Rohit's voice boomed, "You're so arrogant to believe you didn't require a creator to be created?"
Manoj responded--amidst boo's.
But when he was heard, it was with disinterest.
Rohit'd won the debate competition.
Manoj wasn't disappointed because he'd lost, but because he wasn't heard.
Rohit winked. "Now you know why I say I believe?"
Friday, June 26, 2009
23 comments:
Well-articulated disagreement would be a very good indicator that I was understood, and would be appreciated more than perfunctory agreement or praise. But of course, you could agree and praise...
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we only comment that we have democracy. but in reality we dont
ReplyDeleteHello Anju ma'am!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading.
Just in case, if you're new to the concept of 55 word fiction, I'd direct you to my blog's sidebar on the right side, where I've included the criteria to write 55-fiction. Basically, it requires one to write a COMPLETE story within 55 words. Of course, that's challenging for me.
This story doesn't have much to do with democracy in India. I'll elaborate upon the scenario:
Rohit and Manoj are two friends, and both are competitors in a debate competition on existence of God. So, Rohit blames Manoj of arrogance for not believing in God, and popular sentiment turns so much in favor of Rohit that nobody hears what Manoj had to say in response. Rohit wins the competition, and gives a hint to Manoj at the end that he pretends to believe in God only because everyone else seems to believe.
Hope this helps!
TC.
Being an atheist myself, I can totally relate to the message you are trying to convey. Nothing pisses me more when people use religion for their own personal benefits. They have made a business out of it.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, I did not understand this 55-er also completely. Thankfully understood the major portion except the last one "Now you know why I say I believe?". Nevertheless, improvement!
ReplyDeleteCheers
This is absolutely brilliant Ketan!
ReplyDeleteManoj wasn't disappointed because he'd lost, but because he wasn't heard.
:(
Aniket,
ReplyDeleteOh, I wasn't knowing you were an atheist, and since you'd not commented on my earlier posts dealing much significantly with atheism, I thought, this could be a bit touchy issue for you! :D But well, good to know we could share a few certaing kind of jokes between--of course, just joking!
Yes, majority of people are not very well-versed with the art and science of argumenting (which of course, involves far too many things than just winning debates), and maybe so many are theists, and they just support whatever argument seems to support their stand. I too am not perfectly free of the last blame, though ;)
Ideally, I wanted to convey that the result was decided by voting, but it wasn't possible without removing a few literary devices. :(
You might find recent post ('Are (a few religious leaders atheists?') and the comments following it of interest.
Thanks for commenting!
TC.
Saimukundhan,
ReplyDeleteOkay, now this is disappointing for me to know that you've been finding my 55ers difficulty to understand, but of course, I realize, there's a lot open to interpretation. You must be pretty busy, otherwise if you read my lines, I'd have explained the plot through them as was the case with this post :)
But yes, last line was the most difficult to explain. It (in particular, the "say" in it) stands for many things. Like Rohit, himself feels the same doubts as others, but doesn't raise them in public. Second, he feels safe in believing what the majority does. Third, he exploits the popular sentiment by accusing Manoj of arrogance fully knowing how it'd be unethical, but yet very beneficial to his motive of winning the debate.
Well, I consider this one as the worst 55er by me in terms of creativity involved. So, the "improvement" was on your part or mine? ;)
TC.
Sai,
ReplyDeleteSorry, a typo:
*"otherwise, if you'd read my comments", and not "my lines".
IHM,
ReplyDeleteHi and welcome back to the blog!
A lot of posts have been added since you last commented. :)
So, be my guest!
Thanks for your praise, but well I honestly think this post is the most shallow 55er I've done up till now--thought, typed (on phone) and posted in just 15 min.
The kind of irrationality I've tried to portray here's is fairly common, how people take debating personally, and raise 'loaded' questions, so as to say, and that doesn't happen just with the issue of atheism.
Thanks for visiting, and take care!
IHM,
ReplyDeleteHi and welcome back to the blog!
A lot of posts have been added since you last commented. :)
So, be my guest!
Thanks for your praise, but well I honestly think this post is the most shallow 55er I've done up till now--thought, typed (on phone) and posted in just 15 min.
The kind of irrationality I've tried to portray here's is fairly common, how people take debating personally, and raise 'loaded' questions, so as to say, and that doesn't happen just with the issue of atheism.
Thanks for visiting, and take care!
Wow! I like!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of that Cark Sagan book, Contact..
'believe' wud have been a better word, if it wasnt so grossly misused by ppl all the time..
TUIB,
ReplyDelete'Believe' used in context of existence of God is not only about abusing and exploitation. It's also full of logical and sentimental inconsistencies. Logical inconsistencies are easier to understand. I'll talk of sentimental inconsistencies. Think of: "a dying cancer patient's fate was already determined by what deeds he did in the previous incarnation, which were in turn determined by what he did in one incarnation prior to that...whatever he did in his first incarnation was already predetermined. So, whatever you do and happens to you, you're merely a pawn in the hands of The Big One--part of some elaborate cosmic game only for his personal entertainment, the purpose of which you'll never understand!" How soothing! Sounds like music to ears! How's this any kind of opium or fentanyl or anything like that? This is the insignificance that people are so very eager to assume--I don't know why! And then they die and kill to make others accept the same insignificance. When people accept this most painful proposition that 'they're insignificant' by default, their whole lives they try to escape the actual acknowledgement of that insignificance, and end up doing things I've mentioned in my post--'communalism' only to protect their ego (as in a psychiatric term--feeling of self). They also brag, gossip, bitch about, insult, harm, try to gain popularity--all this only in attempt to indulence something and impress someone--only to momentarily escape that self-imposed curse of insignificance.
TUIB, I've provided a link to an article in my previous post, which will take around 2 hours to read, but I'm sure it'll be a great exercise for you to try reading and understanding it. I understand, you're busy, but you're unlikely to find a better summary of rigorous philosophical (as in the discipline of philosophy and logic) arguments on the issue for the lay reader anywhere else.
Thanks for the compliment, though this was my least creative 55er. Someday, for instance, if you actually find something written by me lacking in quality, absolutely do tell me, I'd be actually happy.
TC.
*"...all this only in attempt to influence something and impress someone"
ReplyDeleteSorry for that typo.
thanx for visiting my blog and leaving your valuable comments
ReplyDeletedo visit again
Nice post man. Keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteNice post man. Keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteThanks, mgeek and welcome to the blog!
ReplyDeleteSeems like, will have to try 'doubly' hard to keep them coming. ;)
Never mind, it just happens that comments get duplicated.
Take care.
what happened to Insanity personified??!! lolz
ReplyDeleteChiya,
ReplyDeleteWell, that post had gone to show itself to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist is recuperating in a morgue, and the post is back with a bang err bandage and your comment. ;)
TC.
I'll read that article on a Sunday when I also intend to check out those atheist blogs you've kindly linked to.
ReplyDeleteBut I liked this one the best. I'm a little stunned you call it your least creative.
TUIB,
ReplyDeleteYou've read all my 55ers?
I called this the least creative 'cuz it has lesser play of words, very little shock element, not a lot of emotions, no anticlimax.
I really wasn't trying to be sensationalist when I said I find this the least creative one. :)
The one I consider the most creative one is 'Dog's death', and am proud of it partly because I don't consider myself good at that kind of cold writing.
The one that was supposed to emotionally most profound was 'conflict of realizations', but couldn't be because 55 words was too limiting.
TC.
Good observation. Democracy is abotu popular opinion, not the *right* one.
ReplyDeleteAnd it does make me go mad at times... because they often reward the more mechanical and uncreative thinking.
Yet, I believe that creativity has its own happiness and often finds better ways to get what it really deserves.
Plus one thing more: I believe that although ppl believe what they wanna, yet they cannot ignore the truth, its this voice that is very important and must not die, in any case.
Thanks Ayushi for commenting, and welcome to the blog!
ReplyDeleteYes you're right about a kind of discomfort that knowing the possibility of truth to be different from one's personal belief brings. But it surprises and frustrates me at the same time, how much time, emotions and money could people invest in things they doubt to be merely fanciful, and then expect the very same fanciful things to be partial to them over and above all other fellow human beings. It's that kind hypocrisy that's most disgusting.
I've dealt with that concept, somewhat in jocular terms, in my another post--'Educational post'.
And people don't respect their above-mentioned doubts by giving them due consideration, but rather cling to their unfounded beliefs more tightly, 'cuz their upbringing would've convinced them that doubting the existence is a sin, and can land them up in trouble. It becomes a vicious cycle.
TC.