Anupam Krishnamurthy

To rid the disease...

As humans, we are only akin to responding in two ways; comply or rebel.

It has been hardwired into our systems for some reason. Perhaps it was something evolutionary, for it meant well to comply with someone you percieved was doing good for you. And in the halcyon days, if you can call them that, of our ancient ancestors, it wasn't a difficult choice. If your tribe is hungry, hunt the mammoth. Blizzard outside? Hide within the hunted mammoth's ribs. Leaders were the ones who could propose these obvious solutions. Genes that felt otherwise were destroyed.

This has led to remarkable actions that have radically changed the face of our race and the face of the planet. It was this instinct that made the Nazis comply when authoritatively ordered to do so. You don't think so? Read about the Milgram Experiments.

When in doubt, there is room for the other instinct, rebellion, to kick in without the threat of extinction. This is what happens when we are still unsure as to whether we should warm the earth or not.

This is what happens when I install software and am imposed to accept a bunch of other stuff that I scarce use. Itunes? Quick time tags along. Windows? IE is now my burden. Yahoo messenger? Here is Yahoo toolbar for good measure. If that isn't enough, it displays the temperature of Delhi in Farenheit! This transgression was enough to inspire this post. Trying to make us Indians learn to accept Farenheit as temperature reference is sacrilage!

I shall now endeavour to rid my browser of this affliction. Here's to rebellion. Here's to rid the disease...