First Impression: The Last Impression?

            It is said that the first impression is the last impression. Is it true? Is it true for all times? I have my doubts. Yes, first impression has a great bearing on how the things will progress subsequently but can it really be the last impression? Can there be no change. I feel that would make all inter-personal relationships, all interactions meaningless. At first instance whatever inputs were available an impression was formed… but with flow of more inputs that impression will get modified. Well.. if there are no more inputs thereafter then yes, may be that first impression would never change. But that would be because of the lack of any inputs thereafter and not because that was a ‘permanent’ impression ab-initio. Impressions do change. Perceptions do change. And it is all because of further interactions and exposures. But at the same time it is also true that impressions do not change with every new interaction or input. Registering a new impression or input on a blank slate is pretty easy but to edit that and replace one input with another takes a lot of efforts. And well most of the time we falter here. Newer inputs in general are not allowed to change or modify the existing inputs without any compelling reasons or extra efforts. Probably that is the reason why one concluded that the first impression is the last impression.

            Unless there is a reason and effort that first impression might not change at all. So, even as it is true that one’s perceptions keep on changing based on the inputs and one’s own understanding of those inputs, there is slight practical truth also in the saying the first impression is the last impression. In a majority of cases indeed there might not be reason and an effort enough to register a change. Without an effort, from either end, the first impression might as well turn out to be last one. But then it would be more by default then by design. When we come across someone for the first time a lot of mental processing starts and we register first impressions about a number of things related to his personality. And next time when we meet, that ‘page’ in the memory opens and we see those impressions already there so there is no more processing of the type there was on earlier occasion. We might, at the most, notice a few missing links but will always assess them in relation to the previously noted impressions. Anything not in conformity with the already registered impressions might not get registered here unless there is a conscious and deliberate attempt or the new input is strong and powerful in itself that it gets registered automatically deleting the old files. Thus though the first impression is NOT the last impression, it might end up to be the last impression unless that conscious effort for change is there.

Akram's comments about our bowlers

“Some of the young Indian players (bowlers) are softies and spoilt…..” said Wasim Akram. And true to his position as Captain of the Indian team, Dhoni defended the youngsters. Fine. But then some of the press walas, including Pronnoy Roy of NDTV also questioned Akrams logic and came to the defence of the “Indian players”. Did we need that type of reaction from NDTV or any other channel for that matter. Roy even asked Akram whether he would prefer speed over inaccuracy. Well I think it is what we should be concerned about. Can't we have both? Speed as well as accuracy? Can or should NDTV question Wasim Akrams credentials the way Roy 'tried' to grill him over the issue? I feel NDTV would do a great disservice to Indian cricket if it tries to play down Akrams comments just because they have come from a foreigner. Of all the foreigners I think Akram is the last cricketer whose sincerity to cricket or integrity can be doubted. He is one Pakistani player, unlike Waqar and many others, who commands respect of his opponents be they from India, England or any other country.

His observation about fast bowlers is very valid. He was referring to fast bowlers and they really lack ENDURANCE if not enthusiasm. Physically most of them are not able to sustain it over two or three series. They are prone to fatigue, fractures and sprains. There is nothing wrong if Akram has commented on this issue. We should take it sportingly in its true spirit.

But at the same time Akram should also not exceed his brief. He should refrain from making suggestions like ‘Dravid should be recalled for ODI’s’. Let it be left to the selectors. And if at all Pronnoy Roy should have grilled him on this issue.

To tweet or not to tweet

To tweet or not to tweet that was the question. And it was a big question. Orkut, Facebook, Hi5, Twitter are realities of the day and I could not help but to ponder over the issue- To Tweet or Not to Tweet. One may have one’s views on it but one may not ignore it. First there was the e-mail to be in touch. Then came the messenger followed by those social networks. And don’t forget the SMS, MMS and short lived Pagers. And now here is the twitter. These are all different platforms and have there own merits and demerits. All these social groups are different from e-mails and chats and now this twitter is even different. It has features of an SMS, a Chat, a social group and even an email to a certain extent…. Still it is different and has a character and utility of its own. It too has its merits and demerits just like any other thing on the net. Some very good things about it and still others not so good.

One demerit of it, just like that of almost all other social networks, is the risk of it getting addictive. One feels compelled to go to the site and connect to the group to see what is new, what is in response, and what is NOT there. A gap of say 4-5 hours, at times seems too much. The moment one, addicted to these sites, gets access to the net, one feels the compulsion to visit the particular site and read mails, chat or tweet whatever. At times it might not be required or desirable still one gets connected. It is bad. It is bad with other social groups and it is bad with twitter. The work suffers, the efficiency suffers. Though the sense of urgency in twitter is not that much as it is in a chat still it is there and one has to overcome it.

Secondly at times one may react impulsively and then that is there for all to take notice. One may at times make a remark that may not go with one’s social or official position. It becomes difficult to differentiate here. Like a political remark in personal capacity is different issue but it may become AN ISSUE if made by a government official. Even if it is not made in official capacity. One needs to guard against such remarks. One such seemingly innocuous remark may turn out to be a big embarrassment. Ask Shashi Tharoor for his ‘cattle class’ remarks. On twitter it becomes difficult to separate an individual from his official or personal position. And then these records are for ever. Something unpleasant may prop up years later. Another point is that it emphasizes on small ideas or remarks without much scope of deliberations or explanations on this platform. In the long run it may add up to a collection of abstract thoughts without much relevance for the day. Though really speaking by nature it is meant for that only. It is just aimed at sharing instant news, views and happenings and not as a forum to discuss in detail and come out with a thesis.

These were some of the demerits of tweeting. On the positive side one may say that all these points mentioned above can be overcome and a few may in fact be used as a tool to share your views and news effectively and without committing much resources in term of time and money. Its one greatest advantage is sharing your thoughts with your group, or may be with the world itself, instantly. It is a very good medium for that. Earlier, and that includes before chats, blogs etc, etc, what all options did one have to air and share ones views? Hardly any. One had to write a letter to ‘Dear Editor’, send it through ‘dak’ and wait eternally. It might or might not reach the editor, then might or might not be chosen and might or might not be relevant by the time it reached the editor’s table and finally might or might not get published. Send a letter to an individual… again it might or might not reach or get read. In fact this reading or understanding part can not be ensured even now still one has better chance of getting a response now.

So I feel it is good to share your small news bits. At times you might not feel like informing all about a particular event yet you may want to share it with many in a nutshell. Twitter is a good avenue for same. One good thing is that it does not need your full article like in a newspaper report or in a blog. It just needs your small and crisp remarks on that. One may express whether one likes or dislikes something….. Whys and wherefores can be written in a blog in detail..  

So for now I am tweeeeeeting……..
http://twitter.com/rkbasatta