From: Ezajur Rahman <ezajur.rahman@q8.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2009 9:00:31 AM
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Let us stop being 'talkative'
Let us stop being 'talkative'
I have often wondered as to why we talk more than others. In my assessment it is due to the fact that most Bengalis are not capable of coming straight to the point. It is cultural and is embedded in our nature, writes Shamsher Chowdhury
http://www.newagebd .com/2009/ jun/02/oped. html
IT SEEMS like the entire nation is talking. People belonging to all sections of society are talking day and night. They are talking over their heads, at cross purposes, inside the house, on the streets, at funerals, in sombre religious gatherings so on and so forth. Indeed without talking there could be no growth of a healthy society. It is one of the major tools for proactive communication at all levels of society.
But it is my impression that most Bengalis talk too much. To this day I fail to understand as to what is the purpose of all these talk-shows? I do not think it has so far served any meaningful purpose for the people and the country except for help building up the profiles of some men and women of civil society and variety of professionals.
I know a number of former senior civil servants of the government and heads of some government corporate bodies that have not been able to shed off this old habit of talking. They are now talking all the time at talk shows, seminars, workshops, etc. since they no longer have this opportunity of talking for hours in numerous meetings that often lasted anywhere between two to four hours at a stretch when they were in active service. It would be interesting to see as to how many hours in a day are lost in government offices in meetings and conferences. More man hours are lost in talking than engaging oneself in 'real work'. I say why not make a survey of the whole matter to ascertain how much of productive and valuable time is lost due to 'talking'.
You could begin with the Bangladesh secretariat. However, this is not to say that you do not need to talk a lot in some professions like teaching. In fact it is the other way round. The politicians too sometimes need to talk more than others while addressing a public meeting every now and then. However, there too you will find that there has been a downward swing in quality and content like in every other sphere of our work and profession.
The other objection I have against too much talking is that more often than not it is either packed with misinformation or straight lies. Our politicians lead the way in this respect. Their talks are often full of lies and deception. Just consider how spokesman after spokesman of the government continually talk to the media about their high commitment to democracy and democratic practices yet most of its actions to date are stage managed and dictatorial in nature. A classic example is its summersault in connection with the investigations into the February 25-26 rebellion at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters.
I am sorry to say that this business of mobile telephones has also further complicated the scenario. This is not to say that it has no real purpose as such. As a matter of fact it has and rightly so become one of the most important tools of people to people communication for better and faster business communication including emergency communication between families and individuals. But I must admit that it irritates me most when I see people crossing roads on busy streets and while driving cars talking over mobile phones posing a great danger to their own lives and others. The other day, a young man while talking over phone missed getting hit by my car by inches. Yet scarier is the sight when a motor cycle rider is holding the steering by one hand and talking over his phone with the other while driving. One of the most common sights is young men and women talking to each other over mobile telephones throughout day and night particularly during the night when the applicable rates of charges and the duration per call are either free or greatly reduced.
I have often wondered as to why we talk more than others. In my assessment it is due to the fact that most Bengalis are not capable of coming straight to the point. It is cultural and is embedded in our nature.
It is most pronounced in official meetings. It is mostly due to the fact that most of the participants love to punch in innumerable personal anecdotes that result in the 'extra talking' and loss of valuable time. Besides often discussions go beyond declared and confirmed agenda.
I have stopped attending cultural functions or seminars or even workshops whether sponsored privately or by the government where the participants and speakers are gleefully giving long speeches and making deliberations way beyond the timeslot allotted for him/her. This is clearly telling upon the spirit, enthusiasm and patience of the audience present. At times I find this annoying.
I believe one of the impediments to our progress amongst others is this business of talking too much and that too more of nonsense than sense. On the other hand, we are vulnerable of saying the wrong thing at wrong places and at inappropriate time.
Things are so bad that I am petrified of talking to anyone. It is high time that this culture of our talking became more rational and productive.
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