1. In our exams in school, why do we reward only answers and never questions?
2. When our parents say, 'We want to have a talk,' why do we always assume we are going to get told off for something? Why are we never wrong?
3. When did it become classy and acceptable for restaurants in India to say they don't offer carry bags for excess food on the table? Why do we allow it in a country where over 20,00,00,000 people will sleep hungry tonight?
4. Why do we ban the advertising of cigarettes and alcohol? Why do we then allow these companies to advertise music cds, parties and other promos in the name of the alcohol they sell? Why is surrogate advertising acceptable?
5. Why do we ban the commercial sale of hookah, but not cigarettes?
6. Why do traffic cops let drunk drivers back into their cars if they can pay the bribe?
7. Why do we start most conversations with people we've just met (or met after a long time) with, 'So, what are you doing with your life now?' (Or, 'Where did you study?') Is that really the question that will shed the most light on someone?
8. Why are we so quick to impose our own value judgements on everyone/anyone? Why can we not accept that different people are different and therefore will live their lives differently? (Live and let live?)
9. Why do we assume someone who plays Poker is a degenerate gambler while someone who plays Chess is a genius?
10. Why are the choices available to us in elections always a decision of voting in the lesser evil? Why do none of us in India grow up wanting to be a politician? Why isn't something being done to change it? (My Grandmother to me, 'Whatever you do with your life, don't join politics.')
11. Why can't moccasins be worn with socks? Why can't Devashish bluff more when we play Poker?
I'll probably write more about some of these questions/thoughts in time. For now, needed to get that off my chest.
2. When our parents say, 'We want to have a talk,' why do we always assume we are going to get told off for something? Why are we never wrong?
3. When did it become classy and acceptable for restaurants in India to say they don't offer carry bags for excess food on the table? Why do we allow it in a country where over 20,00,00,000 people will sleep hungry tonight?
4. Why do we ban the advertising of cigarettes and alcohol? Why do we then allow these companies to advertise music cds, parties and other promos in the name of the alcohol they sell? Why is surrogate advertising acceptable?
5. Why do we ban the commercial sale of hookah, but not cigarettes?
6. Why do traffic cops let drunk drivers back into their cars if they can pay the bribe?
7. Why do we start most conversations with people we've just met (or met after a long time) with, 'So, what are you doing with your life now?' (Or, 'Where did you study?') Is that really the question that will shed the most light on someone?
8. Why are we so quick to impose our own value judgements on everyone/anyone? Why can we not accept that different people are different and therefore will live their lives differently? (Live and let live?)
9. Why do we assume someone who plays Poker is a degenerate gambler while someone who plays Chess is a genius?
10. Why are the choices available to us in elections always a decision of voting in the lesser evil? Why do none of us in India grow up wanting to be a politician? Why isn't something being done to change it? (My Grandmother to me, 'Whatever you do with your life, don't join politics.')
11. Why can't moccasins be worn with socks? Why can't Devashish bluff more when we play Poker?
I'll probably write more about some of these questions/thoughts in time. For now, needed to get that off my chest.
2 comments:
1. Because most teachers are not educated to evaluate the standard of questions being asked.
2. Because parents want to ensure you time and attention when they're telling you off, as opposed to when they're complimenting you - as a compliment is an immediate attention-grabber.
3. Because instead of expressing how unacceptable these actions are in appropriate forums, we're talking about them in a private space.
4. Because we do not want to glorify the use of certain substances that are known to have a negative influence on lifestyles. The reason we allow surrogate advertising is the same reason tobacco is legal while other drugs aren't - corporate lobbying.
5. Because there's a large difference between smoking a hookah, a cigarette, and a joint, in terms of the degrees of addiction and possible damage to your person. Hookah smoking is almost a gateway to cigarette smoking, which is in no uncertain terms a negative lifestyle choice.
6. Because their motivation in joining the force is monetary, not goal-oriented.
7. Because while they do not shed the maximum light on the entirety of a person's being, it is possible that a person who chose to study fashion technology has a different personality from a person who chose to study theology. Also, because starting conversations with the question "So, who are you sleeping with now?" could lead to several awkward outcomes.
8. Because no man can be an island unto himself. Historically, successful kingdoms were theocracies because common value systems unite people. Also, people attempt to rationalise the actions of others, and the only system available to the unopened mind is its own.
9. Because the motivation for poker is not merely intellectual, it's also monetary. On a night with a bad beat it isn't because of poor decisions that you lose money, but poor luck. With chess you might lose respect and social standing, but I've never known anyone to lose money.
10. Because India is a country in a fine balance on the tip of democracy. Unlimited wants and limited means allows people in power to manipulate the fulfillment of these needs. This extends not only to politicians, but all people in power.
11. Because moccasins are designed with casual comfort in mind, and socks are considered to be more formal.
Thank you for taking the time to answer the questions. I agree with some of your points, disagree with the rest.
But the point of the questions wasn't to stimulate thought on the answers (some rather good ones). The questions are meant to allow the reader space to wonder, 'Well, why aren't things different? Should they be?'
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