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06:37 PM
Bikram Vohra
JournalismPakistan.com
April 18, 2015
There is something nice about being nasty. People respond. I have never understood the logic but then if you accept the premise that the human race is still pretty much primitive and probably on the first or second floor of the civilized conduct skyscraper you can appreciate the way they react to ill temper. They respect it. They think you mean business. And they are afraid and fear drives them to deliver.
I not only see this absurd equation so often I am usually a victim of it. If you are just this side of rude there is admiration. In the office. Over a counter. At a bank. At check in. In a shop, at the cab rank, in the supermarket. It’s incredible. Those who threaten win. The meek don’t inherit diddley. The meek are trod upon. The polite are walked all over. Courtesy is taken for granted. Happened to me so often I have lost count. Be nice and they think you are a wimp. Then along comes this guy and he has a finger snapping attitude and everyone hops to follow orders.
What is it that makes us equate being pushed around with discipline or productivity. Why do we display contempt for the quiet guy, the patient person, the one who extends us a certain grace. Doesn’t it make sense to give that sort of person more attention than the one who kicks butt?
There can only be one reason why nasty has such a good run. Like I said, we haven’t matured to that point, more is the pity.
(The writer is a Senior Editorial Advisor of Khaleej Times and the paper’s former Editor. He has also been the Editor of Gulf News, Gulf Today, Emirates Today and Bahrain Tribune)
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