this problem than appears at first dig.
The Googly
The twist in the tale is that purchasing power in terms of price of goods is not affected only by the earning power of a small part of the population. The people in the statistical study probably had a fixed set of people (e.g. family, friends and co-workers) and not the average of the entire population. For example, a construction laborer will arrive at a much lower 'desirable' remuneration that say a Wall Street high flyer simply because he has benchmarked himself with respect to those who keep him company. And the overall purchasing power is a function not only of the differing remuneration but also the number of people belonging to each category.
So, the real mental accounting error is committed by benchmarking to the observable rather than exhaustive sample set. And what is even more amusing is that this mental delusion of superiority (wealthier than thou) is even resistant to hard observations (e.g. having to cut down on luxuries) and is revised only in extreme situations (not being able to make ends meet) where survival rather than favorable comparison becomes paramount
Conclusion
So, a mental accounting fallacy does exist in this situation; albeit a different one from what I thought initially.
Corollarily, I realized that defining others as the observable sample would have avoided this hazard and hence wording your conclusion is pretty important.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Final Admission Status
Here is the final result of all the MBA entrance exams I have given for the 2008-09 season.
NMAT and FMS are speed based exams and I do horribly on such exams. Hence as such I expected nothing from these.... :) .... so sleep lost.
The big bonus was of course XAT, which I really did not expect to do well in, but eventually got and converted five calls.
If only there was one way of transferring good performance, I would have transferred all marks to CAT and got (and hopefully converted) an IIM Ahmedabad call... or at least got a scholarship in IIM Calcutta (even a teeny-tiny one would make me happy). But one can't edit life, can one ...... :)
Had gone to the welcome meet organized by IIM Calcutta PGP2s yesterday. Met a lot of the people who I am gonna be spending next two years with. ...and frankly overwhelmed by the overall quality of the batch. My resume looks like toilet paper when you see theirs.
Thankfully, all illusions of 'Swayam Mahant' (I am great) have been washed away and I will not struggle too hard once I get there as I will not have much to prove. I see that people like me are already stereotyped 'wildcard' entries and hence it is best to play the underdog and shoot as if u have nothing to lose.
Even if I graduate at the bottom of my class, it will still be IIM C, yaar!
Cheers! To the formidable trials and tribulations ahead............
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Kasab vs Bhagat Singh
Yeah, I know, to 99.9999999999% Indians, this comparison in itself will sound revolting and people will start sharpening their pitch forks and their arsenal of choicest Hindi expletives. But this post is not to compare the activities or ideology of Kasab vis-à-vis Bhagat Singh, but to compare contemporary setup with its Raj-equivalent.
As one has been reminded by the very many variants of Bhagat Singh's story, which concurrently immortalized him on celluloid and have forgotten him since; Bhagat Singh's and his accomplices used harmless smoke bombs just to create a stir in the assembly and actually courted arrest by surrendering their weapons. Their modus operandi was that the ensuing trial would surely be covered by large dailies and that would be more publicity for their cause than a few million pamphlets could muster in a million years.
In contrast, Kasab and his coterie came with the sole intention of pulling off the most outrageous hit-and–run plan ever in the history of international terrorism. He was the only fateful gun-slinger to be caught alive, the rest having been granted a quick death, far superior than their nefarious deeds deserved.
People say that by trying Kasab, India is making a mistake. I think not. A widely-read Arab daily pointed out that the sign of a well formed judicial system is that it is able to keep beyond emotion and impulse and let justice take it’s slow, remorseless course. But is this compliment well directed? I differ here, again.
Justice must not only be done but also seen to be done. India could have used the Kasab trial to keep pricking the world with this thorn, reminding it of the atrocities it had been subject to, largely thanks to powers like the US and China donning kid gloves with Pakistan (in addition to India’s own magnificent ineptness). Pakistan’s degeneration, with the Swat and NWPF cave-ins, has created an image of victimhood, a curtain behind which the Pakistan establishment has only been too grateful to hide. India could have used the trial to rip this curtain apart and refocus attention on the root cause, Pakistan’s perpetual denial.
Instead, what has unfolded so far is a rather sad comedy of errors. The first defense lawyer who represented Kasab was also found to be standing for one of the terror attack victims and was summarily forced to leave. The second lawyer, a trustee of a number of Islamic institutions in Mumbai and one who has a track record of defending gangsters and bomb blast accused, tried to convince the court that Kasab was a suckling infant and should be given biscuits with milk rather than the death penalty. When the court saw through this, the Urdu charge sheet ploy was played. And the saga continue as we speak.
Another country would have stage-managed this trial and got the right leverage, but not India. India is called a successful experiment in democracy. It reminds me of a saying, “Success is about going from failure to failure without getting discouraged”. The Kasab trial is out to prove this.
As one has been reminded by the very many variants of Bhagat Singh's story, which concurrently immortalized him on celluloid and have forgotten him since; Bhagat Singh's and his accomplices used harmless smoke bombs just to create a stir in the assembly and actually courted arrest by surrendering their weapons. Their modus operandi was that the ensuing trial would surely be covered by large dailies and that would be more publicity for their cause than a few million pamphlets could muster in a million years.
In contrast, Kasab and his coterie came with the sole intention of pulling off the most outrageous hit-and–run plan ever in the history of international terrorism. He was the only fateful gun-slinger to be caught alive, the rest having been granted a quick death, far superior than their nefarious deeds deserved.
People say that by trying Kasab, India is making a mistake. I think not. A widely-read Arab daily pointed out that the sign of a well formed judicial system is that it is able to keep beyond emotion and impulse and let justice take it’s slow, remorseless course. But is this compliment well directed? I differ here, again.
Justice must not only be done but also seen to be done. India could have used the Kasab trial to keep pricking the world with this thorn, reminding it of the atrocities it had been subject to, largely thanks to powers like the US and China donning kid gloves with Pakistan (in addition to India’s own magnificent ineptness). Pakistan’s degeneration, with the Swat and NWPF cave-ins, has created an image of victimhood, a curtain behind which the Pakistan establishment has only been too grateful to hide. India could have used the trial to rip this curtain apart and refocus attention on the root cause, Pakistan’s perpetual denial.
Instead, what has unfolded so far is a rather sad comedy of errors. The first defense lawyer who represented Kasab was also found to be standing for one of the terror attack victims and was summarily forced to leave. The second lawyer, a trustee of a number of Islamic institutions in Mumbai and one who has a track record of defending gangsters and bomb blast accused, tried to convince the court that Kasab was a suckling infant and should be given biscuits with milk rather than the death penalty. When the court saw through this, the Urdu charge sheet ploy was played. And the saga continue as we speak.
Another country would have stage-managed this trial and got the right leverage, but not India. India is called a successful experiment in democracy. It reminds me of a saying, “Success is about going from failure to failure without getting discouraged”. The Kasab trial is out to prove this.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
SoftTimes and Tide waits for no man .....
In case you have noticed that I have not posted editorials and quiz snippets from SoftTimes in a long time and wonder if the global 'slowdown' (another post coming up on 'slowdown') has claimed another victim, lemme assure you that it is not the case..... :)
I have not been posting for these for sometime since I am mentally preparing myself for the fact that soon the day will come when I will no longer be the editor of SoftTimes. I have already spoken about drafting in a couple of new members in the team to take my place, and the editorial duty will be passed on to the group as a whole, with people taking turns to write the edit.
The team is yet to be apprised of the churn in the offing. I wait before divulging this information for two reasons. One, some from the team will panic as there were very few members who has the inclination to manage the editorial duty in the first place. Second, I don't want the change of guard to be a long drawn one, I don't want to see a SoftTimes in my mailbox which I have played no role in creating. On my last day, my mail account will be terminated and I will be 'Out of Circulation' for SoftTimes.
I am mentally preparing for the transition. Just that, I am going to miss ST a lot. it gave me a chance to boss people around, look condescendingly at a poorly drafted article and regularly dodge brickbats for the a variety of reasons .'Quiz was too difficult', '**** article had a spelling mistake', 'The Joke section wasn't funny', 'See ..... ST came to my inbox at 5:31 PM' (officially, we must release it by 5.30PM every Friday) ...... am going to miss these pick up lines.
Thank you SoftTimes ........ come June, I will no longer be a part of you..... but ST will be a part of me for a long time to come ........
I have not been posting for these for sometime since I am mentally preparing myself for the fact that soon the day will come when I will no longer be the editor of SoftTimes. I have already spoken about drafting in a couple of new members in the team to take my place, and the editorial duty will be passed on to the group as a whole, with people taking turns to write the edit.
The team is yet to be apprised of the churn in the offing. I wait before divulging this information for two reasons. One, some from the team will panic as there were very few members who has the inclination to manage the editorial duty in the first place. Second, I don't want the change of guard to be a long drawn one, I don't want to see a SoftTimes in my mailbox which I have played no role in creating. On my last day, my mail account will be terminated and I will be 'Out of Circulation' for SoftTimes.
I am mentally preparing for the transition. Just that, I am going to miss ST a lot. it gave me a chance to boss people around, look condescendingly at a poorly drafted article and regularly dodge brickbats for the a variety of reasons .'Quiz was too difficult', '**** article had a spelling mistake', 'The Joke section wasn't funny', 'See ..... ST came to my inbox at 5:31 PM' (officially, we must release it by 5.30PM every Friday) ...... am going to miss these pick up lines.
Thank you SoftTimes ........ come June, I will no longer be a part of you..... but ST will be a part of me for a long time to come ........
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Who will cry ....
My second blogged poem ...... bouquets and brickbats welcome :) ....
Who will cry when I die?
Oh, I wish some do cry ...
But is it not intriguing why ...
Should I want to die just to see someone cry?
Who will miss my words, both jolly and wane
who will remember the stupid jokes and the silly fights;
who will drive down the old memories lane
while silently staring at the twinkling twilights.
Who will sulk when I go?
Oh, I wish some one loves me so ....
But I wonder if I would really go,
If of such love I came to know....
Who will look at my empty chair
and wish the clock could be turned back;
who will hold a steaming cup of coffee on a cold winter morning
and wish I was there to share the moment.
Who will cry when I die?
Oh, I wish some do cry ...
But, who will keep the company of my ebbing sigh,
Silent dry eyes are a dreadful goodbye .........
Friday, April 10, 2009
On what should be the happiest day of my life.......
It should be the happiest day of my life as yet ....... but there is this weird feeling of emptyness ...... as if I did not win the silver.... I lost the gold...............
Today for me (though not officially) MBA entrance exam season 2008-09 comes to an end ......... been a long journey.......
I really do not know where to start recounting my tale .... from the first time I heard about the IIMs in 1st year of Engineering? ..... The first time I decided that I wanted to do an MBA (3rd year of Engineering) ?....... when I joined TIME for CAT 2008 (September 2007) ? ....... when I really started studying for CAT 2008 (Dec 2007) ? ..... I really do not know .....
But it has been a long and ardous journey uptill now, that is for sure .......
And what do I have to show for it ??
CAT 2007 - 71.11 percentile overall including a zero (yep.... you got it right..... zero) in Quant
A season full of MOCK CATS..... 20 AIMCATS from TIME ..... at least 20 dead take home CATs
with percentiles varying from 82 to 98.9 ....... but no consistency whatever .....
Finally something worthwhile ..... here is my perfomance uptill now in chronological order
Today for me (though not officially) MBA entrance exam season 2008-09 comes to an end ......... been a long journey.......
I really do not know where to start recounting my tale .... from the first time I heard about the IIMs in 1st year of Engineering? ..... The first time I decided that I wanted to do an MBA (3rd year of Engineering) ?....... when I joined TIME for CAT 2008 (September 2007) ? ....... when I really started studying for CAT 2008 (Dec 2007) ? ..... I really do not know .....
But it has been a long and ardous journey uptill now, that is for sure .......
And what do I have to show for it ??
CAT 2007 - 71.11 percentile overall including a zero (yep.... you got it right..... zero) in Quant
A season full of MOCK CATS..... 20 AIMCATS from TIME ..... at least 20 dead take home CATs
with percentiles varying from 82 to 98.9 ....... but no consistency whatever .....
Finally something worthwhile ..... here is my perfomance uptill now in chronological order
Have decided to join IIM Calcutta .... (it was a no brainer really....) .... the only real competition was XLRI -BM .... but they have waitlisted me, have'nt they ?
Still emptyness ....... not happiness ..... I wonder why?
Maybe because after 1.5 years of hard work and juggling work, life, CAT studies and a very demanding set of parents and girl-friend; my mom had this to say after the result came out "You should have studied harder..... maybe you would have got IIM Ahmedabad...."
So life goes on ..... in pursuit of the pursuit .........
Sunday, March 22, 2009
SoftTimes Quiz 05: 26th March 2009 - Medium Diffculty
Quiz 05
Which festival shall be celebrated on 27th March this year?
1> Gudi Padwa
2> Cheti Chand
3> Ugadi
4> All othe above.
Erwin Rommel, the famed German Field Marshall during World War II, was widely regarded as the most skilled desert warefare expert; won grudging respect even from his enemies(Allied Forces) and was considered 'immortal'. What form of unnatural death did he meet with?
1> He died after being stung by a bee
2> He died after consuming sulphuric acid from an oasis, mistaking it for water
3> He was forced to kill himself after being accussed of mutiny by Hitler
4> He drowned.
The movie '300' depicted the battle of ...
1> Troy
2> Sparta
3> Carthage
4> Athens.
Which of the following is a commonly used problem analysis technique?
1> Fish Bone Analysis
2> Dog Bone Analysis
3> Flesh and Bone Analysis
4> Great Bone Analysis.
Which festival shall be celebrated on 27th March this year?
1> Gudi Padwa
2> Cheti Chand
3> Ugadi
4> All othe above.
Erwin Rommel, the famed German Field Marshall during World War II, was widely regarded as the most skilled desert warefare expert; won grudging respect even from his enemies(Allied Forces) and was considered 'immortal'. What form of unnatural death did he meet with?
1> He died after being stung by a bee
2> He died after consuming sulphuric acid from an oasis, mistaking it for water
3> He was forced to kill himself after being accussed of mutiny by Hitler
4> He drowned.
The movie '300' depicted the battle of ...
1> Troy
2> Sparta
3> Carthage
4> Athens.
Which of the following is a commonly used problem analysis technique?
1> Fish Bone Analysis
2> Dog Bone Analysis
3> Flesh and Bone Analysis
4> Great Bone Analysis.
SoftTimes Editorial : 26th March 2009
Gudhi Padwa
On the 27th of March this year, which is also the first day of the Chaitra month, we celebrate Gudhi Padwa. It is the same day on which great king Shalivahana defeated Shakas in battle. Gudi Padwa falls on the first day of Marathi Calendar. This festival is supposed to mark the beginning of Vasant Hritu (spring season) and is considered the harbinger of the pleasant season. According to the Gregorian calendar this would fall in the interim of March and April. The Sindhi festival of Cheti Chand is also celebrated on this day.
The mythological significance is that according to the Brahma Purana, this is the day on which Brahma created the world after the deluge and time began to tick from this day forth. Gudhi Padwa is especially dedicated to the worship of Lord Brahma. Many legends state that this festival is celebrated to commemorate the coronation of Lord Rama after his return to Ayodhya from 14 years of exile.
This is one of the 3-and-a-half days in the Indian lunar calendar called "Sade-Teen Muhurt" i.e. periods during which every moment is considered auspicious for the purpose of marriage, celebration, pledge and venture.
Let us dissect the nomenclature to understand the significance of the day. The Gudhi, Brahma’s flag (Brahmadhvaj) is hoisted in every house as a symbolic representation of Rama’s victory and happiness on returning to Ayodhya after slaying the Rakshasha Ravan. Since a symbol of victory is always held high, so is the Gudhi (flag). Gudhi is also a symbol of victory of Shaliavahana over Shakas, which people hoisted when he returned to Paithan. Maharashtrians see the Gudhi as a symbol of victory associated with the conquests of Maratha forces lead by the great hero Chattrpati Shivaji Maharaj. Gudhi is also considered a charm to ward off evil and invite prosperity & good luck into the house.
The term ‘Padwa’ is derived from Pratipada, the first day of a lunar month or the first day after Amavasya, the No-Moon day Being the first day of the first month of a year, Gudhi Padwa is the New Year's day for Maharashtrians. As India was primarily agrarian in the past, celebrations and festivals were often linked to the turn of the season and to the sowing and reaping of crops. This day marks the end of one harvest and the beginning of a new one, which for an agricultural community signifies the beginning of a New Year. In the case of Gudhi Padwa, it is celebrated at the end of the Rabi season.
Soft Times wishes our readership a Happy Gudhi Padwa. May this day bring you loads of luck & good times in the year ahead and may it put the ‘Spring’ back in your step…!
Read on for more on your favorite fares in the pages ahead.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
SoftTimes Quiz 04
This one is at least medium difficulty level. Check it out.............
Quiz 04
Who is attributed the following quote on change, "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction"
1> Winston Churchill
2> Ralph Waldo Emerson
3> Mark Twain
Stephen Hawking, widely regarded as the world's foremost thinker in theoretical physics, holds a position which was once held by Isaac Newton. Name that position.
1> Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (Cauiss College, cambridge)
2> Dirac Professor of Physics (Trinity College, cambridge)
3> Galilean Professor of Physics (Merton College, Oxford)
Who played Danny Ocean in the original "Ocean's Eleven" which was released in 1960? Hint: He was a very famous singer.
1> Frank Sinatra
2> John Lennon
3> Dean Martin
In terms of Software Quality, QPM stands for .....
1> Quantitative Project Management
2> Qualitative Performance Metrics
2> Questions per minute
You can post your scores and add questions related to topics covered here......
Quiz 04
Who is attributed the following quote on change, "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction"
1> Winston Churchill
2> Ralph Waldo Emerson
3> Mark Twain
Stephen Hawking, widely regarded as the world's foremost thinker in theoretical physics, holds a position which was once held by Isaac Newton. Name that position.
1> Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (Cauiss College, cambridge)
2> Dirac Professor of Physics (Trinity College, cambridge)
3> Galilean Professor of Physics (Merton College, Oxford)
Who played Danny Ocean in the original "Ocean's Eleven" which was released in 1960? Hint: He was a very famous singer.
1> Frank Sinatra
2> John Lennon
3> Dean Martin
In terms of Software Quality, QPM stands for .....
1> Quantitative Project Management
2> Qualitative Performance Metrics
2> Questions per minute
You can post your scores and add questions related to topics covered here......
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
SoftTimes Editorial: 20th March 2009
Winds of change
Often heard is the maxim “Change is the only constant.” It sounds nice, but for most of our adult life, we have lived in a world where change was segue, a turn for the better and the promise of much more to come. Change was rarely turbulent. That ferocious entity was to a large extent deemed to be a relic of the past, a dragon fought by our parents and grandparents, but long since extinct.
Perhaps that is what lulled this generation into a sense of security, a weird intuit of invincibility which characterizes our inability to adapt to the winds of change which have swept the world. We are staring at a most tumultuous period but do not appear prepared in the least. Perhaps this is where T.R. Malthus’ ‘Theory of Positive Checks’ has caught up with humankind.
Albert Ellis once famously said “The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own, not your mother’s, the ecology’s, or the president’s.”
And add to that ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’, and you have the two most important lessons of adaptation. It is evidently not possible to change CHANGE, so all that is left in our capacity is to change ourselves.
If you were expecting a roadmap to a better you and an exact step by step approach on how to handle change, you are doomed to disappointment. The process of managing change for the better is correlated to you and the situation you are in and is as unique to you as your fingerprints. And, just like you fingerprints, you are born with the ability to change and the intuition of knowing what exactly to do to achieve it.
And it does not matter who you are and what you do, the only thing matters is your will to change. It does not matter whether you are single or with a family, whether you are rich or running debts and got culled in the stock market crash. When life hands you a lemon, make lemon juice. Remember, our forefathers had a word for what we term as demeaning work; that word was ‘opportunity’.
So all you need to do is get pen to paper; note down what is it that has gone awry and chalk out a plan to make it better. And stick to plan. We do not kid you by saying it is going to be easy. But, believe us; it will be worth the pains. After all, Darwin had a point.
Often heard is the maxim “Change is the only constant.” It sounds nice, but for most of our adult life, we have lived in a world where change was segue, a turn for the better and the promise of much more to come. Change was rarely turbulent. That ferocious entity was to a large extent deemed to be a relic of the past, a dragon fought by our parents and grandparents, but long since extinct.
Perhaps that is what lulled this generation into a sense of security, a weird intuit of invincibility which characterizes our inability to adapt to the winds of change which have swept the world. We are staring at a most tumultuous period but do not appear prepared in the least. Perhaps this is where T.R. Malthus’ ‘Theory of Positive Checks’ has caught up with humankind.
Albert Ellis once famously said “The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own, not your mother’s, the ecology’s, or the president’s.”
And add to that ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’, and you have the two most important lessons of adaptation. It is evidently not possible to change CHANGE, so all that is left in our capacity is to change ourselves.
If you were expecting a roadmap to a better you and an exact step by step approach on how to handle change, you are doomed to disappointment. The process of managing change for the better is correlated to you and the situation you are in and is as unique to you as your fingerprints. And, just like you fingerprints, you are born with the ability to change and the intuition of knowing what exactly to do to achieve it.
And it does not matter who you are and what you do, the only thing matters is your will to change. It does not matter whether you are single or with a family, whether you are rich or running debts and got culled in the stock market crash. When life hands you a lemon, make lemon juice. Remember, our forefathers had a word for what we term as demeaning work; that word was ‘opportunity’.
So all you need to do is get pen to paper; note down what is it that has gone awry and chalk out a plan to make it better. And stick to plan. We do not kid you by saying it is going to be easy. But, believe us; it will be worth the pains. After all, Darwin had a point.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
My first blogged poem - The Leap of faith
I generally do not publish my poems and short stories....I deem them too personal..... but have changed my mind about this one.... let me know how it has turned out.....
Knowing not the perils of the way ahead,
And for all the blood and tears spilt,
The leap - oh so difficult to leap,
But leap I will, leap I must,
The Leap of faith
I hold my breath at the steep drop,
The sheer cliff plunges scarily;
Darker than all the pains of the way up,
The fear of the leap stares at me.
Knowing not the perils of the way ahead,
the exhuberance of ambition had gushed and frothed;
Now, with milestones won and millstones worn,
Ambition and sacrifice is betrothed.
And for all the blood and tears spilt,
and the sacrifices made in conquering the hill;
Time has come to abandon fear and guilt,
And leap as one knows one will.
The leap - oh so difficult to leap,
Not knowing where one lands;
Temptation surges in tired veins to keep,
the safety of the ground on which one stands.
But leap I will, leap I must,
The leap, one knows, is destiny;
And whether I fly or fall and turn to dust.
The leap shall set me free.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Soft Times Editorial: 6th March 2009
Holi-day!!!
Legend has it that was once a demon king by the name of Hiranyakashyapu who won over the kingdom of the Earth. He was so egoistic that he commanded everybody in his kingdom to worship only him. But to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana and refused to worship his father.
Hiranyakashyapu tried several ways to kill his son Prahlad but Lord Vishnu saved him every time. Finally, he asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. For, Hiranyakashyapu knew that Holika had a boon, whereby, she could enter the fire unscathed.
Treacherously, Holika coaxed young Prahlad to sit in her lap and she herself took her seat in a blazing fire. The legend has it that Holika had to pay the price of her sinister desire by her life. Holika was not aware that the boon worked only when she entered the fire alone. Prahlad, who kept chanting the name of Lord Naarayana all this while, came out unharmed, as the lord blessed him for his extreme devotion.
Thus, Holi derives its name from Holika and it is celebrated as victory of good over evil. It is celebrated by lighting a bonfire to symbolize the burning of evil (Dhulivandan). The next day is celebrated as Rangpanchami, the festival of colors. It is said that even mortal enemies among Indian royalty put aside their differences and partook in the raucous celebration of chrome.
It is interesting to note that the festival of Holi is significant for its seasonal timing
Medical Practitioners believe that colors when sprayed on the body have a great impact. Biologists believe the liquid dye penetrates the body and enters into the pores. It has the effect of strengthening the ions in the body and adds health and beauty to it.
There is a scientific reason ascribed to the lighting of the bonfire, which is known as Dhulivandan. The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When the bonfire of Holika is lit, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenheit and purges the harmful biological organisms that thrive in the transient phase of seasons.
SoftTimes wishes its readers a very happy and colorful Holi. May your life be adorned by happiness, satisfaction and the miscellaneous colors of life!
Soft Times Quiz 01: It's a piece of Cake
This is the new quiz section in SoftTimes. It is very simple....so if you get one wrong....get a fistful of tap water.....and you know what to do next... :)....enjoi....
Quiz 01
1> Oscar Fernandes (the former Indian Defence minister) instituted them
2> An Academy employee remarked that the statuette reminded her of her uncle ‘Oscar’
Ben Hur (1959), The Titanic (1997) and Lord of the Rings (2003) have won the most awards (won by a single movie). How many awards have they won?
1> 11
2> 90,000
Which movie based on a slum dweller in Mumbai won 8 awards at the recently concluded 81st Annual Academy Awards (Oscars)?
1> Slumdog Millionaire
2> Salim Langde Pe Mat Rona.
What does DAR stand for?
1> Decision Analysis and Resolution
2> Dreaming About Rheese.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
SoftTimes Editorial: 27th February 2009
The ‘Jai Ho’ Moment
Is this the ‘Jai Ho’ moment and the triumph of Indian Cinema has become a pleasant infection competing for scale and reach with Avian Influenza? Or is this an offensive put down in the genre of voyeuristic art form, a fulsome compliment aimed at mocking the futility of miscellaneous progress we have achieved?
First let us get the facts straight. Slumdog Millionaire is an extraordinary film. It has been well received by both mainstream audience as well as critics. And the eight Oscars add to the inherent sheen. But the question to be asked is, do we need a British director, an international production house and foreign acclaim to know that Indian cinema has come of age and is right up there with the best in terms of content and quality?
Indian cinema is no more about running around trees and regressive story lines, a concept now patented by Indian soap-operas. Several international production houses have tie-ups with Indian film makers and this cross border compliment has been suitable returned with BIG pictures signing up Steven Spielberg. From Satyajit Ray (original holder of the label ‘poverty exporter’) to Shekar Kapur to Mira Nair to Ashutosh Gowarikar, several Indian film makers have received significant international acclaim. So it is only expected that we take the portents further and stack up a few pieces of silver to add to the copious verbal recommendations.
Make no mistake, Indian cinema has arrived. But accepting humility is the appropriate reaction rather than raucous celebrations. Amitabh Bacchan blogged that an Indian director might not have been be showered with such graces for the same film. He may have a point. But, all the same, criticizing the portrayal of poverty as voyeuristic (while doing nothing about it) is taking things to the other extreme.
All in all, cheers to Rahman for his two-fer, Resul Pookutty for his moving words in addition to the statuette and the entire cast & crew of Slumdog for a rousing performance. But, after the celebrations die down, it is time to reflect on the social implications of the film and work to ensure that we don’t need the British to serve wake up calls reminding us of the poverty and backwardness being curtained by India’s scorching ascent on economic indicators.
Is this the ‘Jai Ho’ moment and the triumph of Indian Cinema has become a pleasant infection competing for scale and reach with Avian Influenza? Or is this an offensive put down in the genre of voyeuristic art form, a fulsome compliment aimed at mocking the futility of miscellaneous progress we have achieved?
First let us get the facts straight. Slumdog Millionaire is an extraordinary film. It has been well received by both mainstream audience as well as critics. And the eight Oscars add to the inherent sheen. But the question to be asked is, do we need a British director, an international production house and foreign acclaim to know that Indian cinema has come of age and is right up there with the best in terms of content and quality?
Indian cinema is no more about running around trees and regressive story lines, a concept now patented by Indian soap-operas. Several international production houses have tie-ups with Indian film makers and this cross border compliment has been suitable returned with BIG pictures signing up Steven Spielberg. From Satyajit Ray (original holder of the label ‘poverty exporter’) to Shekar Kapur to Mira Nair to Ashutosh Gowarikar, several Indian film makers have received significant international acclaim. So it is only expected that we take the portents further and stack up a few pieces of silver to add to the copious verbal recommendations.
Make no mistake, Indian cinema has arrived. But accepting humility is the appropriate reaction rather than raucous celebrations. Amitabh Bacchan blogged that an Indian director might not have been be showered with such graces for the same film. He may have a point. But, all the same, criticizing the portrayal of poverty as voyeuristic (while doing nothing about it) is taking things to the other extreme.
All in all, cheers to Rahman for his two-fer, Resul Pookutty for his moving words in addition to the statuette and the entire cast & crew of Slumdog for a rousing performance. But, after the celebrations die down, it is time to reflect on the social implications of the film and work to ensure that we don’t need the British to serve wake up calls reminding us of the poverty and backwardness being curtained by India’s scorching ascent on economic indicators.
Monday, February 23, 2009
What is this SoftTimes ?
Ok.....for the uninitiated.....which basically means almost everyone in the world [:)] .....I would like to clarify what is softTimes............
SoftTimes is the after hours weekly newsletter published for the readership of the business unit I work in. It is published every Friday at 5.30PM (A date which no team in the history of SoftTimes has been able to keep owing to our tendency to start digging the well only after the tentacles of thirst start reaching up your throat).
SoftTimes Issue No 205 went out this Friday (20th February 2009). It was the first time I was a part of the formatiing team (generally I just handle editorials ans some other creative inputs) and boy was it a royal disaster!
It was probably the worst formatting in the history of formatting, in the history of newsletters and the history of history...... When the seniors had remarked that the old team had set the bar high and we neede to cretae a new standard for ourselves, I don't think this is what they had in mind.....
Anyway, lesson well learnt...... Gonna make it all up with this week's edition....... The theme is "India's ascendance in world cinema".....
Jai Ho ST !!
SoftTimes is the after hours weekly newsletter published for the readership of the business unit I work in. It is published every Friday at 5.30PM (A date which no team in the history of SoftTimes has been able to keep owing to our tendency to start digging the well only after the tentacles of thirst start reaching up your throat).
SoftTimes Issue No 205 went out this Friday (20th February 2009). It was the first time I was a part of the formatiing team (generally I just handle editorials ans some other creative inputs) and boy was it a royal disaster!
It was probably the worst formatting in the history of formatting, in the history of newsletters and the history of history...... When the seniors had remarked that the old team had set the bar high and we neede to cretae a new standard for ourselves, I don't think this is what they had in mind.....
Anyway, lesson well learnt...... Gonna make it all up with this week's edition....... The theme is "India's ascendance in world cinema".....
Jai Ho ST !!
SoftTimes Editorial: 20th Feb 2009
In praise of Maheshwara…
The festival of Mahashivaratri, which will be celebrated on the 23rd of February this year, is the most important festival for the millions of devotees of Lord Shiva. It is said that a devotee who performs sincere worship of Lord Shiva on this auspicious day of Shivaratri is absolved of sins and attains moksha.
According to our sacred scriptures, the ritual worship of Lord Shiva on Shivaratri festival that falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun pleases Lord Shiva the most. This fact is said to have been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when the Goddess Parvati asked him as to which ritual performed by his devotees pleases him the most. Even till date, devotees of Lord Shiva perform the ritual worship of Shivaratri with care and devotion. Devotees fast throughout the day and perform the sacred bathing ritual of the Shiva Linga with honey, milk, water etc. Hindus consider it extremely auspicious to worship Lord Shiva on Shivaratri as it is believed that worship of Lord Shiva with devotion and sincerity washes a devotee of past sins and liberates one from the cycle of rebirth.
Mahashivaratri is also considered to be an extremely significant festival by women. Married and unmarried women observe fast and perform Shiva Puja with sincerity to appease Goddess Parvati who is also regarded as ‘Gaura’ - one who bestows marital bliss and long and prosperous married life. Unmarried women also pray for a husband like Lord Shiva who is regarded as the ideal husband.
Soft Times wishes our readers a very happy and festive Shivaratri.
Read on for your favorite regular columns (and also some irregularsJ).Also do visit page XXX to find out more about the latest Soft Times initiative, the ST Blog.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
SoftTimes Editorial: 6th Feb 2009
Emotional Intelligence: It’s who you are……
We live in uncertain times. Today, the reality of change has changed our realities. In the competitive and driven world of today, leadership and initiative are qualities which every hand on deck is expected to possess. And with respect to leadership, here lies the catch.
What is it that separates the best from the rest? Shakespeare said, “Some are born great; some achieve greatness and yet others have greatness thrust upon them.” Extending the analogy to leadership, what separates the merely talented from the leaders of the masses?
If there is one quality that is the hallmark of a leader, it is Emotional Intelligence (EI), according to Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence and Primal Leadership.
Leading in an unpredictable environment requires leaders who are flexible and who are able to modify their style according to the external demands. Goleman’s framework of EI stresses that leaders of this century will need to have a great deal of self-awareness on how their internal world relates and impacts others around them. Recent research conducted by Goleman and colleagues, identified six leadership styles that contributed towards an effective leader. Each of the following styles had some aspect of EI (i.e., coercive, authoritative, facilitative, democratic, pace-setting and coaching). Utilizing these styles would likely benefit the individual leader during times of unpredictable change.
True leaders, by virtue of their pedigree, face the impact of changing educational, social, political and additional financial forces in their units. They must strive towards acquiring this different competency of EI with the goal of creating a climate that nurtures and fosters life long learning.
So, the next time in life a change you sense, remember you arsenal of Emotional Intelligence.
SoftTimes Editorial: 31st jan 2009
Pancha Mahabhuta: The ‘Great’ Elements
Mahābhūta is Sanskrit and Pāli for ‘Great’ element. In Hindu mythology, the five "great" or "gross" elements are Ether/Universal Fabric of Self, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
The five elements form the basis of the tenets of various fields like vaastu, accupuncture, accupressure, oriental herbal medication and every some techniques practiced under the umbrella of Ayurveda.
The Taittirīya Upanishad describes the five "sheaths" of a person starting at the gross level of the five evolving great elements. From this very self (ātman) did space come into being; from space, air; from air, fire; from fire, the waters, from the waters, the earth; from the earth, plants; from plants, food; and from food, man.
Different from and lying within this man formed from the essence of food is the self (ātman) consisting of life breath. Different from and lying within this self consisting of breath is the self (ātman) consisting of mind. Different from and lying within this self consisting of mind is the self (ātman) consisting of perception. Different from and lying within this self consisting of perception is the self (ātman) consisting of bliss.
It is said that the various facets of personality reflect the interplay between these elements and one of these elements always dominates the other. For example: Earth symbolizes calmness, Air represents influence, Fire stands for ambition and water is the life dedicated to service.
Knowing the Mahabhuta is the key to knowing yourself. And in self realization lies bliss.
More blissful articles coming your way after the page of contents
The five elements form the basis of the tenets of various fields like vaastu, accupuncture, accupressure, oriental herbal medication and every some techniques practiced under the umbrella of Ayurveda.
The Taittirīya Upanishad describes the five "sheaths" of a person starting at the gross level of the five evolving great elements. From this very self (ātman) did space come into being; from space, air; from air, fire; from fire, the waters, from the waters, the earth; from the earth, plants; from plants, food; and from food, man.
Different from and lying within this man formed from the essence of food is the self (ātman) consisting of life breath. Different from and lying within this self consisting of breath is the self (ātman) consisting of mind. Different from and lying within this self consisting of mind is the self (ātman) consisting of perception. Different from and lying within this self consisting of perception is the self (ātman) consisting of bliss.
It is said that the various facets of personality reflect the interplay between these elements and one of these elements always dominates the other. For example: Earth symbolizes calmness, Air represents influence, Fire stands for ambition and water is the life dedicated to service.
Knowing the Mahabhuta is the key to knowing yourself. And in self realization lies bliss.
More blissful articles coming your way after the page of contents
SoftTimes Editorial: 31st jan 2009
Pancha Mahabhuta: The ‘Great’ Elements
Mahābhūta is Sanskrit and Pāli for ‘Great’ element. In Hindu mythology, the five "great" or "gross" elements are Ether/Universal Fabric of Self, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
The five elements form the basis of the tenets of various fields like vaastu, accupuncture, accupressure, oriental herbal medication and every some techniques practiced under the umbrella of Ayurveda.
The Taittirīya Upanishad describes the five "sheaths" of a person starting at the gross level of the five evolving great elements. From this very self (ātman) did space come into being; from space, air; from air, fire; from fire, the waters, from the waters, the earth; from the earth, plants; from plants, food; and from food, man.
Different from and lying within this man formed from the essence of food is the self (ātman) consisting of life breath. Different from and lying within this self consisting of breath is the self (ātman) consisting of mind. Different from and lying within this self consisting of mind is the self (ātman) consisting of perception. Different from and lying within this self consisting of perception is the self (ātman) consisting of bliss.
It is said that the various facets of personality reflect the interplay between these elements and one of these elements always dominates the other. For example: Earth symbolizes calmness, Air represents influence, Fire stands for ambition and water is the life dedicated to service.
Knowing the Mahabhuta is the key to knowing yourself. And in self realization lies bliss.
More blissful articles coming your way after the page of contents
The five elements form the basis of the tenets of various fields like vaastu, accupuncture, accupressure, oriental herbal medication and every some techniques practiced under the umbrella of Ayurveda.
The Taittirīya Upanishad describes the five "sheaths" of a person starting at the gross level of the five evolving great elements. From this very self (ātman) did space come into being; from space, air; from air, fire; from fire, the waters, from the waters, the earth; from the earth, plants; from plants, food; and from food, man.
Different from and lying within this man formed from the essence of food is the self (ātman) consisting of life breath. Different from and lying within this self consisting of breath is the self (ātman) consisting of mind. Different from and lying within this self consisting of mind is the self (ātman) consisting of perception. Different from and lying within this self consisting of perception is the self (ātman) consisting of bliss.
It is said that the various facets of personality reflect the interplay between these elements and one of these elements always dominates the other. For example: Earth symbolizes calmness, Air represents influence, Fire stands for ambition and water is the life dedicated to service.
Knowing the Mahabhuta is the key to knowing yourself. And in self realization lies bliss.
More blissful articles coming your way after the page of contents
Monday, February 9, 2009
SoftTimes Editorial: 26th Jan 2009
Redeeming the Republic
On the 26th of January 2009, India will celebrate its 59th Republic Day. This was the day chosen by the leaders of the then newly independent India in 1950 to bring into force the constitution of India and consequently India declared itself to be a ‘sovereign, socialist republic dedicated to uphold the secular values of its founding fathers’ .
An obscure fact about the day is that it commemorates the date on which the Indian Tricolor was first unfurled in January 1930 at Lahore, by Jawaharlal Nehru, who would later become prime minister of India. At the banks of the river Raavi, he declared that the Indian National Congress will not settle for anything less than complete independence from British rule. Earlier, autonomy was war cry of the INC.
In keeping the historical significance of the occasion, the people of India redeem the pledge of the republic in their ‘tryst with destiny’ on Republic Day. It is especially important in these times of turmoil that the people of India focus on execution of intent rather than fall for platitudes.
We shall vote responsibly in the coming elections. We shall not let communal, parochial or xenophobic rhetoric malign the innocence of our person. We shall extend the hand of co-operation for people and industry in these trying times. And most of all, we shall do our bit in bringing our nation to the brink of the pinnacle which, we all believe, is our destiny.
Soft Times wishes our readership a very Happy Republic Day. Read on to find loads of interesting articles.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Moderation by perspicacity: Editorial duty
I was browsing through the weekly employee newsletter of an engineering giant. Among other relevant news, I saw a piece on a student (an top employee's daughter) winning a singing competition at Malhar 2008(St Xavier's College festival). It stuck out like a thorn. My first reaction : "What a pathetic display of parental pride in a company newsletter!".
Arguing over this issue with a friend, a new perspective was revealed to me. What if the poor employee had nothing to do with this article? What if it was the handiwork of an overzealous employee, eager to win brownie points? Or maybe the editor was in the mood to hand out toffees?
Also, can an employee be blamed for being proud and pushing his agenda, even if the forum is not right? It now strikes me as natural.It is the editor's prerogative to ensure that content is congratulatory but not oleaginous.
So, whats your take, huh?
Arguing over this issue with a friend, a new perspective was revealed to me. What if the poor employee had nothing to do with this article? What if it was the handiwork of an overzealous employee, eager to win brownie points? Or maybe the editor was in the mood to hand out toffees?
Also, can an employee be blamed for being proud and pushing his agenda, even if the forum is not right? It now strikes me as natural.It is the editor's prerogative to ensure that content is congratulatory but not oleaginous.
So, whats your take, huh?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Soft Times Cover Story (9th Jan 2009)
Corporate Governance
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ……………………………………….… BANG!!!
This appears to be the story of recent history of the world around us. From needless land rows to political absurdity, from terrorist attacks to corporate fraud, the skeletons continue tumbling out of the closet.
The recent confession by the promoter of an IT bellwether has brought to light the glaring deficiencies in the corporate setup in India. The world is looking to India as the principal competition to Chinese corporate prowess. The one thing that set up apart from our Chinese counterparts is the fact that transparency, professional management and corporate governance standards in India are light years ahead.
Or so we thought. Now we must wonder how “Independent” are the Independent directors. What purpose does cross-directorship between corporate and educational institutions play? What balances personal interest with fiduciary duty? When will creative accounting and auditing loopholes stop ballooning into corporate blackholes?
Enron, WorldCom, Arthur Anderson, Satyam….whose next?
The most important question is: Can we do something about it, and if yes what? We request readers to contribute their take on the issue. The best suggestions will be the announced in the next issue and will win prizes. Rush your entries in!!
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Psychology of Competition
I found this interesting article on competition at http://findarticles.com/
"Psychologists have long been in disagreement as to whether competition is a learned or a genetic component of human behavior. Perhaps what first comes to mind when thinking of competition is athletics. It would be a mistake, however, not to recognize the effect competition has in the areas of academics, work, and many other areas of contemporary life.
This is especially true in the United States, where individual rigor and competition appear to be nationalistic qualities Americans cherish and praise. It has often been suggested that the American capitalist-driven society thrives because of the spirited competition for a limited amount of resources available.
Psychologically speaking, competition has been seen as an inevitable consequence of the psychoanalytic view of human drives and is a natural state of being. According to Sigmund Freud, humans are born screaming for attention and full of organic drives for fulfillment in various areas. Initially, according to this view, we compete for the attention of our parents-seeking to attract it either from siblings or from the other parent. Thereafter, we are at the mercy of a battle between our base impulses for self-fulfillment and social and cultural mores which prohibit pure indulgence.
Current work in anthropology has suggested, however, that this view of the role of competition in human behavior may be incorrect. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), one of the great philosophers of the seventeenth century, is perhaps best remembered for his characterization of the "natural world," that is, the world before the imposition of the will of humanity, as being "nasty, brutish, and short." This image of the pre-rational world is still widely held, reinforced by Charles Darwin's seminal work, The Origin of Species, which established the doctrine of natural selection. This doctrine, which posits that those species best able to adapt to and master the natural environment in which they live will survive, has suggested to many that the struggle for survival is an inherent human trait which determines a person's success. Darwin's theory has even been summarized as "survival of the fittest"-a phrase Darwin himself never used-further highlighting competition's role in success. As it has often been pointed out, however, there is nothing in the concept of natural selection that suggests that competition is the most successful strategy for "survival of the fittest." Darwin asserted in The Origin of Species that the struggles he was describing should be viewed as metaphors and could easily include dependence and cooperation.
Many studies have been conducted to test the importance placed on competition as opposed to other values, such as cooperation-by various cultures, and generally conclude that Americans uniquely praise competition as natural, inevitable, and desirable. In 1937, the world-renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead published Cooperation and Competition among Primitive Peoples, based on her studies of several societies that did not prize competition, and, in fact, seemed at times to place a negative value on it. One such society was the Zuni Indians of Arizona, and they, Mead found, valued cooperation far more than competition. For example, the Zuni held a ritual footrace that anyone could participate in, the winner of which was never publicly acknowledged and, in fact, if one person made a habit of winning the race, that person was prevented from participating in the future. After studying dozens of such cultures, Mead's final conclusion was that competitiveness is a culturally created aspect of human behavior, and that its prevalence in a particular society is relative to how that society values it."
The basic assertion made here is that compeition is considered by many to be a learned trait.Perhaps I can suggest a small experiment.
Let me illustrate. Put two infants (less than 6 months of age) together in a play pen and give a bright colored chew toy to one of them. After the initial exchange of "baabaa-booh" pleasantries, inevitably we see that the deprived child will try to snatch the toy from the other one.
Now, either ambition or jealosy or both may be responsible for the deprived child's actions. Perhaps the child wanted the toy for himself: Ambition. Maybe the child merely was trying to ensure that the other child does not enjoy a privilege not accorded to it: Jealousy. Perhaps it was a interplay of both situations.
Whatever the diagnosis, the symptom is that the child knocks down the toy and that indicates Competition. Two 6 months old can hardly be expected to have been conditioned for competition especially when parents are extra protective and discourage any active competion in their presence.
So what's your take, huh?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
