Muser adjudicates - Point, silly point and run out

A point made in a conversation reveals the background of knowledge and experience. A counter point presents another view. An argument arises if the presenters on both sides stick to their respective point without looking at the merit in the other view.  When arguments become more vocal, points made in frustration look like silly points to defend one’s original point.  At this point in the argument even silly points extend a helping hand and the stranded argument runs out of steam to walk back in defeat.

On hearing this preamble, Tom and Bystander sat like puzzled stones. They were not able to get in to  thought process of Muser. In this perplexed state, another matter that worried them was ‘why the invitation from Muser'?, which always meant one more dose of indictment.

Muser asked Bystander, “Why you got irritated when Tom presented his views and were you not thinking it was easy to argue with a person unsure of his ability to counter another person"? Bystander had to keep quiet sensing the accuracy of the remarks, amounting to a verbal denouncement. Turning to Tom who was also becoming uncomfortable, Muser said “Have you not yet come out of the thrill of finding a reason to annoy Bystander, now and then. Did it not occur, to both of you,that squabbling like children had in no way added value to the art of babysitting"?

Bystander did not want to contradict Muser  but said, “If Tom knew of certain things, I knew a little more about them. I only used the same points raised by Tom to set things in right perspective which was all that happened”. “So, you thought you were better informed than the other and it did not strike you a little farfetched thinking”?  Muser did not fail to pint out the feeling of “know all” attitude of Bystander.

“Why did you provoke Bystander by asking whether he agreed with the points you made? I hope it was not done to get your friend’s appreciation! On hearing this comment from Muser, it was Tom’s turn to fall silent.  He did not spare Bystander and asked, “Why you rushed to take the bait and made a show of strength"?

Muser demanded to know, “How to pacify a crying child is for the parents to decide.  For that moment parents are the child specialists. Analysing and imputing non-existent meanings is definitely out of your purview. In the same manner only parents can decide about how the child develops physically and mentally. No doubt parents will welcome a known person keeping the child engaged and kindling its curiosity but can we take it beyond a point"?

“The quote from Newton was interesting and it applied only up to our times in the past. Now the children get to train with many audio-visual aids thoughtfully provided by parents and playschools.  In this context, the views expressed by both of you, for and against, have become redundant, yet it was good that both of you touched up on that skill development in a child - protégé or not. Who can deny the fact that watching a child on show is a pleasure"!

Tom and Bystander felt relieved to hear these down-to earth views of Muser and realised that in any vocation, enthusiasm is different from practicality. This feeling of relief was short lived as Muser started to question their standing as child Psychologists in talking about dos and donts for a babysitter.

Looking at both, he asked, “Will it not be equally right to say that the child is also the facilitator in the art of babysitting? Is it in good taste to look for only the negative approach in a babysitter for whom his/her ward is unique? How one can presume only prejudices, notions and traits of the babysitter will be imparted to the child"?

Continuing on the same theme, Muser said, “The well being of a child, discipline and preparing it to manage expectations and disappointments are really out of bounds of a babysitter. If the rapport between the babysitter and the child is excellent, then it is a plus point that is all. Consider pampering of a child as a two-way traffic; letting the ‘pamperer’ and the pampered feel happy!  In such a context excessive, moderate or meager are relative terms and reads like a weather bulletin"!

“No doubt, the child may not need the babysitter as a backseat driver later on, but this should not be an excuse to forgo the chance to take the child to get a driver’s license! Unless the parents have confidence, no one can become a babysitter. Probably they believe the bonding of the young and old also is important. I have a feeling that this gesture is a delayed reaction mechanism allowing the previous two generations in tallying their accounts of commissions and omissions, benefiting the third generation children. They only can encash an unsigned check using innocent smile as facsimile signature"!

When Muser finished, Tom and Bystander understood how they should have viewed the role of a babysitter. Tom cursed his eagerness and Bystander his ego in dealing with the matter. They started to appreciate the way in which Muser had made them feel sorry for the rivalry they had exhibited. They agreed with his intent and purpose: thunder and lightning cannot exist without the cloud and on trivial issues friends should not become strangers on the street.