Category: Reality Bytes

Trust Maketh A Good Day

Trust_flickr_soonerpa
(Photo courtesy flickr | soonerpa)

With Lightening McQueen back in town, it was just a matter of time before we had to make a trip to the cinemas. While making reservations online, I ran into connectivity issues that left my transaction incomplete – a depleted bank account, but no reservations. Having heard of prior instances, I readied myself for time consuming multiple calls to the vendor call centres. The reservations were completed with a new transaction (twice the amount spent so far) & the sorting of the issue relegated to the weekend.

After having watched the movie, we grappled with a bout of flu over the rest of the weekend. The task of having to recover the extra ticket money was a nagging thought through the weekend & Monday.

Come Tuesday morning, a surprise awaited in my mailbox. A mail letting me know that the ticketing vendor has initiated a refund for my failed transaction! And I had not called any call centre yet. It was such a thrill, a relief & a hope-instilling event. In this big bad world where opportunism rules people’s behaviour, it was pleasant to experience something as basic as a fair business practice. There is hope 🙂

The incident reminded me of what I had read about one of Omidyar Network’s investing philosophy – investing in ventures that promote mutual trust via online business. I so understand this thought process now.

Update (19th July 2011): Check out this article (Digital Oxytocin: How Trust Keeps Facebook, Twitter Humming) that postulates that Internet use (the likes of Facebook & Twitter in particular) promotes trust amongst its users.

Memory In A Tube

(Picture courtesy www.thehenryford.org)

Every once in a while, you stumble across an astonishing fact about a well know personality that shakes up the image you held of the personality. This one involves Henry Ford & Thomas Edison.

Ford first worked for Edison. Over time, the two became good friends & spent quite some time together. When Edison was on his deathbed, Ford apparently convinced Edison Jr. to catch the great inventor’s last breath in a test tube. This test tube is now on display at the Henry Ford Museum.

Stories about why Ford did what he did include references to reincarnation  & buddy souvenir. Check out the below links for more details:

~ http://www.thehenryford.org/exhibits/pic/2004/july.asp
~ http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-last-breath-of-thomas-edison

Drivers on Indian roads are so undisciplined because ..

1. We Are Still Learning

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The vehicular density on Indian roads has shot through the sky only in the last 20 years. The society as a whole is still groping & learning the tricks of the traffic – what works, what doesn’t, how it works, why it should work in a particular way, what’s good for the long term, etc. Give it some time & we will be up there with the rest of the best wrt traffic as well. 

  2. Its A Jungle Out There

Traffic Jam (indi.ca) We are a country where basic Maslowian needs are not met for a majority. The scarcity mentality that we deploy in most facets of our life, flows on to the roads as well. It is the survival of the fittest & each one for herself. Thoughts of a long term greater good is not something that most Indian driver can afford. 

3. Values Gone Wild

goneWrong Equality, fairness & discipline – all very important & we value them a lot. But, valuing is one thing and practicing yet another. Count us out of the practicing part – we have far too many other things to worry about.

Equality, Fairness & Discipline easily give way to the more practical Jugaad, Me First & Might Is Right.  

4. The System Sucks

System Failure Even if individuals do the right thing, the overall system just sucks. The infrastructure is bad. Rules are not implemented. Cops are corrupt. The government doesn’t do enough. Fellow roadies have horrendous attitudes / practices. Why should I fight against the odds? It’s beyond one’s control & much easier to flow with the tide.

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Related Posts:
~ Why are drivers on Indian roads so undisciplined?
~ The New York Times article on Indian’s Uncompromising Practicality