Mirror Magazine  

29th June 1996

Contents


The Word

by Chunky Monkey

So can you dig what those cats said to me next ? I spake, fingering my brand new Dizzy Gillespie style hipster goatee. Kro-Dog shook his head 'No man, I cannot even begin to visualise he replied, taking another sip of his lemon-peach-camomile-kothamalli tea, the coolest flavour around on the market. They admitted yes , that playing that Ice Cream jingle over and over again gets to be a royal pain in the heinie' Kro shivered gently. 'Ooooh man, that could turn nasty. Just imagine if they all became like US Postal workers and started going nuts because of hearing that damn tune every minute of the day'. I looked at him gravely 'Kro-dog. I think we should go easy on the Magnums for awhile. I don't want to be around when those guys lose it completely. He nodded in silent agreement.........................

Well, wiggle my eyebrows folks, wasn't it a pleasant surprise to see mine favourite host Bevil Palliawardene reading the news on Rupavahini not too long ago. The Chunk was at Dr.Love's place last week and switched on the TV set to see our favourite pencil moustachioed guy reading the local news in his own inimitable style. In fact, at first glance the two of us had difficulty recognising him since he was wearing a boring beige nehru collared shirt. But we are both members of the 'Bevil for President' campaign and were delighted to see him extend his reign to news as well as the variety programmes that one usually sees him on. He is an icon for a generation and More Bevil ! we cry to the authorities. We want to see Bevil hosting Janahanda ! We want to see Bevil's Wide World of Sports ! We want to see Bevil's Wrestling Federation ! We want to see..well you get the picture anyway.......Album of the Week is Live's 'Secret Samadhi' , the follow up to their acclaimed 'Throwing Copper. Though it lacks the rolling power of their hit single 'Lightening Crashes', there is some excellent songwriting going on here - notably on 'Lakini's Juice', which features a deliciously mesmerising riff and lyrics the likes of It was an evening I shared with the sun/ to find out where we belong/ from the earliest days/ we were dancing in the shadows.

'Century' features certain pyromaniac tendencies, to wit, It's amazing what we can do with love/ with some matches and gasoline while their obsession with decayed , fragmented America is reflected in 'Gas Hed Goes West' and 'Merica'. Most entertaining, I think I will give it to Grandma Chunk on her next birthday, she really likes to rock out at her coffee mornings..........And aside from shaving certain members of the radio fraternity (Gillette still wants you to be their spokesman ) that about wraps up this edition of the Chunk. Thank you for joining us and we'll see you next week, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel............


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Flippant words

The word 'scoop' or its synonyms, usually tickle one's mind. Fact is, most of us conscious or not, thrive on participating in 'social' conversation based on another's life or activity. Funnily, if we were to stop talking about people, or relate events that took place, we would all have very little to say to one another.

Check this out your- self, the next time you speak to someone, you will be surprised at the content of your conversation. Believe me, inevitably your chat will start bordering towards another individual, be it your good friend, neighbour or even a politician. If you think that people who talk about others, do not have a life, you will be amazed that most of us fall into this category! (I am not talking literally, but figuratively).

Having said that, what would life be without a juicy bit of information... about anything for that matter? It's obvious that as much as we'd like to alienate ourselves from this kind of talk, we are often drawn towards it.

I was at this little get-together the other day, and noticed that, the person who kept the crowd going was the one who knew little tit bits about mutual acquaintances or even people others didn't know from a bar of soap! Yet, we were all enthralled, with an occasional 'come on, it can't be,' or 'l always knew he or she was like that.' In most instances we dismiss such conversation as careless or as just 'talk,' although, some of what we hear, often registers in our minds.

And as a result, when we encounter the person or the situation, we are more likely to have formed our opinion! I am not generalizing here but humans do get influenced by another's opinion. However, when one hears careless words spoken of oneself, one begins to question and filter all that one hears. But soon all's forgotten and the whole process of 'talk' starts all over again. As you may have noticed I conveniently avoided the word 'gossip.' Since quite frankly I do not know the difference between careless talk and gossip!!!

Flippant words, dropped in here and there, words that amount to nothing, words spoken in jest in the heat of the moment, or even to save some pride, would you call it harmful? careless?... yes! surely not vengeful, for wouldn't that be gossip? Quite often we refer to a conversation and call it careless. The word 'careless' according to the Oxford dictionary means unthinking, insensitive and done without care.

Now does this not sound similar to gossip? For some reason the word gossip comes with all the worst connotations. Like malice, anger, revenge etc. However, the definition of gossiping is, idle talk, groundless rumor or an INFORMAL CHAT.... I would say that whatever one calls it, a word spoken without thought, can have irreparable consequences, although it may have been 'just talk'!!!

Nonetheless, words may have different meanings to each individual, depending on the situation, the tone in which it was said, and the levels of sensitivity of the person. For instance, one, that may upset you may be perfectly all right to another. So I guess we can't go about in a twitch wondering whether our words are harmful or not, but giving thought, before shooting your mouth off may be good idea. The point is, we have to accept the fact that humans are allowed to err. I guess it is easily said than done, because there is a sense

'glee' when you find another at fault isn't it? It's almost like saying to yourself 'well, if he or she can, so can I', it's a way of justifying your 'errors'!!!

However, if we just stop to think how we felt when something inane was said about us, I guess we'll avoid passing the 'word' around.

I wonder whether you have noticed that the people who are constantly worrying or conscious of what others have to say about them, are the great worriers of participating in unnecessary talk! It's a form of ammunition to hit back. It is inevitable that at some point in life's journey you are going to be misquoted or be the topic of conversation.

Remember, that at some time in your life, you too, have in some way contributed or indulged in waste talk. It is likely, that you, without the slightest intention, have been a rumor monger or a busy body, contributing to vicious 'unwanted' talk, maybe by just an innocent word or by your presence. Admit it, we are all gossips in different degrees.

The reality of this alone is enough for one to stop spreading 'waste talk.' Inevitably people who accuse you of one thing or the other are generally guilty of the same, as a result they see it more clearly!!! So, relax of course, if there is some truth in the talk, then rectifying it, within yourself or if it can be sorted out, is better than justifying it.

After all, it was something someone said about you to someone else! Remember the Spanish proverb

'Whoever gossips to you, will gossip about you.'


Continue to Mirror Magazine page 2 - The Trap is set

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