Expert Advice

I find little use in most of the advice I receive, so I merely pass it on. People mistakenly believe, that I am an expert.

As the Indian economic growth slows rapidly, the falling value of the rupee, the dangerous erosion of social institutions, we have political and economic pundits crawling out of every nook and cranny. They hog all the prime time on television, and prime space in the newspapers and magazines.

I read and listen to their analysis of the situation and the advise these people dole out. I would have been amused had the situation not been so bleak.

The politicians are the most entertaining, focusing more on theatrics rather than facts they blame everyone else except themselves. The economists offer many deep theories, several of them even make sense. However it is a known fact that, economists can fully explain a situation only many years after the incident occurs, and they have understood somewhat what really happened. It is not difficult to be critical in hindsight.

The media people are as usual cocky and appear full of knowledge asking questions from the prompt on their computer or notes on their desk. Most of the questions drawn up by their research teams whose thrust is not to throw light on the subject but to generate heat and raise tempers. Media is not after the truth they merely seek to cause sensational entertainment and the ensuing advertisement revenue. 'Info-tainment' now dominates.

The worst aspect of the media is that paid news has become the norm even acquiring respectability. Misleading the masses while claiming to hold the highest of ethical standards is corruption of the worst kind.  Those citizens who dare open their mouths in disagreement are soon crucified. 

If one looks at the ownership of the newspapers, it is clear they have a clear bias in favour of certain interest groups, with an intent to misinform and create a bias in favour of or against other individuals and groups.

The media provides a battleground for all sorts of warring groups, and as is well known 'The first victim in any war, is the truth'.

Most people are too busy to seek the truth and would prefer that they are fed with ready made truths from so called experts. It would help to remember that, an expert is defined as, 'Someone who is never in doubt, but frequently in error'.