Since our beloved Google reader won't be with us tomorrow onwards, one last post that gets people here from it is in order.
I will be using bloglovin from now on.
When I started reading blogs, what I loved the most was watching a lot of blog posts on people's blogs, and then reading them one by one. Most of these guys were programmers, and I like to think I learnt a lot from them. I spend a whole weekend, 48 hours with a few hours of sleep here and there reading almost everything on Joel Spolsky's blog in last semester in college. I want my blog to be something like that for someone new. Exciting and addicting.
Digressing for the sake of digressing
I have been in Delhi from some time now, and have been using the Metro quite a lot. I have found that people normally ignore the CISF staff, who most visibly check our baggage, and well, ... us.
So, since the last 2 weeks or so, I have started asking them how they've been. It is still a weird experience for me and the CISF uys, but what the hell. Mostly it is only the guy with the body checking metal-detector thing who gets asked how he is. Something like 'aur sirjee, kya haal hain?' sure surprises the CISF guys.
Coming to think of it, most of us here are kind of thank-less when it comes to mostly invisible or taken for granted people. I remember going somewhere with my mom and a cousin last year, and being on the wheel (being a control freak) and not knowing the way. So, after asking people about the next town etc., I was thanking them saying 'shukriya' (Hindi). And both ladies thought it was funny, and made sure I knew it, and that I remembered it for a few days. How can thanking someone be a silly thing to do?
But whatever, that does not mean I am gonna stop saying 'thanks' anytime soon.
It is time to bloglovin for the sake of bloglovin. Or to get to some other blog feed. :-)
I think it is amusing to see the reaction of strangers (or semi-strangers) when they are subjected to unexpected kindness or gratitude or concern. They often don't know how to react.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely doing a good thing.
I had never expected seeing the policemen react the way they do. Amusing is a mild term :-)
DeleteWhat a delightful surprise for workers in a relatively thankless job! You're a nice man KK. Do you think bloglovin is a prudent choice for feeds? They seem to want our full names, phone numbers etc. I'm a little shy of telemarketers calling 5 times a day already. Will bloglovin simply sell the info and compound the problem?
ReplyDeleteThanks Geo. Here in India, bloglovin did not ask me for my phone number etc. From what I remember, I logged in with my google id. Many sites have different policies for different countries, facebook and apparently bloglovin included. You might want to see one or two other options, maybe simple RSS if nothing else.
DeleteAnyways, it is important to remember that no matter how much effort we put in, telemarketers WILL find ways of finding us, and it is upto us to avoid them or to have stock answers like I'm currently unemployed, sorry., or Can't afford anything till next quarter/year/
Bah, never used google reader anyway, will simply keep using my dashboard at my bay.
ReplyDeleteIn that case, you won't have to change your habits :-)
DeleteI didn't use google reader so I don't think I'll miss it too much :D
ReplyDeleteGood for you taking the time to acknowledge those who tend to go unnoticed. Trust me, even being friendly will go a long way!
For now, all being nice has accomplished is looks of pure surprise on people's faces. Lets hope some of them get used to it.
DeleteI too would miss Google reader. But its not gonna stop us from reading, ain't it.?? :P
ReplyDeleteAnd three cheers to that attitude of yours. I'm still working on it. :-)
Nothing can stop us from reading. People read before the internet LoL!
DeleteI too am still working on the attitude. Cheers to you too!
Couldn't have read this post at a better time! And it made sense though it was just a "sake for-" post!
ReplyDeleteThe timing was right, yes, but the post was indeed a 'sake-for' one :-)
DeleteI am just glad that GFC is staying for now but I did make a Bloglovin' link just incase.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI think it was you who first put on a post about bloglovin. Let us see how the whole thing goes. As long as we are able to follow blogs, it does not matter whether its google reader or bloglovin or something else.
DeleteIf people think thanking is a silly thing, there won’t be any helping hands. I think it’s very important esp. when it comes to strange people... thanking is a way of showing our courtesy.
ReplyDeleteI have also shifted to bloglovin and feedly - which is simple and easy to use.
Welcome Jeevan ji.
DeleteUnfortunately, taking others for granted is kind of rave these days. There is another, opposite dimension too: not expecting anything of someone because they are 'normally' hostile. Like ignoring a lawless situation thinking asking the police for help is useless.
Basic courtesies don't cost a thing but kind gestures are rarely forgotten:)
ReplyDeleteYes Rahul ji. I hope to be good enough to make someone's day with a smile or a few days. Time will tell if I can.
DeleteBeing courteous will never become outmoded. I very rarely use a bus, but occasionally in the UK it's the best method of transport. I ALWAYS thank the driver... some people find that funny!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear that, including the people-finding-it-funny part. That is some positive reinforcement for someone new to public gratitude like me :-)
DeleteWe have the same experience whenever we visit India. When we say "good morning" at the hotel they just stare at us. They react for "thank you" as if we just said something unmentionable.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing. In a star restaurant, when the bus boy comes to take out empty plate after our dinner, we help him to remove the plates and other dishes from the table. Other customers look at us as if we are some idiots.