Monday 29 October 2012

The sparks between an argument and an ego

This post is dedicated to all the academicians who appear scholarly and wise but let the wisdom fly out of the window (or door) when scholarly arguments arrive.

The past Friday and Saturday saw another successful conference organised by our University. But many a times, it is in these conferences that one can witness the sparks that fly between questions and egos which lead into many years of amusing relationship. So here's the saga of the famous courtship.


The academia has always been viewed as a place of knowledge and wise souls. I don't doubt the existence of knowledge in the academia but I certainly doubt the usage of the accumulated knowledge in the academia.  Shakespeare, in his brilliant plays reveals the many hues and shades of the human temperament in great detail. One might think that teaching Shakespeare will expose one to the follies and foibles of the human temperament and produce individuals who are purged of their petty whims and fancies. Alas! it is not so. There seems to be a strict demarcation between the taught and the lived (the living, in fact) experience.

Raising questions that argue the very nature of the argument is something that I dread. When something is pointed out to a paper-presenter, it is taken as a personal attack. Now, how do I differentiate to them that the criticism is nothing personal but only academic. Well, many have a problem with the word 'criticism' itself.   In spite of everything, I cannot stop asking questions :)


I believed that the church would always be an egalitarian place where fragile egos don't make an appearance but I was proven wrong. Now, even the word criticism is a word that spells potential danger. After getting disillusioned with the people in church, I thought the academia would be a better place than most other institutions. And, I am bitterly disappointed when I see the clamouring for important positions, the inability to handle questions that are directed at papers and the general temperance of threatening glances and words. After all, people are people - academicians or clergy.

So, the courtship between an argument and an ego begins at conferences and goes on until wisdom or time intervenes. Well, the sparks and the meeting can happen anywhere but this particular conference and also the last one I attended in Assam make me think that academia is a fertile place to court many fragile egos.

What do I ask of you, my reader. This time I refrain from prompting a question to direct your thoughts. I leave it to you to comment on any aspect of this post. 

Image 1: Internet
Image 2: Internet

23 comments:

  1. Yes, Ego is really a tough nut to crack!
    -Portia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Quite a hard nut, indeed, Portia. Happy to see you here.

      Have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  2. Yeah, you are absolutely right! Asking questions to a presenter is taken as criticism, which is so weird!
    There are very few who genuinely appreciate the questions and spend time in putting the doubts to rest.

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    1. It is weird and stupid as well. I wonder why people are so touchy about healthy academic questions.

      Have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  3. Fragile ego...only time can intervene on that one.

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    Replies
    1. I just hope that time intervenes :)

      Have a splendid week ahead.

      Delete
  4. I understand your disillusion. I felt it too. I left both the church and academia. Still there's much of value in both disciplines, but ego's may actually be larger.

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    1. Sweetheart, why is the so called enlightened place so very disillusioning?

      I agree that still there is much value left in the two places :)

      Have a wonderful week ahead, dear Myrna.

      Delete
  5. oh..is that so? i actuallly welcome the the questioning sessions at my paper presentations...it proves to me that atleast some people remained awake during my talk...if people have that thin a skin then maybe they should just publish in print and refrain from presenting live

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    Replies
    1. You are an exception, Doktor. may your tribe increase.

      Have a great week ahead, Doktor.

      Delete
  6. Hi Susan, Any place with an institutional framework is likely to comprise of people why clamor for important positions. That is why spiritual and religious organizations are not exempt. They are established for noble purposes but human nature is such that the urge to occupy positions of power, show authority over others- all these human egoistic traits rush to the forefront. It is the ego in us that makes us clamor for name, fame and recognition. Places and institutions of worship are populated by people who are finding it hard to let go and overcome these traits. Don't let it shake the belief in God or in good things and initiatives. You cannot change the world but you can change your response to its turbulence tests and take everything in your stride and in a spirit of love. All the best Susan.

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    1. Ah, no. This will not shake my personal belief in god and knowledge. Your last lines spout wisdom which one should consciously practice.

      Thanks for coming by, dear Swapna.

      Have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  7. but the question is how do we as a third person know if its a EGO or just the nature to argue :)

    I think a little bit of EGO is good .. But when we stop to listen to others and think we are the only who are right , thats when problems start ..

    Bikram's

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    1. Definitely ego, Bikramji because after the session the people who I questioned were throwing angry arrows towards me by their glances.

      Delete
  8. Just yesterday hubby and I were discussing the Church and how irrelevant it seems to have become. I think ego is a big barrier to growth.

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    1. Ego is a big barrier to everything, dear Corinne.

      Have a lovely week ahead, dear Corinne.

      Delete
  9. //
    So, the courtship between an argument and an ego begins at conferences and goes on until wisdom or time intervenes. //

    Wow lady! You have no idea how I loved this write of yours. Just crisp, to the point - we were able to relevantly empathize with how you felt. And I read about your Assam visit on CBC. So yes, makes more sense!

    Do stop by my blog! I'd love your comments & visits!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a ton for the wonderful words, dear Kappu. You made my day and week. Smiles.

      Have a great week ahead, dear Kappu.

      Delete
  10. Ego in the church was an eye opener for me when i first heard of it when i was a child.
    Ego is definitely one of the monsters standing in the way of progress.

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    1. Spot-on dear Kajal. How petty people's minds are!

      Hope Oreo and Pavan are well and happy. Love to them

      Have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  11. I think it's interesting that the word "scholar" can refer to either the teacher or the student. I think that those who are learned should realize that true knowledge comes from being open minded and willingness to learn more by questioning and listening.

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    1. The prefix before 'knowledge' does not hold good for 95% of the academia. The more one knows, the more one is an egoist.

      Thanks for coming by, dear Adriene.

      Have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  12. This is mainly why I am disillusioned with the academia. :)

    ReplyDelete

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