Decency - Oops it’s a bad word these days!

Modern times have boasted of much advancement in the field of science, technology and communications. Yet there is a total lack of improvement in the one field – human psychology. If anything, there is a complete breakdown of moral fabric especially when the cloak of anonymity as offered by the online media exists.

These thoughts have been nagging me at one level or the other for quite sometime now. But what bought it on to inspire a full length blog on this issue is an article I was reading on the rediff.com portal. It was something about the landing of the Atlantis and the half-Indian astronaut, Sunita Williams on board.

The comments left on the post were so bad in taste; I was taken aback by the sheer spitefulness of it. This being a public blog, I am sorry and thankful – in the same vein - at not being able to share it. But I can't restrain from broadcasting my distress in this regard.

Why? What prompts the “educated” readers to launch into such garble? What relief do these people gain by using such profanity in public form? That too, not to abuse a rogue or a thug (not meaning to say THAT is excusable) but in a simple harmless article.

Aren’t there enough pornographic sites on the virtual world already? Why can’t these perverts limit their dirty imagination to such pages? What is the need to defile good/oft-visited pages unnecessarily? Rediff.com is one of the leading webpages in India and lot of kids and young minds do hit it regularly. What are we telling them? It’s OK to be profane in public? As long as no one finds out, it is OK to bad mouth someone unnecessarily?

Generally, people tend to write off the eve-teasing incidents in buses and other public places as the handiwork of “those poor and uneducated” types. I don’t think any of those poor and uneducated types logon to the online world and spew such worthless scrapheap in there.

No matter whodunit, no matter what their ages are - It’s just a collective shame on the society that allows such people to get away scot-free. In my opinion, they are not a grain less guilty than those involved in various adult crimes all over the world. They deserve the severest of punishment possible for creating such a bad feelings in readers. Don’t you think so too?

What's on the TV?

Hmmm, so finally the great Indian Laughter challenge has a female participant on board. Good. About time as well. I mean over a billion of us and the first two seasons had no member of the fairer sex checking out the waters.

But the lady,I'm sorry I do not recollect her name, changed all that yesterday. I don't know when did she come on board but I managed to catch her on the telly yesterday night and only an act of hers is what I managed to sample. But 'twas enough. I mean how many times have you seen accurate impressions or mimicry for Sharmila Tagore, Rakhee, Juhi Chawla? [I know she did a Hema Malini too, but then that is not a rarity. No offence intended but anyone with a bad tummy can do a Malini :)]. It was heartening to see a female enter a typically male-dominated show. Some company for the petite Perizaad and the new anchor too :)

Ok, even season-III is more of slapstick comedy than anything else but I have begun to watch it nevertheless. Given the fact that the only other option is a gray-haired rhino-szed Tulsi or Prerana with that funny plastic flower, it is not surprising I guess.

One thing - Star Utsav does screen some gems from the yesteryears now and then. Serials like Kora Kaagaz, Saans etc. Like F.R.I.E.N.D.S, multiple reruns of these serials doesn't kill their viewability ever. Wonder why Zee doesn't pick up on this idea? All those Ravi Rai serials, Sailaab and others, they would make wonderful viewing now.

A real watchout is Star Voice of India... Even at the audition stage, most of the participants are just breathtaking. I saw the episodes conducted at New Delhi and for MP... What a talent pool this country is indeed!