Evening at Zambezi River, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, May 2015
and so does everything around... the situation, the people, the perspective, the needs.... and we too change.... the wise and courageous seek change.. because only change is constant!

Friday, October 1, 2010

104. Thank You!

"THANK YOU".

In a way they are the most ordinary words.
They are used much more without the feelings - they are more of a formality.
For me, they are more artificial than natural.

But still they are ok, when one speaks them.
The smile that accompanies the words, conveyes the meaning deeply.
And if there is no such smile, one can easily take those words as a mere formality - a much more superficial expression to hide the real feelings - sometimes; not always!

It was just a decade ago, that I came across Computers - and mainly its three aspects - Word Document - for reports and proposals. Excel for project budgets and PowerPoint for presentations.

I liked computers. I loved the machine in fact. Got addicted to it to some extent. So, picked up it much faster than my age or intelligence normally would have permitted.

Once I came out of the addiction, I could notice the humours aspect of peopel associated with Computers.

For example, there are many Power Point Presentations with the last slide 'Thank You' written on it.
That is ok, if the presenter means it.
In the last five days, I have listened to 10 PPTs and each of them had 'Thank You" on their last slide.
But most of the times, almost always, I have noticed it that the presenter him/herself does not know that the last slide is 'Thank You' or 'Thanx' as is more fashionable these days!
The presenter goes on and on, clicks the next slide and suddenly realizes that it has nothing more to offer than 'Thanx' and then s/he says : "So, thanks."
It sounds as if the person is compelled to say those awfull words.

But why say it when you don't mean it?
Why pretend?
Why try to follow manners when you know that they are meaningless?
Why not plan what you want to say?
Why can't one speak, communicate without some such media like a slide?
Why can't it come right from the heart?
Why not not say that you don't want to say?

Why not be just yourself?
People may like you or not like you.. that is their choice.
Why our pleasure should depend upon others' choices?

Oops.. I am not going to say 'Thank You'" to you for reading this post.

8 comments:

  1. But why say it when you don't mean it?

    Because human used be like that.

    Why pretend?

    Its rather just a general courtesy. They don't even think about that said thank you or thnx, as a pretention

    Just a self realization that they are done with all blabbering.

    Why try to follow manners when you know that they are meaningless?

    why should not they follow?

    Why not plan what you want to say?

    Almost 90% of presentations get their last touchup just hours before.

    Why can't one speak, communicate without some such media like a slide?

    Indian are very comfortable with Copy paste thing. Westerners do that so Do Indian.( No offence meant)

    Why can't it come right from the heart?

    For that first the presentations should come from heart or at least from one's own mind.

    Why not not say that you don't want to say?

    This question will make any human think this line "what the hell wrong with you? It was just a thanks and I wont get a better way to end my presentation with out spending my time and energy."

    though I would say, they dont even say what they want to say.

    Words come out by "Force Measures"

    Why not be just yourself?

    Thats quiet a question. :)


    :).. Keep Smiling.

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  2. But why say it when you don't mean it?
    Why pretend?
    Because sometimes actions can change our thoughts.

    Why try to follow manners when you know that they are meaningless?
    Manners are not meaningless. Good manners do touch other people's hearts.

    Why can't one speak, communicate without some such media like a slide?
    The reasons for using slides is to keep points that will help in the flow of the presentation. Not to read from it.

    Why our pleasure should depend upon others' choices?
    Sometimes we depend on others because we are humans.

    ReplyDelete
  3. True.But thats how the word "Sorry" has lost its meaning too.We make mistakes and simply say sorry,without meaning it.

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  4. Saying "thank you" must be a life habit and not simply a formal thing. The trouble is , we are very great at rushing to pick up western conversation modes. They do fit in in certain stratas of society here. And it has nothing to do with offices....

    When was the last time you said "thank you" to the BEST bus driver when you got off, after 40 minutes of very difficult patient driving by him , say, in a crowded part of Mumbai ?

    It cannot be simply a meaningless courtesy. You must say it when you mean it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. a forced smile and 'thannk you' is better than a rude frown

    ReplyDelete
  6. Satyask, :-)

    Umapoems, I feel little awkward to say 'Thank You', but I assure you that I mean it :-)

    Makk and Kevni, Ah! These are great answers. I am glad you took thse questions seriously. I keep on asking those, so those who know me just smile at these questions!

    Anu :-) that is the problem - to act without meaning it!

    Ugich Konitari, I generally always say 'Thanks' to auto and taxi drivers, but never have said it to a bus driver. Next time I would definitely thank him/her if I get the opportunity - as I would really mean it!

    magiceye, this perspective is totally different and I see there is a point in it.

    ReplyDelete

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