Saturday, November 16, 2013

~ Human behaviour on Social Networks ~

Not really sure how would one interpret the behaviour of humans on the web. As most people tend to freely speak out in the virtual world via the popular Social Apps like Facebook / Twitter, many of us seem to have failed to differentiate the definition of "Like" vs "Read".

This rant originates from my observation of people's behaviour on the Social Networks. 
  1. Does a like on Facebook actually mean they liked it or an acknowledgement of having read the piece? 
  2. Or an RT (ReTweet) means they endorse the subject of the tweet vs they wish to pass on the information to their respective followers?




As of writing this post, I observed that 12 people have liked the post of "22 labourers killed in a road accident in Karnataka" from The Hindu.


I have add this debate with earlier too & failed to conclude on the subject. What your are thoughts on the same? 

Friday, November 01, 2013

~ Namma Nimma Metro ~

It will be a year next month, when the nation took to the streets to protest the rape of a girl in Delhi. From then to now, rapes haven't stopped nor the harassment towards women. The change has been that women have begun to report and file complaints. 

On Oct 12 we had an incident in Bangalore when a girl boarded the Metro. The hapless student didn't find any help from the fellow patrons, security guards or the police, except for one lady. Thanks to the CCTV on board of metro which captured the faces of the culprits and yesterday two men surrendered to police, while the other two are still at large. 




The police have slapped section 509 of the IPC on these men. 
Akhilesh and Ajay were slapped with section 509 of the IPC - which says "word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman". But police justified slapping the section, saying the "crime is not of serious nature".
"It was just for fun. They have no criminal background for us to slap more stringent sections of the criminal law," said DCP (East) PS Harsha. The DCP stated that the youths were asked to resign their jobs after the incident came to light via TOI

I feel Section 509 is good enough, if effectively applied by the law of the land. What does 509 mean:

509. Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.-- Whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any woman, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound shall be heard, or that such gesture or object shall be seen, by such woman, or intrudes upon the privacy of such woman, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both. via IndianKanoon

If they are punished for up to an year then it should set an example. I doubt our police or law will subject these men to such a long term. 

Just saw this short film by Anurag Kashyap, "That day after everyday" touches the subject of eve teasing and molestation of women in daily life. 


The movie is a depiction of what women undergo in day across any Metro in India. The problem is far more deep rooted in the society. You can't just classify that outsiders vs insiders are doing this. I think in every city women face the common problem & it doesn't matter from which part the men come from.

One just has to observe and you will notice how women are under preying eyes of men across the workplace, local food joints, public spaces, etc. 


The change begins at home and people around you. The way Boys are brought up at home definitely makes a difference to how they grow & behave as Men in their lives. If you are a parent to a young boy then please instill some values as they grow, it would make our cities a better place to live for the women.