IE9

Writing this blog from IE 9. well I think not using IE9 on win7 means you are not using most of the features. But still the question lingers, why would I switch to this if I have chrome or firefox? esp chrome when it is :

1. much cleaner with a ton of tabs

2. faster. I just don't understand why IE team fancies loading time. Its about page rendering as well.

3. has already done what IE9 is now doing like larger space for website content, HTML5 support etc etc that IE9 touts.

Well, realized that browser is a red ocean. what will it take to create the next bunch of internet browsing app??

PS: published this from Chrome.. somehow the button didn't work. Also why aren't they showing the status bar?

Positive journalism..

One of my classmates at ISB and hopefully a friend as well has started an initiative "Better India". It is a very good initiative, and I for one have been a protagonist.

India today needs something like this to develop a sense of purpose. Unlike the countries we get compared to (with an exception of China), Indians carry thousands of years of baggage. This baggage comes with a price in that we still carry the "suspect" and "doubtful" gene with us. Therefore as a society we have become over cautious of anything.

Added to this is the cultural degradation that has happened for about a thousand years. And I am not talking about Western influence. The aspect of being open minded and having faith in knowledge / learning has long been forgotten. Now its just money that matters. We can argue the reasons for this as well, but the results are not conducive to a better India. Ironically its money that is the root cause of this degradation as well.

It is really chicken and egg problem. But the power of a positive mindset doesn't need reiteration. We are what we are and all humans have limitations but there always a beginning. And it all begins with trust. We have to trust that positive mindset and open mindedness will bring the right opportunities for Indians to make this a wonderful place.

Is it just me or...

I generally hate trashing somebody. I am of the opinion that there are views and opinions and which is why world is an interesting place. I also believe strongly that that is how world exists. Although somehow I am realizing that maybe there are some thoughts that need to be trashed completely. Here are some:

• Showing emotional appeal to have people buy your product has been taken to an extreme. I mean for God's sake its an ad for popcorn. Why do you need to show puppy love and child angle with some "ta-ti-tu-te"? Its a popcorn. Ultimately, its a FMCG and therefore it will be picked up by a random guy for random reason and all the company has to do it is to keep them on shelves! Have you ever seen ad for Joshi's Chiwda? No! Because its right there and tasty and they need not.
• I am all for tourism. I am all for preserving the culture. And because it helps a lot of people to earn an honest day's living. But to show people what they already know, doesn't create a large impact. What to do? Show that India is already beautiful. For God's sake we have a billion people, can't you employ and pay people to take care of such things. Better still have Aamir Khan endorse for Citizen watch or something like that.

The list is endless. At times I feel do people really know what advertising is supposed to do? Actually every time I see an ad like that, I feel there is an overpaid MBA sitting there and giving gyaan on whether he wants "share of mind" or "sex appeal" or some such crap..

Ad-ios... I say!!

User behavior

At work, we abuse this word. But I am really interested to find out the motives behind following behavior:

• When people post something in a public forum for help, are they complaining or are they REALLY seeking help? Is this an elaborate form of "get it out of your system"? Does it also tell about "how perfect I am"?
• When people generalize is it because they hate that quality in themselves?
• When people communicate, is it the need to show "I know" or is it "I want you to know that I know"?
• When people proactively take initiative, that they are the most "irritated" by it or because they want to show that they are?

I read a lot of self-help books - is that because these people want to help or they want help?

If you think these questions are simple, think some more. Maybe I am the guy who is confused :)