THINK LIKE THIS, THINK LIKE THAT



The D.G.P. of Andhra Pradesh exhibited the kind of pernicious thinking that pains many or even all of us. Last evening when he was asked about the incidence of over 2000 cases of rape in less than a year in his state the cop replied that women who wear ‘revealing’ and ‘provocative’ clothes really ask for trouble ! In other words we cannot hold the police responsible for acts of rape.



Not to be outdone a VHP rep added fuel to the fire by stating on TV that he really had no objection if women wore provocative clothes. His only ‘ request ‘ was that such women ought not to mind being raped!



Now I tried ringing up the number being flashed on TV on the channel that was seeking the opinions of ‘ experts’ and common people on this subject. My efforts to speak on the number suggested proved futile. But my question was this –If ‘provocation’ is used to justify rape then is the public entitled to lynch our politicians and babus who ‘provoke’ us by acts of astronomical corruption ?



Any answers ? I ask the AP top cop and the VHP representative.



Look at another example. I accompanied my friend Anil who wished to buy a used car. We examined several cars and in each case I was impressed at the detailed efforts he made to evaluate the vehicle—he drove it for a kilometer over bad roads, he and his car expert friend Pakiya went below the car and looked at every square inch and every part of the dark car underside , they opened the hood and flashed a torch to see the insides in detail, they opened up the seats, they kicked every tire, they drove me to exhaustion.



Six hours later they rejected all the cars on display. No doubt another expedition is in the offing.



That night I asked him why he did not exhibit the same healthy skepticism , the same rigorous testing and examination of his other beliefs in alternate remedies, godmen, superstitions etc.



Any answers ? I asked Anil.



I remember seeing on US television an advertisement by a company that sold used cars. The ad said that they examined each car on 58 parameters and only if it met their rigid standards on each of these, did they offer it to the public.



In one of life’s many delicious ironies this ad would be followed by another ad by an organization called ‘E Harmony.com’ This organization invited applicants to log in and answer a few questions on the basis of which their ‘ experts ‘ would evaluate your personality on 16 parameters. These would then be matched with the personality of people of the opposite sex and presto they would find you a ‘ great match’ and you could walk down the aisle or do whatever Americans do on such occasions !



Now I asked my American friends—How is it that you evaluate your life partner on 16 parameters only but you evaluate used cars on 58 parameters.



Any answers ? I asked them



Courtesy

K.R.RAVI

WWW.KRRAVI.COM