Talking too much, too often, too early
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Shamsher Chowdhury
MORE people have landed in trouble by talking than being silent. Remember the famous saying in Bengali that in essence says, a fellow who is dumb has no enemies, how very true. Bengalis are super talkers and often indulge in talking too much. They talk and talk at Cabinet meetings down to cultural functions including at memorial services (Qul Khanis), birth and death anniversaries. As much as ability to talk makes human beings different from the animal world but the truth remains that we talk too much. This aspect of talking too much has also taken a toll on our ability to listen. The ability to listen is an essential element in the development of a balanced and a just society. We are afraid for all practical purposes we have lost our power of proactive listening due to talking too much that is why any conversation or dialogue of consequence turns into a pandemonium or a meaningless conflict. We are not advocating restricting people from talking. After all talking is the most powerful instrument of communication in society.
A teacher has to deliver a lecture in a class room where he has to talk while lecturing and also during question-and-answer sessions. Here talking a lot may not only be essential but warranted. But try talking too much in a family gathering and you are likely to land into trouble. The other problem with talking too much is this: the more you talk, more likely you would make remarks and deliberations that are irrelevant or unrelated thereby subjecting yourself to scorn and criticism. Furthermore when you talk too much you are encroaching on the rights of others to talk, besides losing time on thinking and ability to concentrate on substantive issues both at family and national levels. Talking too much also has this undertone of one not being too sure of oneself and lacking in self confidence. For sheer health reasons too talking too much should be avoided. It gets you tired too quickly.
Now come to the point of talking too often. We find in this respect the so-called Talk Shows in the electronic media which lead the way. We are yet to understand as to what purpose these random talk shows are serving? Are these Talk Shows making the public any wiser? We do not think so. These are often repetitive in nature and unduly long winded. These Talk Shows are politically heavily loaded. It gives most viewers no general direction or idea of anything whatsoever (with the exception of a very few of course). Consider also the fact that without exception the same group of people deals with the same or similar topics and issues over and over again, adding to the state of our own disillusionment. One of the other problems of talking too often is that it slowly and surely puts your sanity and credibility as an individual in question.
Now we come to the most important part of our topic, "Talking too early." To me, here the ruling party seems to dominate the scene. With hardly any exception nearly all key personnel of the administration have this weakness of talking too early. We believe this is mainly borne out of a kind of nervousness and an inbuilt ignorance on issues they are required to deliberate on. This attitude also stems from the fact that the individuals concerned are ill informed about the subject or subjects they are entrusted to handle. One could cite umpteen numbers of occasions when senior government spokesmen and women, including cabinet members, having said things have had to retract not too long after! Or is it something else? We have often felt that this is also done deliberately to calm the nerves of the rather agitated minds of the people. If it is the latter it is a bad ploy indeed. We fail to understand as to what is it that is prompting the ruling party to talk about its track record of successes at this point of time when all that it has been able to achieve is making a beginning. It raised people's hopes by talking too early about the great successes it has achieved in building proactive and profitable relationships with our friendly neighbour. And now we hear about the snags and the difficulties that stand in the way of translating those much drummed up MOUs into regular contracts. At home too a similar situation persists. Based on unfounded speculation and assumptions the ruling party continues to give us an impression that the solution to such high public concerns like power, gas and water one just around the corner!! The urge to talk to early also stems from the fact that its proponents are keen to look good and project their successes too early in the day. Our rulers tend to forget that in a democracy it is not the glory of rulers or a particular class of people that matters, what matters is the happiness of the common man.
From whichever angle you look at it, this business of talking too early, too often or too much, you will agree with this writer there is considerable need in disciplining ourselves. After all, as the saying goes, " Silence is golden" more than most of the time.
...........................
The writer can be reached at e-mail : chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com
MORE people have landed in trouble by talking than being silent. Remember the famous saying in Bengali that in essence says, a fellow who is dumb has no enemies, how very true. Bengalis are super talkers and often indulge in talking too much. They talk and talk at Cabinet meetings down to cultural functions including at memorial services (Qul Khanis), birth and death anniversaries. As much as ability to talk makes human beings different from the animal world but the truth remains that we talk too much. This aspect of talking too much has also taken a toll on our ability to listen. The ability to listen is an essential element in the development of a balanced and a just society. We are afraid for all practical purposes we have lost our power of proactive listening due to talking too much that is why any conversation or dialogue of consequence turns into a pandemonium or a meaningless conflict. We are not advocating restricting people from talking. After all talking is the most powerful instrument of communication in society.
A teacher has to deliver a lecture in a class room where he has to talk while lecturing and also during question-and-answer sessions. Here talking a lot may not only be essential but warranted. But try talking too much in a family gathering and you are likely to land into trouble. The other problem with talking too much is this: the more you talk, more likely you would make remarks and deliberations that are irrelevant or unrelated thereby subjecting yourself to scorn and criticism. Furthermore when you talk too much you are encroaching on the rights of others to talk, besides losing time on thinking and ability to concentrate on substantive issues both at family and national levels. Talking too much also has this undertone of one not being too sure of oneself and lacking in self confidence. For sheer health reasons too talking too much should be avoided. It gets you tired too quickly.
Now come to the point of talking too often. We find in this respect the so-called Talk Shows in the electronic media which lead the way. We are yet to understand as to what purpose these random talk shows are serving? Are these Talk Shows making the public any wiser? We do not think so. These are often repetitive in nature and unduly long winded. These Talk Shows are politically heavily loaded. It gives most viewers no general direction or idea of anything whatsoever (with the exception of a very few of course). Consider also the fact that without exception the same group of people deals with the same or similar topics and issues over and over again, adding to the state of our own disillusionment. One of the other problems of talking too often is that it slowly and surely puts your sanity and credibility as an individual in question.
Now we come to the most important part of our topic, "Talking too early." To me, here the ruling party seems to dominate the scene. With hardly any exception nearly all key personnel of the administration have this weakness of talking too early. We believe this is mainly borne out of a kind of nervousness and an inbuilt ignorance on issues they are required to deliberate on. This attitude also stems from the fact that the individuals concerned are ill informed about the subject or subjects they are entrusted to handle. One could cite umpteen numbers of occasions when senior government spokesmen and women, including cabinet members, having said things have had to retract not too long after! Or is it something else? We have often felt that this is also done deliberately to calm the nerves of the rather agitated minds of the people. If it is the latter it is a bad ploy indeed. We fail to understand as to what is it that is prompting the ruling party to talk about its track record of successes at this point of time when all that it has been able to achieve is making a beginning. It raised people's hopes by talking too early about the great successes it has achieved in building proactive and profitable relationships with our friendly neighbour. And now we hear about the snags and the difficulties that stand in the way of translating those much drummed up MOUs into regular contracts. At home too a similar situation persists. Based on unfounded speculation and assumptions the ruling party continues to give us an impression that the solution to such high public concerns like power, gas and water one just around the corner!! The urge to talk to early also stems from the fact that its proponents are keen to look good and project their successes too early in the day. Our rulers tend to forget that in a democracy it is not the glory of rulers or a particular class of people that matters, what matters is the happiness of the common man.
From whichever angle you look at it, this business of talking too early, too often or too much, you will agree with this writer there is considerable need in disciplining ourselves. After all, as the saying goes, " Silence is golden" more than most of the time.
...........................
The writer can be reached at e-mail : chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com