Cantankerous Clatter - 1
Cantankerous Clatter!
What in hell does that mean!!!!!!!
Well, nothing really, it is just a combination of some less commonly used words. If we were to translate it, it would mean, an obstructive and distractive noise, which can lead to irritation and restlessness.
But why use such phrases or words?
In today's world of pretenses we generally measure competence by one's ability to project onself as someone much greater and much more capable than the reality. And that is why our existence has become a multi-layered existence. The simplicity of human life no longer exists, it gets more and more complicated by the day. And we are losing the fundamental value of our existence.
I have recently taken up writing very seriously and I am maintaining a blog (http://neoriz-musings.blogspot.com/). Since, I started writing my own blog (i.e. without anyone editing it) I got more and more anxious to know who my peers were, the contemporary writers who existed in the blog-world, and what all did they write about? I was more curious to measure (actually judge) the calibre of these writers in comparison with mine. And then to my dismay (but eventually to my pleasure because it helped me ideftify my areas of improvement) I realized that I stood no where when it came to ingenuinity,to faithful reproduction of thoughts on paper (or e-paper if you are a perfection freak!) It is an art from which I was completely unaware.
As I rummaged through the tons and tons of blogs on the net I realized that there is so much of talent around the world and so much for me to learn. But then suddenly I started coming across a different breed of writers,who had a fantabulous vocab and a bombastic style of writing but no content. And that is what made me think about the existence of intellectual anomalies in the world. The ones who are in fact the Cantankerous Clatter of this world.
I call them intellectual anomalies, because these people who write in good language and with a brilliant style are indeed intellectuals, for without intellect they couldn't have written in such a good manner and wouldn't have acquired such a remarkable style. But they are anomalies too, because what they focus on is not the art of writing but the art of presentation. In my opinion the art of writing has an important basis, which is the gravity of the subject that is being written about.
Well, with this thought I would like to come to a more general extrapolation of this fortuitous epidemic that is spreading around the world. Today's world is that of street smarts, in fact they have come to inherit it. In any sphere of life you throw a glance at, you see hustlers everywhere. If you are capable of getting things done, you are a hero. You are an achiever. And nobody cares, how well established your thought or design is. What counts is an action that may bring some fruit, in short term or long. That's why we see so many people making it to the top echelons today. Being successful is no longer a dream these days, it's walk-your-way-through-to reality. The only thing you have to take care of is to step on the right stones and keep moving ahead. But are we in fact moving ahead?
Many people refute the prophecies that claim self-annihilation of human race as inevitable. And the reason they give is that human beings are gaining more knowledge therefore more intellegence therefore more senstivity therefore a better perception and finally a common goal. So when the goals are common the chances self destruction are very few. If you minutely observe this statement you will surely see the inherent contradiction. For human beings, the common goal has always ensured an increase in competition and not collaboration (unless it is forced). So there is your pattern. The proof that we are indeed moving towards the point of irreversible degeneration.
And why so? Because we are no more the followers of fundamentals. We don't like to question ourselves anymore as to "Why do we want to do what we want to do?" What we do care to ask is, "What we want?" and "How to get it?" Because these two questions are good enough to keep us busy for the rest of our lives, to keep our pockets loaded and to let us buy that dream home or that luxury car. Like these brilliant but superficial writers that you will find in the blog-world. All they know or care is to write a blog. Some do it for public attentions, some for proving profeciency of language and some for apparently no reason at all. They just do it. But nobody cares to think why should they write in the first place.
If there is no fundamental purpose for them to write, they shouldn't write. But they will. And nobody can stop them. Again, Cantankerous Clatter!
What makes me worry is the sudden spread of this lack of fundmental motives in people from all segments of society. Even the real intellectuals are not left unaffected by it.
To be continued...
