When I stumbled upon an absurd blog.

Generally when I have time on my hand, I pick a recent viewer of my blog, read his or her blog, then pick a viewer of his or her blog and then read his or her blog. And the chain reaction continues.

At times I am in the mood of poetry or intense stuff so I don’t visit blogs after 3 or 4 links (one to another and another from that and then another from that). But when I am sort of jolly or have got time to cut, I hunt for weird tags and see what people post using those tags.

Till I few days back, I thought the blogs with teenagers posting what they’re wearing to school today were funny. Well…. funny because I start thinking of my teenage days and wondered if I was so conscious about my dressing or if I did bother to announce of internet what I am wearing everyday. C’mon I am no Sarah Jessica Parker who makes a fashion statement with every attire and nor am I Heidi Klum type that people would be interested to know what I wear.

So I used to find such blogs funny. Not because I doubt they’re enthusiasm or confidence. But because I know what is it like to be in that age.

Then I came across a blog and I had the following series of reactions –

Disgust
Shock
Disbelief
Amazed
Wonder
Laugh
Mock

The blog featured a gentleman’s poop pattern.

Everyday he clicked a photo of his excreta and blogged about it. Everyday he would be shitting and praying let today be a pretty poop day.

Initially I was disgusted. Genuinely because I see such shit (literally too) on the streets in India. Then I was shocked – how can someone be so desperate to start a blog that he just started posting the most absurd thing! Then came a disbelief that no maybe this man is disturbed. Or is craving for attention. But then it occurred. Day after day with no likes and mostly no followers or regular readers, this man is continuing with his daily post. The act was repulsive.

I was amazed how he got this brilliant idea of posting his daily essential activity and letting the world know about it. Then I wondered, has he no common sense? No inner voice telling him – Dude have you taken a look at your blog?

I wondered from when he was, where he lived, laughed about his daily routine and finally decided to mock it.

I am sorry mister, even if you ever stumble across my blog and read this post about you, I am not going to apologize for a single word I wrote here. You really should have a look at your blog – maybe from an outsider point of view.

Yes, a lot of us have great ideas while sitting on the potty seat, but really taking pictures and posting it? Have you really lost it?

Anyways, this brings me to the end of it. I really can’t give more attention of words to this potty genius. I hope you readers never stumble across his blog, and if you do, please guide him to this post.

Peace.

When your hero is not your hero anymore..

In our tender years, we generally look up to the two people we’re most close to – mom and dad. For most people, mom is a synonym to affection, care, nurture etc. While dad is inspiring, motivating and a hero-like figure.

He earns the bread, looks after his family, pays the bills, takes care of every big small need of his kids and never lets them down.

During the pre-teen days, when world is a bed of red roses without thorns, most of us have an inclination to be like our moms or dads. In school paintings we draw our dads as super man and while giving a speech on “who is my hero” we describe our dads.

These rosy days last long for few like me and generally end for many as they hit the teenage clock. With denied permission, checking school bags, inquiring about grades, restricting outings and friends, most dads become Hitlers for their kids.

The other category – they still live in their dreams. The restrictions and permissions feel logical enough. The denial and strict attitude feels necessary. And we still consider our dads as our heroes.

Until finally maturity or harsh reality hits. Then we realize those taunts – he actually means them. When he says he has no faith in you – he meant it. When he told you on your face that you can never do anytime in your life – it wasn’t just meant to shatter your ego. He did mean it. He wanted you to feel the shame of disappointing him. Feel the agony of letting him down amongst his peers.  Feel zero confidence because you’re not worth it. He meant it all.

Maybe you’ll try understanding why he said those things. At times even shrug them aside thinking he really dint mean to say those things. Or even completely laugh about it that he much be having a bad day today.

Until it happens again. And again. And yet again. And everyday.

Then you’re forced to think. Really? I am that pathetic? I am totally worthless? And you conclude that you have not achieved anything and you deserve those daily doses.

All those files full of certificates of appreciation, all those friends who boost you, all those unknown people who have faith in you – you ignore them all.

Since you worshiped your dad – he was your hero – every word he says is inked in your mind.

You cry about it every night. Some days those sobs put you to sleep and on other days the same sobs don’t let you sleep.

But it doesn’t stop anything. Nothing changes. With no family – no emotional support you finally start to live in suffocation. Suffocation of your own actions. Actions you were made believe were bad and for which you deserved such a treatment.

And your once beloved dad – stays your hero no more.

I hope it’s not true for you.

I hope you don’t live in the constant thought of, when can I run away or death is my only way out.

I hope someone saves you from suicide, someone understands you, someone believes in your convictions and someone stays by your side and says – its okay. You can’t change your parents. You can only learn to live with them.

Life b4 social networking

I worry.

At times, I worry a lot.

Most of the times, there is no solid reason to my worries.

Just the other day I was worrying, my kids will never know how life was without social networking!

So here is this post, for my future teenage son and daughter, how life used to be when I was a teenager.

• We had real friends, and we used to “ hang out” by cycling or playing in garden or gathering at someone’s place for a game of carom/ludo/snakes and ladder.
• Twitter was just the sound of birds!
• To share photographs of someone’s marriage or function or birthday, we used to click the photo with a camera -> get them printed -> arrange them in photo albums -> show to others when there happens another family gathering! Not as simple as click -> tag -> share.
• One was popular after an achievement in athletics or academics. Not getting nominated for an online contest started by a bunch of people. Or worse: best dressed, best smile, best hair competitions for people to feel better about themselves!
• Sending a mail to someone was a BIG deal. School curriculum taught us how to draft an e-mail and for many years we stuck to that code.
• One e-mail id was enough for one family. Later on (after a few more years) every application/forum/form required an alternate email id.
• Blogging did not exist till late 1990s and till 2009 it was limited to only a small group of people.
• Dating was generally face-to-face, not online.
• Bosses were treated as bosses and Subordinates were treated as subordinates  They met socially only on special occasions and family gatherings, not every day over internet after work hours!
• “Time pass” included reading newspapers (not e-newspapers), listening to radio, reading novels (not e-books), gardening etc. Ladies occasionally got together for buying vegetables or sharing recipes while their kids played. Men talked about politics or soccer games by actually physically sitting with other men.
• Acronyms and abbreviations were logical – nt abt nythin v cn mak wid a propr wrd.
• Long distance was tough! Colorful postcards, letters in envelopes and stamps of different countries/states were the trend.

There was no FB, no Twitter, no Gmail-YahooMail-Hotmail-RediffMail, No WordPress, No Instagram, No Tumblr, No Skype.

Basically, things were more REAL !!!