To Show off, or not to show off?

Well…the question that I’m pondering over is; to show off, or not to show off? I’m excusing myself from this dilemma because I’m a humble creature so don’t have to worry with such big issues. This question is for people around me whom I meet often. They are always going ga-ga over something or the other. It may be as big as their children being married to some Miss World or Mr. World (I hope there is a pageant like that :P), or as small as a new sleek and beautiful toilet seat they have at home (Ugghhh…)

I don’t really understand why would you want to show-off? When you are singing glory about anything and everything about you, you are actually portraying yourself as a complete idiot. Is it only me who feels that in this way you are actually flattering the other person that you are so badly in need of their appreciation? Why would you need the approval of the world to tell you that you are good? You want to tell them that, see I have this big house, car, fancy clothes, etcetera, etcetera. You know how it actually sounds, allow me please. It is like; ..blah..blah..blah…please have a look at me…blah blah blah…I am so pathetically in need of your respect. So all in all you look like a hopeless person in need of respect..cough, beggar.

Okay I agree this is the era of marketing, where you have to go out in the open to talk about your product being the best, but hellooo..we are talking about people here. If you are so fond of telling the world about the minute details of your life, then at least have the sense to do it the right way. Learn from the marketers, you would not like if someone in the name of promoting their products comes up and pastes a pamphlet on your face! @%$*&!@*@#%* some beautiful words will naturally flow out of your kind mouth in praise of that person. Ta-daa! Now do you understand how people like me feel when you are singing that paean of yours again and again.

Okay you or your Daddy dearest has lots and lots of money, so why bore me with the details? Psst.. an advice the income tax people might be listening so hush-hush. What did you say? Your Uncle’s cousin’s friend’s brother is filthy rich! Woah! Should I be impressed? Okay I have a question, answer me please.

Is he naming me the sole heiress to his property?

Don’t be aghast? It’s a simple question, If the answer to this is ‘NO’ then please save your time and mine, I’m not interested.

They say money makes the world go around, true dat! Who doesn’t like a fat paycheque? Still is that big a thing to be impressed with? Especially when it’s someone else’s? Naah. It’s not that I have renounced worldly affairs, no need to look out for a halo around my head.  Still I can appreciate your belongings and possessions but how on earth do you expect me to be impressed with that? Am I missing something here?

Blame it on my parents they never taught me to admire things in this way. I have seen it in school and college also. Believe it or not but after Valentine’s Day girls used to discuss how many gifts they got from their respective boyfriends. I’m sure guys had other things to show off to their peers ;).  This matter wasn’t just limited to one gender. Someone’s boyfriend has a fancy bike/car (It used to be bike in our times, now the economy has progressed) and the whole college should know about it. Someone got a date with the super-hot chick of college and who will not know about it, none.

Such people grow up to me the kind of lot who glorify their toothbrush and toilet seat. Thank God they stop at that, who knows maybe there are more gory details they would like to shed light on.

I have even met people who think they are reincarnation of Plato or Socrates. They are incredibly talented in boring you to death with their words of wisdom, cough nonsense. Well I’m highly indebted to you for blessing my kind soul, but can I take your leave now, I don’t want to die out of boredom. That’s what my inner self keeps shouting all the while.

Actually on a personal level I feel if a person is really intelligent then their arrogance or show off can be a tad bit more bearable. But hey it is a personal choice nothing right or wrong about it. Yet blatant display of knowledge or anything else is extremely unpleasant.

Over all I find show-offs extremely obnoxious. I feel if you are actually praiseworthy or admirable then you don’t need to blare your vocal chords, your actions will speak for yourself. And in that I rest my case, not to show off is the right thing to do.

A Fool’s Paradise

At times I just wonder how much nonsense is one capable of. And my oh my, people are extremely talented when it comes to ahem... (Pardon me) bull shi**ing. I wonder if this is a trait found in India, where people have the attitude of taking themselves as ‘the enlightened one’ or it’s the same everywhere. On second thoughts it’s human tendency, so everyone on planet must have this 'special power'. Okay okay, if not everyone then most of the people.

I witness people just going on and on bragging about them. The inside me wants to shout, “Hello, don’t you get, people over here are not fools to listen to your crap”, but sadly you have to be polite (most of the times). To some extent I consider myself blessed coz I have an over expressive face and the person in front of me gets a clear hint of my feelings. I guess there is some amplifier that is in place, so no matter how much I try to keep quiet, my face tells it all.

Anyways not digressing from the topic, I suppose why people go on and on singing their own praises is because they want to prove themselves smarter than the rest. Maybe they do consider themselves like that, or they might me trying to save them from being proved a numskull. Well sorry to burst your bubble people but you are not as smart as you think you are. If at any point of time you work with the intention of duping others, trust me there are guys who are much smarter than you. You will end up making a fool of yourself. Don’t believe me?? Okay your wish, one day you will encounter a reality check, then don’t say that no one warned you. Psst.. a fact of prudence, it might be out of respect (if you command any) or out of the authority that you exercise over them that they are quiet.

A very common trend with these people is that they suffer from verbal diarrhea. They will certainly bore you death with their monologues, that’s all about eulogizing themselves. Narcissism is another trait that makes these idiots stand out. For heaven’s sake! People please know that you are not the fulcrum of everyone’s life. And what’s unfathomable is that they will glorify the most absurd thing they do. For example, a man going gaga about not spending time with his li’l kid and wife coz he is (supposedly) so much engrossed in work. I’m surprised how come his family hasn't kicked him out yet! Kudos to them for bearing him! I’ll tell you another instance, a man who is going bankrupt, derides other people (who BTW are doing pretty good) for doing petty business and not making money. Good morning sir, but wake up from your slumber and see where you stand. Another instance I just happen to witness, a visibly fat female (I’m not being shallow), calling another not so fat girl ‘ugly and fatso’. It just made me stare at her wonder-struck, thinking what do you consider yourself, Miss Universe? Oh where is her crown? Someone please show her the mirror.

Likewise there are so many instances which I’m sure all of us come across. There is no dearth of morons in this world. You might be mentally ROFL but you have to press your lips hard and try keeping a straight face. And of course there are lots of good and ahem... not so good things that you want to tell them on their face. who knows, maybe at times you do that as well (wink).

Honestly hats off to these people for their heights of ignorance about self. They live by the adage, “ignorance is bliss”. They are the “know it all” people, 'a blessing to humanity', someone please dust off their halo. Their words and actions would render you speechless with astonishment (how can someone be so dumb). You know the magic of this is that they don’t even realize this ‘facepalm’ moment. You get irritated and need and aspirin (God bless its manufacturer) after a meeting with them. Unfortunately you can’t do anything about them. So just vent out your feelings someway (like I’m doing right now), laugh out loud mentally (of course) and move on.

I remember this saying “the foolish and the dead never change their opinion”.  Let them be happy in their own imaginary world. Deep down these people are really very insecure. To protect themselves from the harsh reality they have built a world of lies around them. And they are engrossed in it to an extent, that they now take it to be real, my condolences to them. So why upset yourself over them? Let them enjoy their 'fool’s paradise'; coz when reality dawns on them it is going to be very distressing.