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Shankar's avatar

You just couldn't have timed it better, Sir ji. With the election results around the corner and some psephologists predicting a hung house, we may find the fence sitters (and Palturams) laughing all their way to the bank in the days to come....

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M R Prasanna's avatar

Good observation.

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Naina: Medical doctor's avatar

Brilliant as usual another cuppa that invigorates us for a week . Enjoy it week after week looking forward to the next cups being served . I personally have not been a fence- sitter any time in my life and whether the other person likes it or not have been candid about my views many a time calling a spade a spade and people used to think I was very gutsy and didn’t so much care about the repercussions as my favourite dialogue to such fence - sitters was : I’m neither going to stand for elections nor opening a fan club hence don’t care too much about what the other person things of me but I should let people know what exactly I think of either behaviour/ attitude of X, Y or Z or the decision taken whenever it affects others who would be genuinely hurt or would be negatively impacted but wouldn’t have the courage to voice it themselves . I feel fence- sitters though are liked by most people for their diplomacy and tact finally loose out an opportunity to correct the system when things have gone awry by this mentality . It may win them friends temporarily but in the long run does no good to society nor in the community their living .

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M R Prasanna's avatar

Thank you Naina for speaking your mind. I quite agree with you that fence-sitting is a deceitful art. It compares well with the concept of 'fairweather friends'.

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MRK's avatar

Another amazing deep dive on the face of what appears to be a simple word called fence. Truly the art of playing around with words is an art and am honoured to be so closely associated with an exponent of the same named MRP!!

Let’s not forget a very underrated Olympic sport also called fencing where you have 2 people in armour from head to toe wielding long swords where one is trying to outdo the other. My attempts to understand the mechanics of the game and its scoring system remain futile to this day hence I am well and truly sitting on the fence when it comes to the fencing sport!!

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M R Prasanna's avatar

Excellent observations Buddu

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Tarun Kunzru's avatar

"Sitting on the fence" on matters such as politics and religion is a smart thing. But on matters of principles and leadership, it is a sign of weakness and dereliction of your duty.

The most visible and obvious "Ring fence" is the wedding ring!!

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M R Prasanna's avatar

Crisp and correct as always

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SANJIV's avatar

Sitting on the fence may be painful ... for the sitter and the beholder too. I feel that one should assay the time consuming (and sometimes painful) task of digging deep into one's values, and then be decisive. One's views and actions, should sit well on one's conscience, rather than on a fence. SANJIV

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M R Prasanna's avatar

Well said. Thanks

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Damandeep's avatar

What a wonderful Sunday morning word play. I couldn’t have imagined one could use a simple word fence in so many ways and it has so many connotations. Certainly not fencing my thoughts on this Sunday’s filter coffee! Just this morning, considering the heat wave, I was on the fence about stepping out for walk. Hope I used it correctly. Would definitely not fence my knowledge gathered through these blogs.

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M R Prasanna's avatar

Thank you. Yes if you are undecided about stepping out you are sitting on a fence but you can get off it if someone offers to walk with you:)

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Lakshmi Raman's avatar

I enjoyed reading about fences - of all kinds. I was reminded of Robert Frost’s poem in which he wonders “…What I was walling in or walling out”. Putting up a fence has connotations of both ‘keeping something or someone out and something in.’ Interesting thought that you have me thinking along with my cup of tea this Sunday morning!

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M R Prasanna's avatar

Thank you Lakshmi for giving your perspective.

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