FC 182 on “Devil’s Advocate” evoked a few interesting comments:
Lynn Weiss says: “Love the topic. I have known two types of individuals who play the devil's advocate: one who loves to challenge to belittle others and the other to bring new thoughts to the conversation. Bringing new thoughts and challenging other points of view are always welcome and can have positive effects.”
Shahji Jacob says: “Another learning for me. While I was aware of what Devil's Advocate meant it's the first time I am hearing about the 10th Man rule. You have indeed brought out the real meaning of the phrase.”
Ashvini Ranjan says: “To provoke an argumentative budding lawyer, I sent her a message that both an advocate and a pre-litigation attorney are in a way ‘Devil’s Advocates’. Within minutes, she sent me the following WA response: ‘A legal advisor aims to guide individuals through the legal process, whereas a devil's advocate seeks to challenge and provoke critical thinking in a broader intellectual or argumentative context’, and she concluded by saying ‘Whichever devil told you that both are the same is wrong’.”
Tarun Kunzru says: “When selling/presenting a somewhat difficult business strategy/direction, it served me well, to employ a ‘questioning’ rather than ‘telling approach’. This way one got participation (less rejection) and eventually alignment. This approach also made all concerned ‘accomplices’ to the crime, so to speak.”
🐝 The Week That Was
Let me start with a confession. I almost skipped writing this post and was wondering how to communicate to my readers about the predicament that induced the temptation to skip.
“Busy, very busy” is the oft-repeated excuse. You may have used it for as many times as you may deign to admit. I have no qualms to admit that the phrase has been put to good and not-so-good use. Good, when it was for compelling reasons, and not-so-good when it served a convenient excuse.
I'm not sure how many of you remember ‘Busy Bee’, a humorous weekly post featured in the Mumbai Mirror.
We are all busy bees in our own way, hopping from one task to another, some important and others not so. Our lives are so buzzing with activities and commitments that the buzzing of bees pales in comparison.
Some of my readers, when I ask them if they have read my FC, plead busyness and go on to add that they intend to read it when there is a lucid interval in the maddening pace of city life. For those who don't live in Bengaluru, the pace of life in the city can be hectic, but what's maddening is the pace at which traffic moves.
All are busy. Corporate executives, professionals, home-makers, academicians, students and anyone else you can think of. Taking a break will get them to another busy phase, though it may be pleasurable.
That's precisely what happened to me in the week of 5th February, when keeping the post ready for publication on Sunday the 11th of February seemed impossible. The next best thing to not posting was to keep my readers posted on my busy schedule.
On Friday the 2nd of February, I travelled with my family to Kutta, a rather unpretentious town in south Coorg. Tropical Blooms, a kind of homestay, was a few kilometres away from town. I say kind of homestay because we did not stay with a family sharing their culture, and food and get to know the family. I couldn't have called it a resort because it had none of the amenities that a typical resort has to offer.
On the way to Kutta, we visited the Golden Temple, attached to the Buddhist monastery. If you haven’t been there, have a look here 🔗Golden Temple in Coorg – Guide About Temple & Tibetan Culture
On the 3rd we visited the Irpu Falls, a few kilometres from Kutta. It was a combo of Trekking and climbing. The Waterfall was quite breathtaking. Quite a few visitors were braving the cold and enjoying the waterfall shower. Irpu Falls runs down through the Bhramagiri hills, located in Kutta village of Kodagu(Coorg). It is a stream of Lakshmana-Theertha river and also a sacred place. The water jets from about 60m high and finally joins river Cauvery. The famous temple of Lord Shiva, known as the Rameshwara Temple, is situated nearby. Wandering beyond the falls is restricted as the whole place is termed a wildlife sanctuary.
In the afternoon we were on a safari to the Nagarahole sanctuary. Unfortunately, we could not see any of the predators. But the ride through the jungle was in itself an experience. Of course, we sighted deer, elephants, wild boars and langurs. If you haven’t been to Nagarahole, check this link out: 🔗About Us – Nagarahole Tiger Reserve
On the 4th we went to Madikeri aka Mercara. The visit to the Museum of General Thimmiah was very exhilarating. It reminded us of the immense sacrifices made by the armed forces. We returned to Bengaluru after a pit stop at MTR restaurant in Mysuru for coffee.
I jetted off to Ranchi and took the road to Jamshedpur to attend a wedding reception. I returned on the 8th in time to pack my bag again to drive up to Ooty on the 9th for Freemasons' events on the 10th. If you are curious about freemasonry, you can visit 🔗www.ugle.org.uk
As you read this imposter of a post on the 11th, I will be driving down from Ooty to Bengaluru. Thank you for bearing with me. Here’s one in a lighter vein:
A man wrote a letter to a small hotel he planned to visit on his vacation,
“I would very much like to bring my dog with me. He is well-groomed and very well-behaved.
Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night?”
An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who had a sense of humour:
“I've been operating this hotel for many years.
In all that time, I've never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware, or pictures off the walls. I've never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And I've never had a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel. And, if your dog will vouch for you, you're welcome to stay here, too.”
Until next Sunday, the 18th, take care and consider taking a break like I did. Ciao.
Blessed are those busy mostly doing what they enjoy and love. Pras, you seem to have got that right.
Good afternoon..
Trust you are back from the Hills . .. after enjoying the masonic harmony :)
three words you have used - deign, busyness and freemasonry - which are not often used by many of us in our daily usage ... thanks for reminding about them and their relevance still.
it also sent me back down memory lane when we friends went to Kodagu and enjoyed all these placed you frequented, but for Kutta ..which i will make it as a pitstop next time around ..
Coffee anytime is good and your filter coffee is always good ..
Keep brewing