Nonsense & Insensibilities of Society

Modern society Scenario 1 : A young woman boards a crowded city bus and finds the ladies’ seats completely occupied… just as she is about to give up, she notices a young man occupying one of the ladies’ seats .. and politely requests him to vacate it for her. He gives her an insolent stare and proceeds to remind her of all the noise women create about gender equality…. did that not give him equal rights over a seat on the bus?

Modern society Scenario 2 : Again a crowded city bus ..this time an elderly person comes aboard only to find all seats taken. It is common knowledge that most city authorities ensure reservation of a few seats in public transport for the elderly and the physically disabled. Has anyone noticed how the young people are quick to occupy those seats as well? Not only that, should an elderly or infirm person be standing right next to where their rightful seats are, today’s youth would frequently feign ignorance ..they would either stare at their gadgets or out the window, anywhere, to not have to look the legitimate claimants in the eye! Sadly, the old, in most cases do not raise a hue and cry about this wrong. Rather they keep fighting their unsteadiness and infirmity silently shaking their heads in mute disappointment.

Modern society Scenario 3 : A corporate health facility…the usual crowd outside the private chambers of busy health professionals…two very sick patients, belonging to different families and different socio-economic backgrounds, clamouring for the staff’s attention…the patient from the better socio-economic class with greater clout gets preference over the unfortunate, relatively un-endowed contemporary.

I am sure most from generations X and Y and at least some from gen Z will know the scenes!

In the first scenario, yes, there’s the issue of gender equality, sure…and then there’s groping.. the filthy, demeaning, unwarranted touching of a woman’s body..and rubbing ..the all too common acts of perverts in crowded public places! Even the thought of such things makes one’s bile rise up in the throat ..imagine actually experiencing it!

Can the men who refuse to give up their seats to hapless women in crowded buses, guarantee that they will not be groped or rubbed against, as they shamelessly continue to occupy ladies’ seats citing gender equality? They cannot, l promise you.

Then, isn’t it only natural that a woman should want to protect herself from such derogatory acts and ask a man to take the trouble of vacating a seat?

Now, the second scenario. Would these young men and women have meted out the same treatment to their own elders? Would they like the same to happen to their parents and grandparents?

As for the third, unfair, isn’t it?! The personal influence and economic status interfering with better judgement? Sure it is, but that is how it works everywhere!

What is common in the above scenarios, you may wonder?

It is the blatant disregard for good manners, a term that seems to have lost its standing amidst all the busy modernization of our lives today. It has become ‘a dog eats dog, a man eats man’ world! We are all programmed to look out only for ourselves. Doing anything for others that inconveniences us is no longer a tenet we live by.

The biggest weapon in the survival kit of children today is selfishness, putting oneself first. No heed is paid to the special needs of certain sections of the society, viz, the elderly, the feminine half and the children. This kind of brazenness is flaunted, with pride even!

In a bid to go ahead in life, we seem to have forgotten common sensibilities and civilities that make everyday, ordinary life pleasant and leave a lingering feeling of joy and contentment in all hearts. Ignoring small niceties in our day to day life alienates people and in all likelihood, we will end up being successful, but alone. Not something we bargained for, right?!

I remember my mother imparting some invaluable wisdom to me. She would often say that a person’s true nature can be known by his/her dealings with people beneath his/her class or stature. Politeness and deference come quickly with superiors for obvious reasons, but to behave well with your subordinates needs you to be inherently kind and humble. It is a measure of who you are, how you are. It is not uncommon to see the best of everything being dished out to the ‘upper strata’ of the society, including behaviour, while the ‘lower class’ people get a raw deal, all round!

Ironically, it always pays to have warm relations with your inferiors/support staff. They are more likely to remember and return favours ..but most of us overlook this point.

The easiest example of the effect of simple, good manners is when someone greets you with a bright, disarming smile right in the morning..it immediately sets off a chain of joy and well-being .. that smile is carried forward in a never ending wave, touching uncountable lives in its wake!

Why not start today?!