Monday, June 24, 2013
Friday, May 14, 2010
Personality Bashing
Gather around a few people who are talking animatedly, heatedly about current affairs, the weather or just about everythihng on this planet. Ask a question, What would Gandhi have done in this situation? Actually you can substitute any well known personality for Gandhi. One might have to be a little persistent if the conversation does not change. If you have been forceful and successful then most probably you will find the majority sharing their point of view on Gandhi.
I have heard comments about Gandhi such as Pimp, Spy for Pakistan, India spent so much money in keeping him in poverty, he ensured that we stayed back in time and more.
Why does this happen?
Most often this is a result of parents passing such comments and all children echo what parents say and many times, later in to life too. Parents need to understand that what they say is imprinted in the minds of their children, for a long time. When one hears such opinion many times over one starts believing it. Not many bother to search for truth, it is easier to believe what others are saying specially if it scandalous.
Sit them down patiently and enquire their knowledge of the lives of the personality in question and you will find that most often it is not much. Does this mean that lack of knowledge promotes personality bashing, aided by public opinion of similar people?
One stray incident in the life of a personality and such people latch on to it and make an Everest out of that and this one incident relevant or not sets the base for all abuse. The more one questions their opinion and the basis on which it rests one will find them getting defensive and later abusive.
This is actually fun, try it out. I do hope the result of this is that such people take the time off to read biographies, history, opinions, essays and more. Enhance their knowledge and then sit down to argue on what makes Gandhi Great or what makes him a Pakistani Spy. I have experienced intelligent people falling prey to Personality bashing with little knowledge of that person or the field in which he was involved.
I have heard comments about Gandhi such as Pimp, Spy for Pakistan, India spent so much money in keeping him in poverty, he ensured that we stayed back in time and more.
Why does this happen?
Most often this is a result of parents passing such comments and all children echo what parents say and many times, later in to life too. Parents need to understand that what they say is imprinted in the minds of their children, for a long time. When one hears such opinion many times over one starts believing it. Not many bother to search for truth, it is easier to believe what others are saying specially if it scandalous.
Sit them down patiently and enquire their knowledge of the lives of the personality in question and you will find that most often it is not much. Does this mean that lack of knowledge promotes personality bashing, aided by public opinion of similar people?
One stray incident in the life of a personality and such people latch on to it and make an Everest out of that and this one incident relevant or not sets the base for all abuse. The more one questions their opinion and the basis on which it rests one will find them getting defensive and later abusive.
This is actually fun, try it out. I do hope the result of this is that such people take the time off to read biographies, history, opinions, essays and more. Enhance their knowledge and then sit down to argue on what makes Gandhi Great or what makes him a Pakistani Spy. I have experienced intelligent people falling prey to Personality bashing with little knowledge of that person or the field in which he was involved.
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