Mouthshut is the closest that you can come to a virtual neighbourhood coffee shop. A place where you can discuss animatedly a range of topics from yesterday?s TV show to world peace.
You can be absorbing a genius?s life one morning and reading about the changing face of Indian society the next. The icing on the cake is that you can discuss all this with intelligent, like-minded people sitting in far-away corners of the world.
Just like the coffeeshop, the management plays an extremely important role in keeping the site going. The MS management is efficient, committed and brilliant. They also have a couple of brilliant aces up their sleeve ? like star writers (Featured performances), hot reviews (Today?s special) and occasional contests (Festival bonanza). The content manager (Chef de cordon bleu) lends a willing ear to the member?s (Customer?s) feedback. Apparently, MS also employs a few heavyweights (Bouncers) who control members when they?re getting rowdy. All in all, they do a great job in keeping things going like clockwork.
MS can be broadly divided into two categories which can sometimes barely be demarcated from each other ?
1.The products ?
I am what I own
Though many writers have bashed up the consumer mentality of the 90?s, I mean this in a different way. When I use something, it becomes part of my life. I have experiences with toothbrushes; rendezvous with movies; heroines echo the principles of my life and books are my dearest friends.
This ain’t the ’60s, he said with a grin
Don’t you know what is out, can’t you see what is in?
I’ve earned what I have and I am what I own
And I’ll thank you to leave me alone
(Walter Crockett)
On MS, I share my life?s experiences as much as I share information about products. In fact, that is what makes the review mean something to me ? it is exactly what keeps me hooked to this site. Sometimes, I even say too much. To balance between the private and the public life is the challenge here.
Sometimes, I make mistakes. While I don?t like that to happen, I think that my mistakes define me as a person. I am the fuzzy guy who doesn?t remember which heroine did what movie and surely I?m the one who sees red at the drop of a hat (provocative comment). But it?s a big guy/gal who can admit his/her mistakes.
- The Members ?
These are the people that make MS the success that it is. I know my friends at MS better than I know the people I work with. Surprising ? Not at all ! The reviews and comments that we write here express our personalities explicitly. I sometimes remember a particular member by just one review that was penned by him/her.
Each member also has a unique signature to his reviews. Some pieces are just sparkling with brilliant humour, others are starkly honest and hard-hitting while yet others are inspirational. Some of the most intelligent and creative people I have ever met belong on this site.
What I have learnt at MS
It takes courage to express one?s opinion ? and guts to stand by it. There is a rush of warmth when another member agrees with you or appreciates your opinion. There is also a willingness to listen to another?s opinion when it may differ.
And then there is criticism. To be honest, I hate criticism ? let?s face it, I?m a sensitive soul. In fact, we all are. Still, I have to be able to take criticism if I am to survive or to grow as an individual.
Not everyone is like me
The world would be a mighty boring place if they were?
Disagreement is a fine thing, in my opinion. It not just lets you air your thoughts, it brings to light your passions, beliefs and eccentricities - the only traits that are most completely you. These are your most individualistic possessions.
A quote -
Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
Another quote (to balance the first) -
I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn’t wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine.
Bertrand Russell
To offer criticism and disagreement without offending someone you consider a
friend can be tricky indeed. But in Dumbledore?s words ?
?While it requires courage to stand up to your enemies, it requires even more to stand up to your friends.?
Sometimes, just by expressing that disagreement, you can end up unleashing a storm.Then, it is important at MS, as in life, is to let bygones be bygones and let the show go on.
After all, this is still our favorite coffeeshop.