Narcissism...eh?

Narcissism is a state where the person is self obsessed.. Its a state where he is hopelessly in love with his own self.. Some people may call it an exaggerated form of self centredness, others may term it as an egotistical projection.. Whatever it is, the story behind it is quite fascinating and makes for an interesting read...

Narcissus or Narkissos (Greek: Νάρκισσος) in Greek mythology was a hero from the territory of Thespiae in Boeotia who was renowned for his beauty. In the various stories he is exceptionally cruel, in that he disdains those who love him. As divine punishment he falls in love with a reflection in a pool, not realizing it was his own, and somehow dies out of frustration. Several versions of his myth have survived...


"Narcissism" is one of my favorite words.. I might have repeated this story about a thousand times in NITR, and outside.. Though, not entirely common, there might be narcissists thriving in different parts of the world..

Till I find one. I am happy to look at myself in the mirror..

My heart goes clickety click...

The world has become more techno savvy, than could have ever been imagined.. As, a small boy I had always been fascinated by computers. It was something really fascinating,to learn about new things, online gaming, blogging, how I could access information to the reviews of the movies I wanted to watch, to some cool puzzles and quizzes online etc.

So, I was really elated when I got my first computer. I loved my computer with its 3 kg. (I actually weighed it!!!) Microtek monitor ( complete with the sound system embedded in it, a technical wonder as my vendor put it), the logitech mouse, and the maple keyboard. It had a HDD of 20 GB ( the max. config. at that time), and boasted a RAM of 128 KB... Wow, my dream machine!!!!

But, the world progressed and things changed.. I came to realize that the 20 GB wasn't enoough after all, as it could'nt store my collection of movies, softwares and bhai's games ... Computer prices also plummeted rapidly, making it possible for people to actually go for it.. A change had started, the era of "Information Revolution"...

And, so it all began .. from finding the right products to the right package (ahem, the matrimonials..), from finding the best deals on travels and bookings, to booking movie tickets online.. If you were on it, you had the access to all these functions in a jiffy... The net had revolutionized the way people made their purchases and bought things ( although, this effect is still catching up in India)... But, then with other things , even this had a flip side!!!

Now, you might ask, that being a techie how can you be skeptical of the whole internet revolution?? But, then, when I am not wholly discounting the fact that the Internet thingy has actually done wonders, it is not without its repercussions... I'll tell you, because I have experienced it...

In a small town XXX where I was vacationing, I met this person.. He was about the same age as my father, perhaps a little young or so.. I was researching the effects of the WWW for the college mag, and had been to the local dailies for their feedback. I met this guy by pure chance, or were we destined to meet.. He somehow came to know about this project of mine, and voluntarily stepped in for an interview...

This man was a bank employee, an accountant. His math skill were good, and he was able to communicate well. His job involved him to keep accounts in the local branch, of an estd. bank there.. His only vice, he was not computer literate...

Going by his account, he told me that he had a difficult childhood, spent most of his time on the street...Anyways, he taught himself some basic Mathematics and English as a servant for a rich person in the township.. After a while, owing to his sincerity and hard work, his master referred him to this bank, where he found a job as an accountant.. He was very happy that day, he told me... At last, he had found a real job, whereby he could use his skills to the fullest..

But then, this happiness was short lived.. The IT revolution heralded a new change, and suddenly it became imperative for him to know computers.. He was in a fix. With great difficulty, and practically no help at all, he had come to this position. And, now suddenly he was told that his skills were not upto the mark and he needed to find another job.. He became jobless once again.

I asked him that with some help and money earned from the job, he could have taught himself some basic computers also, as with english and maths.. He smirked. The course fee was bundled in a package, and was very high.. He had familial obligations too, his daughter being of marriagable age..

And so, after filling my notes with 30 pages, declaring the advent of computers in India, as a period of optimism and growth, this 20 liner interview with this person changed it all...
The computer revolution might be great for the developed nations, but not so much for our country still..

Think about what the "Walmart" factor, would do for the local grocery store..The one on the corner you visited on those lazy sunday mornings, where you bargained and fought with the sabziwallah... Reliance fresh clashes with the grocery stores in Ranchi were in the news for a while... The "Big Bazaar" type retail concept has somewhat blended with the local business but, this might become lopsided, if Walmart comes in...

Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes..

An aphorism, and how true..

How many people can you find who would own up to their mistakes openly, and try to improve themselves without an excuse??

Believe me, you have heard it in the movies many a times and in your Moral Science classes and subsequent lectures by the many impressionable people in your lives.. But, the truth is this.. It is even harder than you might think to accept your misgivings, and move forward..
It is hard, indeed, to fight your inner demons. Once you have done it though, it feels really light, as if a great burden has been lifted.

You might blame your mistakes on somebody else, or hide it under the garb of "Experience". Either way, you put an additional burden on your conscience, and mind it ... it is "heavy"..

To make the world happy...

Its so hard to please everybody. If you talk a lot, it is that your loquacity will be treated as showing off knowledge.. On the contrary, if you are silent you might be accused of being overtly self centric...

So, it finally rounds of that you do what pleases you the most.. For making the whole world happy, is very difficult.. Even if you succeeded in this mission, you will end up making one person unhappy... YOURSELF!!!

Epigram...

A blog post by Nobel prize winning economist, Jason Krugman... on the present world situation..


Was I Unfair?

A reader writes in to complain about today’s column, in which I compared the supposedly productive activities of financial wizards to the sleight-of-hand of stage magicians.

As a magician, he resents being compared to investment bankers.

Exuberance, happiness!!!

What is the state of happiness?? Is it that I am relaxing on my bed and listening to Pink Floyd's "Shine on you crazy diamond", or is it all about that ice cream at Nirula's. The definition of happiness varies from person to person. A perfectly blissful state can never be defined or achieved for it is unattainable..

Happiness lives to the point you jump to that next state of happiness. You crave for the next big thing in your life and forget about the things you have at present. It is good one might enquire, as it is good for your own development that you keep on improving and craving for more and more....
This cycle goes on and when you think you have had enough of this game of "Pursuit of HappYness", you are old and you fret about this state and think of the good old days...

If you enjoy too much, you get sick of it all and you try t question the purpose of your life?? So, then the question, what makes us happy or what wil eventually make us happy?? I've tried to ask myself time and again this.. Sometimes, I'm very happy just to relax and listen to a book, but once it finishes I think it might have been utilised in doing something better..Ditto with movies..

What would really make me happy is satisfaction .. Satisfaction of the fact that I tried my best, to tell myself that I couldnt have multitasked with the work that I had...For others, it may be true love.. Never been in that state before...

For,
" If you fall in a well, theres a rope
But, if you fall in LOVE, theres no hope "