1. “Incident-Opinion-Discussion-
Argument-Incident” And The
Cycle Continues: Is It Worth
Fighting For?
By Pratik Mantri

2. What purpose does it serve?
• The prime time shows in electronic media are full of debates,
arguments in which the anchor and his guests squabble
about a particular issue.
• While I completely subscribe to the view that there is a need
to exchange ideas, opinions, thoughts etc. but we should not
eulogize our own view to great heights but instead should
remain flexible.
• It saps all your energy, gets you exhausted and still we have
this fascination for stamping our views on anyone and
everyone.
• I mean why waste time, breath and mental peace if the
outcome is not really worth it.

3. Something much bigger
• A few years ago I witnessed the modus operandi of thieves at
a busy street.
• The people were pushing each other to move ahead from
both the sides and as an elderly lady was looking at them
with disgust written all over her face; a person came up and
escaped with the bag of that lady.
• The idea was to irritate and distract a person with a minor
matter while the bigger theft took place rather easily.
• A lesson from that incident can be to train ourselves to ignore
the minor irritants and stay on toes for the bigger problems.

4. Some things are more important
• It makes sense to save our efforts for the bigger efforts in life
rather than to toil for the seemingly insignificant stuff.
• That prolonged bargaining with a vegetable vendor does not
yield anything especially if you end up exhausted and that
too with just a paltry saving.
• When an exchange of views, opinions get into the territory
of ‘ego’ and becomes a war it’s best to walk away.
• Even in life it is better to bow rather than fight and risk a
friendship or a bonding going sour.
• There is a point at which you simply cannot convince the
world and beyond that why waste time and energy?

5. • There are people around us who are control freaks and try to
or rather dictate terms to us.
• It does not matter if you just stop arguing against the
controlling ploy and let those people believe that you are
doing as they desire, while clearly following your own way.
• At some point or the other the message is bound to reach.
• But if you are clear about what you want and what you are
fighting really for then that’s time to go all out for.
• The straight forward and into-your-face talks remain
productive only if there is clarity of thoughts.

6. • Delving deeper into this topic, it is very interesting to note
that we have (I mean a section of people), over the years lost
the art of listening and with that sort of a characteristic, the
sparks are sure to fly in a debate or in a public discourse.
• The nature and behavior of the public at large has become
increasingly outspoken, assertive and many times aggressive
as well especially in urban India.
• This would lead to varied and perhaps thoughtful views but
will also reduce the impact of the camaraderie, respect and
reverence which were prevalent in the pre-internet age.

7. • Read more on Youth Ki Awaaz at http://bit.ly/XegJPP