Abhijit Naskar's Blog - Posts Tagged "social-development"
Why Entertainers are More Appealing to the Masses than Scholars
Stop making stupid people famous. Such goes the saying. Everybody has heard of it. Everybody knows what it implies, yet, that very everybody, or at least, almost everybody, never thinks twice before “making stupid people famous”. Hence, I have said in my book “Mission Reality” – “Stupid people make stupid people famous”. But why? Is there a deeper reason behind such a primitive act? Is there something more than mere stupidity? Is this stupidity really that stupid or does it have some incomprehensible value which can only be discovered if we see past the surface of such behavior!
If we speak empirically, then there is no such thing as stupid or wise in the kingdom of nature, for the kingdom of nature is governed by only one quality, and that is survival potential. If a behavior exists, it does so, because it has some sort of survival potential attached to it. And this is the reason why scholars, such as scientists and philosophers are way less appealing to the masses in comparison to entertainers such as filmstars, singers or sportspersons.
Scholars (including scientists, philosophers, doctors, teachers, innovators and many more, involved in the practice of science, technology and philosophy) make some of the greatest physical contributions in the health, prosperity and progress of the human species, take away the scholars and all progress will come to a standstill, yet most of them spend their life in anonymity outside the tiny circle of their distinct field. On the other hand, entertainers are seen by people from all walks of life as some form of all-knowing prophet – if they say, a certain health drink is good, the masses would most naively embrace that health drink in their life – if they say, a certain watch or perfume or handbag is the symbol of elegance, the masses would most blindly run after it – and if they run for office, the masses would most stupidly vote for them, without actually knowing their psychological capacity to run a people.
Here, I beg you not to think of all entertainers to be stupid, rather what I am pointing out is that, the expertise of an entertainer is in entertaining, so you should give them as much reverence as they deserve, not more than that. They are not expert in medical issues – they are not expert in running a people – they are not expert in anything except their work in entertainment – just like, I am not an expert in Chemistry or Physics or Mathematics – I am a Biologist and that’s where all my attention is placed. So, if you have a question about Quantum Physics, you must not ask me, rather you must ask a Physicist. And the same is true for every other expert in the world – be it an expert of science, mathematics or arts. For example, my favorite actors are Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart, and I enjoy their work immensely, but I don’t expect them to have a deep insight into human nature, just because they were and still remain quite famous – that’s my job, just like their job was to hold up a mirror in front of the society through their acting.
Now the big question is, why do people fall prey to the charm of celebrities and confuse their charisma to be the sign of wisdom, in most cases quite subconsciously? This behavior goes back millions of years. When our ancestors lived in the jungle amidst other animals, the chances of survival of the tribe increased in proportion to their blind loyalty to the alpha, a character with leadership characteristics, which mostly consisted of an absurd amount of confidence and charm. And this evolutionary instinct of attraction to confidence and charm still remains rather dominant in the common human psyche, which makes them vulnerable to the spell of charisma, even if that charisma has no content of character or wisdom underneath it.
In everyday life of the common human, reason takes a back seat and emotions dictate all significant behavior. “Erase the emotions and you would erase the most important part of what it’s like to be human” (as said in Mission Reality). In short, no matter what you say, if you can say it with such a confidence that it touches people at an emotional level, then you can make them believe in anything – you can make think anything – you can make them do anything.
In the human society, being famous is not the same as being right. Because people who make individuals famous, do not care about right or wrong – they don’t care about truth and reasoning – they are subconsciously driven by their instinct for survival, towards confidence, charm and charisma, just like moths are drawn towards a burning candle to face their inevitable demise.
I’m afraid, if the humans do not learn to make conscious and conscientious efforts to place their attention on character and wisdom, instead of on charm and charisma, then the demise of humankind is inevitable. Here, one may wonder, how can an entire society of humans change their behavior overnight! And the reality is, such a transformation or change cannot take place overnight, moreover, it won’t happen all at once. All change begins with the individual. When we change, the world will change.
Recommended Reading:
All For Acceptance
Mission Reality
Citation: Abhijit Naskar. “Why Entertainers are More Appealing to the Masses than Scholars”. EC Psychology and Psychiatry 8.10 (2019): 1083-1084.
If we speak empirically, then there is no such thing as stupid or wise in the kingdom of nature, for the kingdom of nature is governed by only one quality, and that is survival potential. If a behavior exists, it does so, because it has some sort of survival potential attached to it. And this is the reason why scholars, such as scientists and philosophers are way less appealing to the masses in comparison to entertainers such as filmstars, singers or sportspersons.
Scholars (including scientists, philosophers, doctors, teachers, innovators and many more, involved in the practice of science, technology and philosophy) make some of the greatest physical contributions in the health, prosperity and progress of the human species, take away the scholars and all progress will come to a standstill, yet most of them spend their life in anonymity outside the tiny circle of their distinct field. On the other hand, entertainers are seen by people from all walks of life as some form of all-knowing prophet – if they say, a certain health drink is good, the masses would most naively embrace that health drink in their life – if they say, a certain watch or perfume or handbag is the symbol of elegance, the masses would most blindly run after it – and if they run for office, the masses would most stupidly vote for them, without actually knowing their psychological capacity to run a people.
Here, I beg you not to think of all entertainers to be stupid, rather what I am pointing out is that, the expertise of an entertainer is in entertaining, so you should give them as much reverence as they deserve, not more than that. They are not expert in medical issues – they are not expert in running a people – they are not expert in anything except their work in entertainment – just like, I am not an expert in Chemistry or Physics or Mathematics – I am a Biologist and that’s where all my attention is placed. So, if you have a question about Quantum Physics, you must not ask me, rather you must ask a Physicist. And the same is true for every other expert in the world – be it an expert of science, mathematics or arts. For example, my favorite actors are Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart, and I enjoy their work immensely, but I don’t expect them to have a deep insight into human nature, just because they were and still remain quite famous – that’s my job, just like their job was to hold up a mirror in front of the society through their acting.
Now the big question is, why do people fall prey to the charm of celebrities and confuse their charisma to be the sign of wisdom, in most cases quite subconsciously? This behavior goes back millions of years. When our ancestors lived in the jungle amidst other animals, the chances of survival of the tribe increased in proportion to their blind loyalty to the alpha, a character with leadership characteristics, which mostly consisted of an absurd amount of confidence and charm. And this evolutionary instinct of attraction to confidence and charm still remains rather dominant in the common human psyche, which makes them vulnerable to the spell of charisma, even if that charisma has no content of character or wisdom underneath it.
In everyday life of the common human, reason takes a back seat and emotions dictate all significant behavior. “Erase the emotions and you would erase the most important part of what it’s like to be human” (as said in Mission Reality). In short, no matter what you say, if you can say it with such a confidence that it touches people at an emotional level, then you can make them believe in anything – you can make think anything – you can make them do anything.
In the human society, being famous is not the same as being right. Because people who make individuals famous, do not care about right or wrong – they don’t care about truth and reasoning – they are subconsciously driven by their instinct for survival, towards confidence, charm and charisma, just like moths are drawn towards a burning candle to face their inevitable demise.
I’m afraid, if the humans do not learn to make conscious and conscientious efforts to place their attention on character and wisdom, instead of on charm and charisma, then the demise of humankind is inevitable. Here, one may wonder, how can an entire society of humans change their behavior overnight! And the reality is, such a transformation or change cannot take place overnight, moreover, it won’t happen all at once. All change begins with the individual. When we change, the world will change.
Recommended Reading:
All For Acceptance
Mission Reality
Citation: Abhijit Naskar. “Why Entertainers are More Appealing to the Masses than Scholars”. EC Psychology and Psychiatry 8.10 (2019): 1083-1084.
Humanizing Democracy (A Sonnet)
Dictatorship is rule of the cunning,
Democracy is rule of the halfwits.
Both are quite degrading for society,
Cause neither of them is born of merits.
Progress requires practice of reason,
Immersed in a whole lot of love.
But when the people prefer indifference,
Society regresses down the savage curve.
Character is the foundation of civilization,
Yet that character is taken for granted.
All talk and no walk has made us shallow,
Separatism has made our soul tainted.
So it’s time we feed values into democracy,
While abolishing all populist fallacy.
Democracy is rule of the halfwits.
Both are quite degrading for society,
Cause neither of them is born of merits.
Progress requires practice of reason,
Immersed in a whole lot of love.
But when the people prefer indifference,
Society regresses down the savage curve.
Character is the foundation of civilization,
Yet that character is taken for granted.
All talk and no walk has made us shallow,
Separatism has made our soul tainted.
So it’s time we feed values into democracy,
While abolishing all populist fallacy.
Crazy Not Callous (The Sonnet)
I'm crazy,
But not obnoxious.
I'm free in mind,
But not callous.
I'm ignorant in many things,
But I ain't no intolerant.
I may not know much etiquette,
I know caring with commitment.
I am but a lover most naïve,
No scholar of nothin'.
I am but a warrior unbending,
Got no time for philosophizin'.
To live for people is the mission.
In lifting the fallen lies salvation.
But not obnoxious.
I'm free in mind,
But not callous.
I'm ignorant in many things,
But I ain't no intolerant.
I may not know much etiquette,
I know caring with commitment.
I am but a lover most naïve,
No scholar of nothin'.
I am but a warrior unbending,
Got no time for philosophizin'.
To live for people is the mission.
In lifting the fallen lies salvation.
Sonnet of Care
This is what care looks like,
Pure and chaste loving without reward.
This is what conscience looks like,
Strong and just reasoning with warmth.
This is what nobility looks like,
Humble and kind correcting one's error.
This is what courage looks like,
Firm and unbending walking across fear.
This is what sentience looks like,
Awake and upright marching with resolve.
This is what character looks like,
Messy and flawed but not afraid to evolve.
Each human is a reflection of all humanity.
Individual action determines collective destiny.
Pure and chaste loving without reward.
This is what conscience looks like,
Strong and just reasoning with warmth.
This is what nobility looks like,
Humble and kind correcting one's error.
This is what courage looks like,
Firm and unbending walking across fear.
This is what sentience looks like,
Awake and upright marching with resolve.
This is what character looks like,
Messy and flawed but not afraid to evolve.
Each human is a reflection of all humanity.
Individual action determines collective destiny.
Brave, The Sonnet
Say o brave, o soldier of eternal heights,
May I be decapitated before my head bows.
Say o brave, o explorer of impossibility,
May I feed another while my stomach growls.
Say o brave, o pedestrian of purity,
I obey no law for I'm the epitome of rightness.
Say o brave, o athlete of amor and amity,
I am sheer insanity exuding real saneness.
Say o brave, o bearer of benevolence,
I am disaster, blaster and master of destiny.
Say o brave, o vessel of valiance,
I devour fear, greed, pride and insecurity.
Say o brave, I am the seed of all assimilation,
The first one standing, earthquakin' egalitarian.
May I be decapitated before my head bows.
Say o brave, o explorer of impossibility,
May I feed another while my stomach growls.
Say o brave, o pedestrian of purity,
I obey no law for I'm the epitome of rightness.
Say o brave, o athlete of amor and amity,
I am sheer insanity exuding real saneness.
Say o brave, o bearer of benevolence,
I am disaster, blaster and master of destiny.
Say o brave, o vessel of valiance,
I devour fear, greed, pride and insecurity.
Say o brave, I am the seed of all assimilation,
The first one standing, earthquakin' egalitarian.
Giants in Jeans Sonnet 24
Who is to build the world?
Who is to raise the society?
Who is to water the plants?
Who is to stand up for sanity?
Who is to bear agony for community?
Who is to go hungry feeding another?
Who is to heal the sick while bleeding?
Who is to lift the lowly trotting fire?
Who is to burn alive to bring light?
Who is to walk on thorns to build the bridge?
Who is to be deceived yet stay humble?
Who is to lay down so others can climb the ridge?
It is you, o misfit, o explorer of impossibility,
Even if no one joins us, our world is our responsibility!
Who is to raise the society?
Who is to water the plants?
Who is to stand up for sanity?
Who is to bear agony for community?
Who is to go hungry feeding another?
Who is to heal the sick while bleeding?
Who is to lift the lowly trotting fire?
Who is to burn alive to bring light?
Who is to walk on thorns to build the bridge?
Who is to be deceived yet stay humble?
Who is to lay down so others can climb the ridge?
It is you, o misfit, o explorer of impossibility,
Even if no one joins us, our world is our responsibility!
Environment and Development (The Sonnet)
Environment is not more important than development,
Development is not more important than environment.
Since we no longer live in the wilderness as animals,
We must make both work together in agreement.
Why do we need to wipe out forests and lakes,
To lay the foundation for growth and prosperity!
With our achievements in science and tech,
We can build modern cities nestled in greenery.
Unfortunately, once the green of dollar starts rolling in,
Green of nature goes out of the window.
The real problem is the mindset of profits over people,
It has nothing to do with our desire to grow.
Let us find harmony between concrete and nature.
Without harming earth, let us build green skyscrapers.
Development is not more important than environment.
Since we no longer live in the wilderness as animals,
We must make both work together in agreement.
Why do we need to wipe out forests and lakes,
To lay the foundation for growth and prosperity!
With our achievements in science and tech,
We can build modern cities nestled in greenery.
Unfortunately, once the green of dollar starts rolling in,
Green of nature goes out of the window.
The real problem is the mindset of profits over people,
It has nothing to do with our desire to grow.
Let us find harmony between concrete and nature.
Without harming earth, let us build green skyscrapers.
To Live A Single Day (The Sonnet) | Mücadele Muhabbet
To live even for a single day,
In the full light of oneness.
To walk even for a single day,
In the full might of kindness.
To talk even for a single day,
In the full sight of humility.
To breathe even for a single day,
In the full height of amity.
To smile even for a single day,
Without a trace of hidden deceit.
To love even for a single day,
As an undeterred force of uplift.
Isn't that the highest sanity?
Isn't that the highest humanity?
In the full light of oneness.
To walk even for a single day,
In the full might of kindness.
To talk even for a single day,
In the full sight of humility.
To breathe even for a single day,
In the full height of amity.
To smile even for a single day,
Without a trace of hidden deceit.
To love even for a single day,
As an undeterred force of uplift.
Isn't that the highest sanity?
Isn't that the highest humanity?
Beyond Inclusion (The Sonnet) | Handcrafted Humanity
It is not really inclusion that we must aim for,
Rather we must work to outgrow the need for inclusion.
It is not really global harmony that we must aim for,
We must outgrow the very term international relations.
It is not really a reform in policy that we must aim for,
Rather we must aim to outgrow the need for policy aids.
It is not really social awareness we must aim to advocate,
Rather we must be the living epitome of social oneness.
It is not a flea market of parties that we must aim to build,
Rather we must turn the very term partisanism obsolete.
It is not a junkyard of ideologies that we must aim to raise,
Absorbing good from all, let us stop being ideological elites.
Plenty of time we have wasted on arguments of philosophy.
Now let’s go out on the streets and soil to get our hands dirty.
Rather we must work to outgrow the need for inclusion.
It is not really global harmony that we must aim for,
We must outgrow the very term international relations.
It is not really a reform in policy that we must aim for,
Rather we must aim to outgrow the need for policy aids.
It is not really social awareness we must aim to advocate,
Rather we must be the living epitome of social oneness.
It is not a flea market of parties that we must aim to build,
Rather we must turn the very term partisanism obsolete.
It is not a junkyard of ideologies that we must aim to raise,
Absorbing good from all, let us stop being ideological elites.
Plenty of time we have wasted on arguments of philosophy.
Now let’s go out on the streets and soil to get our hands dirty.
Honor He Wrote Sonnet 62
Belief sustains a person,
But behavior sustains a society.
Belief has nothing to do with truth,
It is just a matter of mental necessity.
Often our belief defies all reason,
That's absolutely okay to a great extent.
What's not okay is to impose it on others,
To sentence others to our imprisonment.
I believe, that my teacher watches over me,
Even though he walks the earth no more.
This belief has nothing to do with your life,
But it helps me walk past my crippling woe.
All beliefs are good beliefs with or without reason,
If they help you in life to become a better person.
But behavior sustains a society.
Belief has nothing to do with truth,
It is just a matter of mental necessity.
Often our belief defies all reason,
That's absolutely okay to a great extent.
What's not okay is to impose it on others,
To sentence others to our imprisonment.
I believe, that my teacher watches over me,
Even though he walks the earth no more.
This belief has nothing to do with your life,
But it helps me walk past my crippling woe.
All beliefs are good beliefs with or without reason,
If they help you in life to become a better person.
