Don't be fooled by the title. I am not presenting a self-help guide to the art of living. On the contrary, it is a ventsheet (I should not crib if Oxford people sue me for using non-existent terms).
Have you ever noticed how certain questions are posed to us so often, we might as well publish and distribute answer pamphlets. In fact, I have made a list of my favorite 'most-hated FAQs'. (Don't tell me you don't have yours.)
The one that tops the charts, however, straight away is 'so, when are you getting married'. Anyone who has celebrated the silver jubilee of their existence will testify. Anybody asks it. Everybody asks it. Some country our's is -- even people you meet for the first time -- in train/bus/airports would not think twice before dropping the bomb on you.
This question really bugs the Jeezuz (also, Allah, Krishna and all other Gods, since I respect all religions equally) out of me. My most obvious response to this FAQ is -- to whom? My Luggage Bag? (In past ten years it has been my most faithful companion. The most constant one too. Whoever said change was the only constant, HUH!)
My second most obvious response and FGA (frequently given answer) is -- why don't you suggest some options. This is often followed by a sheepish 'you must be having someone' by the questioner. (Sorry Oxfordians!) To which, the questionee (fine sue me), me in this case responds with a helpless shrug. (Silence is Golden is an understatement of all times -- it's Platinum, it's brilliant, it works.)
Finally, the questioner gives a last 'you are hopeless' glance and that is the end of the FAQ session.
What leaves me astounded is the obvious authority with which people present such questions. Recently, I was venting out my distaste towards FAQs to a close friend, when she further enlightened me. "You think, being married it is any more easy for me? Complete strangers ask me when am I planning babies."
WHOAA!!! People actually ask THAT???
Aren't these supposed to be VERY VERY personal questions? Since not many people believe so, I have (shamelessly) prepared a list of crazy FAQs along with (even more shameless) answers.
At Age 5-10
FAQ: What will you become when you grow up?
FGA: Anything but a nosy FAQer like you. Now may I resume my game please?
At Age 12-17
FAQ: It is your BOARD YEAR. Nervous?
FGA: I won't be if YOU would be kind enough to not remind me of it.
At age 16-23
FAQ: Got any BFs/GFs
FGA: Yes, and you, my dear total stranger, are the first person I wanna share it with.
Age 25 onwards:
FAQ: So, when are you getting married?
FGA: Why don't you suggest the date/To whom, my luggage bag?
FAQ: When are you having babies?
FGA: Whenever you are ready.
Dear Readers,
Please suggest if you have got any better responses, considering that such FAQs come from people you barely know.
R.S.V.P.
Mriganka
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The CQ and some more jazz
"My kid sister's generation is much more cool than ours", said a guy whom I had met recently.
"Not really, I think our generation is also pretty cool", I retorted.
"Huh! You are cool? You don't even smoke!", pat came the reply.
Whoopsidaisies!!! (Ya, ya Notting Hill -- borrowed from Mr Hugh Grant ...drool, drool).
Anyway, so my only claim to fame in the COOL CLUB has to be my smoking skills (or actually lack of them.) That can't be true, I thought. However, since I don't suffer from 'what-I-think-right-is-the-only-right' syndrome, I started reflecting upon the hapless guy's casual remark. (Cud-chewing on other people's statements is my forte').
While trying to figure out what does cool mean, I realized it is very close to potatoes (ya, right! breathe, breathe I am explaining). Just like potatoes it has a tendency to mingle without spoiling the flavor of the key ingredients. So, you could flaunt a 'cool' t-shirt, check out a 'cool' flick, bump into a 'cool' dude/babe or in fact be 'cool' about what others say/do to you.
Armored with my new-found COOL/POTATO analogy, I then quizzed (read bugged) my friends on their definition of "being cool".
Let me proudly state the humble demography of the survey. Of the near 40 people questioned 18 replied. The age group was 23-30 years. Sadly, I realized that I don't know any teenagers (the coolest of all people). So if you are teenager reading this, please feel free to share your views on the topic.
One I.I.T. graduate (24 years) candidly said, while judging a person's COOL QUOTIENT (CQ) he would give 40 per cent weightage to their appearance. Rest 60 per cent marks would be awarded to their capability to remain undettered under pressure situation. No surprise, his COOL ICON is Salman Khan and here is why -- "The actor remains unfazed by controversy and is stylish." Fair Enough!!
A lot of people quizzed said that looks did not matter. It came as a surprise, kind of anti-climax, going by the fact that a huge chunk of advertising industry actually thrives on "it's all in the looks" brand image. Check out for yourself. You are Gen now if you are seen drinking a particular fizz drink, you have arrived if you are seen chewing a particular gum, you'll get that dream job if you applied a particular cream/lotion/potion for instant beauty (They even have separate magic potions for men now, if that is some reprieve for the feminists) and blah and blah...
So, I posed this question to a friend who has been a brand image consultant for a dubai-based fashion apparel chain. And ladies and gentlemen his response -- In context to a person... "Cool" to me connotes a person who is smart, in control of him/her self, and has the ability to carry him/her self well (regardless of being in fashionable gear or not!).
Vow, the world ain't all that superfluous.
Not to digress from the topic, another friend who's a sculptor and an artist (We don't mention age when it concerns girls :))said -- "Cool... Any person or thing that APPEALS! Why it appeals! thats an individual liking further related to knowledge, past experience, Our DNA and also the mindset which is made by our surroundings".
Interestingly she made another point. Cool for one is surely uncool for another person sitting somewhere in some corner of this world. So Tattoos, Reptiles, Fashion etc always will have a cool and an uncool side. (That explains the SMOKING bit)
A friend from the US navy (yeah, yeah uniformed people are ubercool), guy, 23, reconfirmed our previous guy's view when he observed -- "Somebody cool means they have a laid-back approach to life and are easy to get along with. They aren't easily flustered or upset." (Hey, hey, I am also easy to get along with, can I make a fresh attempt at the COOL CLUB?)
Interestingly, in response to my e-mail on CQ some people sent me smileys. I am not sure if they meant smileys were cool or my question was too uncool to be answered.
Apart from smileys the other nominations received actually re-instate the potato nature of CQ. (US)President Obama, Indian (ex) Prez Kalam, Jhonny Depp, Salman Khan, Bob Marley, Jack Jhonson, M S Dhoni, Rani Laxmi Bai, Konkona Sen, Shashi Tharoor, SRK...
Gosh that covers almost everybody who's somebody. People with rock star looks juxtaposed against people of mettle and people of substance.
As for me, I think being cool is the capability to choose the right over the popular.
So how much does appearance contribute to CQ. Sum up for yourself. Dice the potato and add to taste. (WINK).
"Not really, I think our generation is also pretty cool", I retorted.
"Huh! You are cool? You don't even smoke!", pat came the reply.
Whoopsidaisies!!! (Ya, ya Notting Hill -- borrowed from Mr Hugh Grant ...drool, drool).
Anyway, so my only claim to fame in the COOL CLUB has to be my smoking skills (or actually lack of them.) That can't be true, I thought. However, since I don't suffer from 'what-I-think-right-is-the-only-right' syndrome, I started reflecting upon the hapless guy's casual remark. (Cud-chewing on other people's statements is my forte').
While trying to figure out what does cool mean, I realized it is very close to potatoes (ya, right! breathe, breathe I am explaining). Just like potatoes it has a tendency to mingle without spoiling the flavor of the key ingredients. So, you could flaunt a 'cool' t-shirt, check out a 'cool' flick, bump into a 'cool' dude/babe or in fact be 'cool' about what others say/do to you.
Armored with my new-found COOL/POTATO analogy, I then quizzed (read bugged) my friends on their definition of "being cool".
Let me proudly state the humble demography of the survey. Of the near 40 people questioned 18 replied. The age group was 23-30 years. Sadly, I realized that I don't know any teenagers (the coolest of all people). So if you are teenager reading this, please feel free to share your views on the topic.
One I.I.T. graduate (24 years) candidly said, while judging a person's COOL QUOTIENT (CQ) he would give 40 per cent weightage to their appearance. Rest 60 per cent marks would be awarded to their capability to remain undettered under pressure situation. No surprise, his COOL ICON is Salman Khan and here is why -- "The actor remains unfazed by controversy and is stylish." Fair Enough!!
A lot of people quizzed said that looks did not matter. It came as a surprise, kind of anti-climax, going by the fact that a huge chunk of advertising industry actually thrives on "it's all in the looks" brand image. Check out for yourself. You are Gen now if you are seen drinking a particular fizz drink, you have arrived if you are seen chewing a particular gum, you'll get that dream job if you applied a particular cream/lotion/potion for instant beauty (They even have separate magic potions for men now, if that is some reprieve for the feminists) and blah and blah...
So, I posed this question to a friend who has been a brand image consultant for a dubai-based fashion apparel chain. And ladies and gentlemen his response -- In context to a person... "Cool" to me connotes a person who is smart, in control of him/her self, and has the ability to carry him/her self well (regardless of being in fashionable gear or not!).
Vow, the world ain't all that superfluous.
Not to digress from the topic, another friend who's a sculptor and an artist (We don't mention age when it concerns girls :))said -- "Cool... Any person or thing that APPEALS! Why it appeals! thats an individual liking further related to knowledge, past experience, Our DNA and also the mindset which is made by our surroundings".
Interestingly she made another point. Cool for one is surely uncool for another person sitting somewhere in some corner of this world. So Tattoos, Reptiles, Fashion etc always will have a cool and an uncool side. (That explains the SMOKING bit)
A friend from the US navy (yeah, yeah uniformed people are ubercool), guy, 23, reconfirmed our previous guy's view when he observed -- "Somebody cool means they have a laid-back approach to life and are easy to get along with. They aren't easily flustered or upset." (Hey, hey, I am also easy to get along with, can I make a fresh attempt at the COOL CLUB?)
Interestingly, in response to my e-mail on CQ some people sent me smileys. I am not sure if they meant smileys were cool or my question was too uncool to be answered.
Apart from smileys the other nominations received actually re-instate the potato nature of CQ. (US)President Obama, Indian (ex) Prez Kalam, Jhonny Depp, Salman Khan, Bob Marley, Jack Jhonson, M S Dhoni, Rani Laxmi Bai, Konkona Sen, Shashi Tharoor, SRK...
Gosh that covers almost everybody who's somebody. People with rock star looks juxtaposed against people of mettle and people of substance.
As for me, I think being cool is the capability to choose the right over the popular.
So how much does appearance contribute to CQ. Sum up for yourself. Dice the potato and add to taste. (WINK).
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