Commented on joker010's review
May 29, 2006 11:16 PM
Let me tell you that I disagree today. I used to hold the same beliefs as you not long ago. But now I disagree.
I had science in my XI and XII and for college I shifted to commerce. I always wondered if I'd wasted mugging all those chemical reactions and laws in physics.
But I think I gained ...something. By studying math--yes, memorizing the rules and procedurs and all--still, I think i've developed a keener sense of pattern recognition than my other colleagues who did not have math and physics at that level. So the point is, it's not all a waste.
Education is increasingly becoming more of a gateway to jobs, but your textbooks haven't lost their meanings. Don't worry about how your teachers teach. You can do the thinking yourself and you can make it fun for yourself. The textbooks are pretty well written.
Take an experienced coegenarian's word for this matter... ;)
LaxmanRead More
Commented on own review
May 12, 2006 10:36 AM
I somehow knew that you'll definitely come round to comment on this one review of mine. I'm glad you did, since I've not had any communication with you or with the rest of our 'old crowd' in quite a while.
Laxman has retired from MS not because he's tired. He's retired because he wants to move on... to bigger more important things now. Like the book you mentioned.
And hey, when I'll be waving at that crowd, can I expect one of you to be standing there?? LOLz...
Well, I'll keep in touch and you do so too. There's no point brooding over our bygone days of glory on MS. It's just a web based forum after all.
And I'll be getting my book published really soon. So I don't think your kids are going to be old enough by that time to read it and understand it. Gosh, what I've written is I think too deep for even me to handle.
JuggersRead More
Commented on jaidev_deshpande's review
May 11, 2006 10:35 PM
I'm amazed.
Your argument has clarity, sharpness and fluidity.
How long did you spend researching for this review?
I agree with your points of course. You know I can be severally more aggressive than that.
Laxman
Commented on own review
May 11, 2006 05:23 PM
2004-2005 was our best time, I quite agree. I remember how Sujata and I would write every two/three days. I remember those huge debates in Sujata's comments section with tonnes of ppl trying to sound cool by criticizing her, you and I coming to her rescue. I remember my own comments section which wo...uld be entertaining.
And I also remember, no matter how ugly those memories are, how the Devil surfaced and then how we fought it off and all that. We had a lot of fun and we came quite close at that time. I think we still are, but then we're not in that much contact any more, that's all.
My friend Shailaja always tells me that if there's something in life that one must never forget then it is this-- This too shall pass.
And it's true isn't it? Our golden days are gone. We thought they never will but they did go. May be this lul and silence will pass too.
As far as my debate is concerned, Munir, my book is going to come out soon. Once my IPSC is over, I'll get down to chasing companies and have it published. At that time, I will need your postal address so that I can send you a copy of it. You're going to be one of the select few who will receive such a copy. And take my word, you're the only one on MS.
You keep in touch too.
Love,
AmolRead More
Commented on own review
May 11, 2006 03:46 PM
I said I'm not going to be writing. I didn't say I'm going and gone forever. I said I won't be using MS as frequently. I didn't say I'm not writing ever. Don't write me off. Just don't count me in.
If you see, I've been writing hardly one review in one/two months for the past year. That's all it...'s going to be, or even less, who knows? I was just saying so to you people in this review.
You guessed right, I was trying not to reply to anyone. But the art of getting an answer lies in asking the question in the right way. Take a complement from me on this.
I never scolded you, if you thought that way. You shuold know that I am, above all, brutally frank. And so when I disagree, I say it. And when I say it, people who have guts accept it and like me for it. People who lack guts think I'm a crib or a nitwit and scoff me for it. You showed gut. Take another complement from me.
Yes, I may not have found true friends here. Who knows, had I given you time, may be you could've been one. But I did find adorable li'l sisters, yes, you're right. Take a third complement from me.
You shouldn't comment on my reviews. You make me emotional... :-p
(Joke)
I'm amazed to hear that my reviews made you grow up. Whatever that meant, had to be good. So, thank you.
Remember.
The Juggernaut isn't dead. The Juggernaut has only stopped rolling.
Love,
Juggers
PS: That used to be my trademark sign-off name on MS till I decided to come back to my senses.Read More
Reviewed Tips on Giving Titles to Reviews
May 11, 2006 11:04 AM
19121 Views
(Updated May 11, 2006 11:04 AM)
This is my 200th review. Scary. No?
# # #
Introduction
When I wrote on ''Writing Reviews On MouthShut'', I put off my readers with a sermon on creative techniques. When I wrote on ''Commenting on Reviews'', I lectured them on innovative criticism. When I wrote on ''Writing an Effective ...Read more
Commented on own review
May 06, 2006 12:49 PM
What you say is right. I label this two-timing approach of us people as 'practical' approach as it is popularly called.
Amol
Commented on own review
May 05, 2006 10:15 PM
As I said, the days when reasonable methods of persuasion, practical approaches to things and reality-checks are gone. We need to live abstract, impractical and insane lives. We need to go mad.
We need to do things like what this guy at the Passport Office did last week. I was applying 'coz I'm g...oing to London next month. He was ahead in the line. He needed it in tatkal service.
The Officer denied the passport on an adhoc charge, obviously asking for bribe. The guy who was denied simply slapped the Officer. He asked, 'OK, is that the proof you wanted? Good, you have it. Now my passport please.'
He got the passport immediately.
It's not that things cannot change. They can if we open our eyes and speak out.
Look, when the constitution gives me a right, its already mine. Nobody needs to 'distribute' fundamental rights. If someone blocks my access to them, then I need not be 'reasonable' with him. I should be aggressive.
You know, if we can make people so angry and agitated about injustice and corruption, when we become very offensive towards mismanagement of public resources and when we should extreme intolerance to the crap thats going around, that's when all these dogs will tuck their tails and walk the straight line. That's what we can do. And underline 'DO'. Saying is not enough by itself.
And of course, there's one more thing we can do. Set up a political party, get ourselves elected in the Govt. and then do what ideal governments should be doing.
I haven't lost my opportunity yet, nor have you.
Pick your option and stick to it.
I'll do my bit u do urs.
Amol
PS: And don't give me this crap about 'let me know if there's something i can do' dirt. What the fuk was the use of my review if u still dare ask me that? I'm screaming out aloud saying-- search your role and play it, arsehole! yet, someone comes up and says 'find me a role and i'll play it'. Like nation building is some kind-a play... ;) (no offense... bhavnaon ko saRead More
Commented on own review
May 05, 2006 07:54 PM
It is hard. but nobody says it isn't possible.
And as I said, this review isn't of any value unless we begin the DOING. But then I wonder if it is really that useless.
I mean its only when you keep saying the same things over and over and over again that one fine day you actually begin doing i...t... So lets keep reminding ourselves of what we need to do and trying to inspire ourselves to do it.
LaxmanRead More
Commented on Devilsdayout's review
May 05, 2006 07:52 PM
I read your review and I could feel an extraordinarily strong flavor of what I've been trying to say but I never got even this close to doing so.
I read the comment written by Nishanu34 and I'd like to say (with no personal offensive against him) that it is this comfort-zone attitude that bugs me....
You know, the thing you said about tail-wagging comments to get readership, that thing I call 'networking'. it's networking that gets you all over the place.
I've been a part of the group of these so-called elite MSians who're now leaving 'coz they got bored of MS. I'm not taking any names 'coz all of them are my friends and close friends and I value them. but the thing is, they need to wake up and realize that just like they think they were the warm and fresh at a point of time, they were so 'coz there were idiots who bothered reading about them. MS IS going to become boring if they don't provide encouragement to everyone. I mean, heck, nobody's damn good at review #1. You can't just compare them with Afrank and say the days of her eminence are gone and brood about it! Who knows, there could be dozens of Afranks out there, only one got discovered... We could discover dozens of them, we could create and become an Afrank ourselves, but we don't coz we've lost initiative.
Well, it don't matter though, it's just MS.
What I want to tell ya is that you're the rebel out here who I've been looking for. I think you're the kind of guy who I write for. The guy who's got the 'things need to change' and the 'truth needs to be vomitted out and shown as dirty as it actually is' attitude.
Good job!!!
And hey, join hands and the two of us could fill MS with rebel reviews!!
AmolRead More
Commented on own review
May 05, 2006 07:31 PM
Not long ago, somebody on MouthShut rapped me a lot about writing these things with a 'you' attitude.
He kept telling me that I should first be honest about whether I've done what I'm supposed to do. I know I haven't done it.
I accept what you say.
But I also remind you that you and I are t...ogether in this guilt.
LaxmanRead More
Reviewed Rajya Sabha
May 05, 2006 07:25 PM
4098 Views
(Updated May 12, 2006 06:38 PM)
How many pages will you be able to fill if I give you ten days, money and facilities to scoop up as many 'minister' or 'politician' jokes as you can? How many people will be prepared to write on a subject (if it was ever created here on MS) saying ''Parody on Indian Government'' or ''10 best Ind...Read more
Commented on own review
Apr 26, 2006 09:24 AM
Read my review once again and then read your comment and then read my first reply.
I have adressed 'you' in two places. The first was in the introduction. If you take a close look, I've put it under Quotes and Unquotes, meaning clearly that the 'you' was being adressed by the movie and not me. I... am putting the message of the movie in their words and as if they are speaking. Naturally, it was not me who spoke to you, but the movie who did. I only acted as the 'drafting middleman' so to say.
The second place where I adress 'you' was when I spoke of those who considered RDB to be instigating civil war. There is a knot of people who think the movie is immoral and provocative and suggestive of civil war. Here, 'you' refers to them and to their attitudes and not to the common public in general.
Yes, Ali, if the second 'you' hurt you then you definitely are one of those who I was trying to bash. If you think I was talking to everyone when I meant 'you' there, then you are wrong. I was adressing those who thought RDB is an attempt to destabilize the society.
So then your arguments, though valid in a very general and non-specific context, are not placed in the right manner or about the right subject.
LaxmanRead More
Commented on own review
Apr 25, 2006 05:00 PM
Although I quite appreciate your point, which you raise in your comment, I cannot help but be amused at the fact that it is a justification for your dislike of my writing style. I am afraid, I have to say the following. Your reservations are borne out of a lesser understanding of the English languag...e.
The phrase 'takes your breath away' is always used to signifiy the effect which an event had on the speaker and his expectation that it would have the same effect on someone else, simultaneously. When you say 'Never talk to a stranger' you don't imply to instruct others only. You also implicitly remind yourself of your own safety measures.
In Hindi, or in Marathi, the style employed here would be quite bizzare. I quite agree that for people like you and me, who usually think through vernacular languages, such differences in linguistic style appear jarring in the beginning. Rest assured, it is an incompatibility and not a mistake.
And, my dear Ali, I would like to ask you one question, which I expect to offend you with, so I beg pardon for it right away.
How the hell does it matter whether I've done my bit or not so long as you know you haven't done it?
Yes, Ali, I know you did not wish to offend, but you ended up doing it, anyway. I am afraid I appear to be quite a snob or probably even a crib as a result of this comment. I suppose my reply to your comment should have been mute and something along the 'thanks, i'll bear that in mind' lines... But, it's just too bad that I hate to toe the line.
Cope with me or throw me away.
JuggersRead More
Commented on own review
Apr 25, 2006 11:48 AM
I personally feel that the competition Indian Idol will never give us an 'idol' who is endowed with good skills. I think the Indian public has a very peculiar tendency to vote in the 'underdog' at all stages. And I say, heck, even the Govt. of India gets formed like that!!
Laxman
Commented on own review
Apr 20, 2006 04:55 PM
..ut it anywhere. Your privacy is at stake. If it happened to me, it can happen to you. The name of my best friend was guessed. There's no such thing as unguessable any more.
So please, throw up your chill pill.
Its a good medicine. But things are medicines only to specific diseases. The wrong... stuff to the wrong patient can be more of a poison.
Love, and I mean it,
AmolRead More
Commented on own review
Apr 20, 2006 04:53 PM
I apologize for my following reply. I am sure you will not misunderstand it in any way. Take it on face value.
1 'Take a chill pill' is the most inappropriate and the most frustrating suggestion I can receive, assuming that the entire fiasco has left me disturbed and insecure. It has not happene...d to you. You have no first hand experience of how helpless one feels when one's own identity is being misused. You have no idea how difficult it is to accept that telling people that something is wrong is no longer usefull as any method of telling others has been abused and rendered ineffective. You have no idea at all and so when you ask me to take a chill pill, you do me and my peace of mind greater harm than the hacker himself. All this, of course, assuming that I am disturbed and insecure, which I am not. This point was only to plead to you to first think about what the writer could possibly be going through before you comment, a sensitivity which few show, which probably even I don't.
2 This review is not about throwing up the hurt and anger. It's not about seeking justice and reconciliation. It's not about crying loud to gain sympathy and regain trust, which was endangered. It's about warning people. It's about telling people that their identities are at stake. That their privacies are not as private as they think they are. That there are ways in which things can be made to go irreconiliably wrong. It's about making people aware. And it's about appealing to future 'miscreants' to rethink their way of exacting revenge or making a controversial point. Its about discouraging people from doing to others what has been done to me not just on this occassion, but before, and not just to me, but to some others who were affected before. And therefore asking me to take a chill pill cannot be a more misplaced and inappropriate reaction to this review.
3 Change your password every month. Do not even drop a hint aboRead More
