orkut messed up again

this time by telling me that i am 'sociable and entertaining'. those unfortunates who have crossed my path on thursdays know just how entertaining i can be. as for the sociable bit, well, i do not actively growl and scratch, but i am as sociable as a graduate student who works alone in a tiny office and likes it that way can be.

amongst new communities on orkut i noticed one which is for people with 'attitude'. i find myself slightly confused. as always, when i see an advert or something for people with 'attitude', i start wondering what they really mean by attitude. i mean, one can try to be slightly social by smiling (this section is independant of the first, so i am not talking about myself) and helpful. that would make one more popular for sure. one might also try polishing one's shoes, wearing clean, ironed shirts and try shaving. all of which will make one more presentable and hence nicer to work with. but what is attitude? all those big hoardings which show people with 'attitude' who wear some specific perfume, watch or whatever seem to have people who look remarkably snobbish for no particular reason or simply constipated. hence, i am mystified.

is it possible that by virtue of following the trend gurus and by paying too much attention to those who seek to mould us into better people, we are, in fact turning into factory engineered robots with little, or no individuality? let me talk about a particular case in point. this friend of mine was applying for various software jobs after graduating. he told me that one of the things he had learnt as part of interview tactics was to look the interviewer in the eye and not break contact and to shake his hand firmly. this shows character. now, if the interviewer had read the same book, then what happens is that they both end up with watering eyes after a 'stare him down' contest and crush each other's fingers.

bottom line. we might try looking beyond the superficial and find qualities of a more lasting nature. that will naturally demand a larger investment in time, but the reruns will certainly be greater.