Am I an optimist or a pessimist?I had never found out for sure.But its fascinating to analyze and compare both points of view in a given situation.To begin with the very definition of them is a little ambiguous to me.The most common that I have seen is this-An optimist looks at the brighter side of things and a pessimist vice versa.In other words I may perhaps say an optimist looks at those factors only which are favourable to him and conveniently forgets or tries to forget the rest.It is perhaps an euphemism for the ostrich-burying-its-head attitude,escapism in a milder form,though I suspect that would be a harsh statement.A pessimist focusses on the negatives of a situation,and expects the worst.In this sense he is probably a worshipper of Murphy:)Can we then expect pessimists to simply surrender to life as it comes,prepared for the worst?we should but rarely does it happen.
I was frequently led astray by the fact that optimism and pessimism are a state of mind and not a function of speech.Many play down their chances,due to the demands of modesty, and give an impression of being pessimists:)Come out after an exam and ask people around-you will know what I mean:)Everybody has got "screwed" or "jacked"-trust mechanical enggs to introduce such words to the english lexicon:)Nobody has done well,including those who will end up on top eventually:)Such people are not pessimists though they proudly proclaim and wear that badge on their sleeve.
Optimism in my view is inextricably linked to and founded on a bedrock of Hope.Looking at the brighter side of things is merely a way of driving away thoughts of failure,and 'hoping' that things will turn out right.Hope is a basic human feeling,which has been around since eternity when Pandora opened the box of troubles and released the Hope fairy.When nothing is coming your way,it is hope that allows you to dream of a day when things will be better.The person who coined the proverb"it is the darkest hour before dawn"-must surely have had hope.Even a death row convict,till the instant the trapdoors swing out from under him, would probably be praying for a miracle that saves him.It is only those who have lost the will to live that lose hope.As long as there is life there is hope.Thinking thus,I realized that you may "expect" the worst,but you always hope for the best.Expectation, after all,is a mathematical quantity,defined by the stochastic laws based on the odds:)
Optimism is more fundamental to human nature.Thus I decided that there are no true pessimists.Pessimism is against the order of nature.It is mere pretence at worst,an attempt at modesty at best.All pessimism is hypocrisy.
I am an optimist.:)
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
The two Ws-WC and Wimbledon
I have waited 8 yrs to see the Azzuris have the world at their feet.And finally they vindicated what I wrote about them last time.In fact their match with Germany was the best I have ever seen in my life,a match worthy of the final.The final itself was sad only for the ignominous end to the great career of Zinedine Zidane,a player miles ahead of the rest,including the vacuous Brazilians.
But the Italian truimph has not suited anybody-neither were they the sentimental favourites nor the home team or the universal favourites-this I can gather from all the neswpaper articles after the world cup.In fact if it were possible I have no doubt that the organisers would have awarded the WC to France!!!Wimbledon final was also on the same day as the WC and it was a great match.I feel that Nadal in the future will surely get the measure of Federer.This wimbledon will also be remembered as Agassi's swansong,but more on him on my next post.
For now its Federer.I started watching tennis by admiring Stefan Edberg,then going crazy over Goran Ivanisevic.After those two a certain air of disinterest has come into my mindset,with the result that I am able to appreciate tennis better.But Federer is a genius.He seems to be a chimerical combination of the other players.A return of serve and passing shots like Agassi, a serve like Sampras,his own forehand and agility, and my God!-what a backhand!When I see him play that backhand slice it seems like poetry in motion.Time stands still as the ball floats in the air deliciously.It reminds me of Edberg,that backhand of his.And the sheer variety of shots and treacherous spins that he imparts to the ball makes his play truly sublime.If only I could have seen him play Sampras at his best!That is the beauty of such thoughts-the mere prospect of thinking is so rewarding:)
Sometimes it makes me wonder-is Federer really that good or his opponents so inept?But I guess the sheer beauty of his game makes you reject the latter notion.
But the Italian truimph has not suited anybody-neither were they the sentimental favourites nor the home team or the universal favourites-this I can gather from all the neswpaper articles after the world cup.In fact if it were possible I have no doubt that the organisers would have awarded the WC to France!!!Wimbledon final was also on the same day as the WC and it was a great match.I feel that Nadal in the future will surely get the measure of Federer.This wimbledon will also be remembered as Agassi's swansong,but more on him on my next post.
For now its Federer.I started watching tennis by admiring Stefan Edberg,then going crazy over Goran Ivanisevic.After those two a certain air of disinterest has come into my mindset,with the result that I am able to appreciate tennis better.But Federer is a genius.He seems to be a chimerical combination of the other players.A return of serve and passing shots like Agassi, a serve like Sampras,his own forehand and agility, and my God!-what a backhand!When I see him play that backhand slice it seems like poetry in motion.Time stands still as the ball floats in the air deliciously.It reminds me of Edberg,that backhand of his.And the sheer variety of shots and treacherous spins that he imparts to the ball makes his play truly sublime.If only I could have seen him play Sampras at his best!That is the beauty of such thoughts-the mere prospect of thinking is so rewarding:)
Sometimes it makes me wonder-is Federer really that good or his opponents so inept?But I guess the sheer beauty of his game makes you reject the latter notion.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Gold doesnt always glister
This one is about sports,which is close to my heart.With the world cup on,its the right time.My favourites,the Azzuris, are in the semis and looking good (for those who dont know,the Italian team is called that,for their azure blue jersey)
I am sick and tired of hearing paens sung for Brazil in Calcutta, and very happy at their exit.Everybody goes into raptures talking of them, as if the other teams are children of a lesser God!
But I will first tell you why I like the Italians so much.
The game of football can be won in two ways.One way is to score more goals-as the "godlike" Brazilians and most teams try to do.The other, and in my opinion,more subtle way is to concede fewer goals.The Italians,past masters at this,exempify the philosphy that defence is the best offence.
This philosophy of theirs,so different,is what I find most endearing.I always appreciate and like doing things in a way different from the rest.
While others find the sight of a striker tearing defences apart to be a spectacle,the sight of the impregnable Italian citadel,parrying thrust after thrust,and making the strikers look helpless,I find most appealing.
Moreover the way they go about their business,so low profile,without any airs is a refreshing sight today.Not like the hyped up mediocre English,the overly jingoistic Germans or the misplaced swagger and bluster of Brazil and Argentina.And yet they are one of the great footballing nations with 3 WCs.
My viewpoint extends to cricket as well.I have come to admire and appreciate Rahul Dravid more than Sachin or Sehwag.
It is thus no surprise that despite all his acheivements,Dravid continues to live in the shadow of his flamboyant counterparts.
Not many understand the importance of his grit,technical excellence and doggedness.Perhaps his sublime matchwinning innings on a spitfire pitch against the WI can change that,but I doubt it.One swashbuckling innings from one of the others and he will be forgotten,relegated to the footnotes,as always.
One more thing leaps to my mind-chess.
There are attacking masters like Alekhine,Tal and Kasparov whose brilliance is appreciated by the general public,me included.But there are those masters of positional play capablanca,Ruy Lopez,Steinitz whose names riddle the books of chess,about whom most dont know much.But I have come to know this much ,from my friends who play it well,that it is more difficult,for their style out maneouvres you and squeezes you for space on the board,simply by solid positional play-somewhat like getting throttled to death.
The point I want to make is that we Indians in general are awed more by flamboyance and flair than by efficiency and efficacy.We go for the glister rather than the gold-that is the only thing that can explain my observations.I am eagerly waiting for the backlash that my comments will surely generate:)
I am not finished with sports yet.But this will suffice for now,more later.
I am sick and tired of hearing paens sung for Brazil in Calcutta, and very happy at their exit.Everybody goes into raptures talking of them, as if the other teams are children of a lesser God!
But I will first tell you why I like the Italians so much.
The game of football can be won in two ways.One way is to score more goals-as the "godlike" Brazilians and most teams try to do.The other, and in my opinion,more subtle way is to concede fewer goals.The Italians,past masters at this,exempify the philosphy that defence is the best offence.
This philosophy of theirs,so different,is what I find most endearing.I always appreciate and like doing things in a way different from the rest.
While others find the sight of a striker tearing defences apart to be a spectacle,the sight of the impregnable Italian citadel,parrying thrust after thrust,and making the strikers look helpless,I find most appealing.
Moreover the way they go about their business,so low profile,without any airs is a refreshing sight today.Not like the hyped up mediocre English,the overly jingoistic Germans or the misplaced swagger and bluster of Brazil and Argentina.And yet they are one of the great footballing nations with 3 WCs.
My viewpoint extends to cricket as well.I have come to admire and appreciate Rahul Dravid more than Sachin or Sehwag.
It is thus no surprise that despite all his acheivements,Dravid continues to live in the shadow of his flamboyant counterparts.
Not many understand the importance of his grit,technical excellence and doggedness.Perhaps his sublime matchwinning innings on a spitfire pitch against the WI can change that,but I doubt it.One swashbuckling innings from one of the others and he will be forgotten,relegated to the footnotes,as always.
One more thing leaps to my mind-chess.
There are attacking masters like Alekhine,Tal and Kasparov whose brilliance is appreciated by the general public,me included.But there are those masters of positional play capablanca,Ruy Lopez,Steinitz whose names riddle the books of chess,about whom most dont know much.But I have come to know this much ,from my friends who play it well,that it is more difficult,for their style out maneouvres you and squeezes you for space on the board,simply by solid positional play-somewhat like getting throttled to death.
The point I want to make is that we Indians in general are awed more by flamboyance and flair than by efficiency and efficacy.We go for the glister rather than the gold-that is the only thing that can explain my observations.I am eagerly waiting for the backlash that my comments will surely generate:)
I am not finished with sports yet.But this will suffice for now,more later.
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