Till today I wouldn’t have given a second thought to another’s misery at being mocked, at goofing up in front of more eyes than can count. In fact I openly laugh when someone slips, falls or jerks in fright. But imagine the plight of an individual who is expected to be flawless at all times and given a situation, her mistakes are the end of her career. The people she caters to, the platform that she respects have denied her the right to be human. Its harsh to say so, but why is it a lot more difficult to know people for the good they do than their mistakes? Why are viral videos those of goof ups?
As a media field enthusiast, and more importantly as a fellow being, it is not only alarming to know how cruel and purposeless people’s opinions can be but its a major buzz kill. When you are so passionate about your job and even the slightest mistake can result in a TC, you become so guarded that its no longer about the fun aspects but about doing it “right” at “all times” no matter what the situation. Having read and heard about the DD Anchor who is facing so much humiliation and disrespect because of her mistake, I think that all of us expect too much out of another. We aim for this image that no one really wants to uphold but we do it anyway. And when someone is unable to keep on the mask, we applaud ourselves for being superior, for not losing hold. We act to be perfect, we act to ‘survive”, we act to rise above all others. But who really wants to participate in this unending race? Were it not for her career in question, she need not care who thinks what. Cause at the end of the day, you’re going to make a lot more mistakes than you can keep tab of, actually more than the rest of the world cares to keep tab of. I know I hope to be a lot more supportive as a colleague, a student, an individual and urge people to flaunt their follies. Not for the fact of being human, but for being different and accepting it.
Cheers!
Meera
The Life Stories 