ChintaMany's diary-page 4 (Armchair analysts)

{Some need to hear the constant sound of claps and some use ear plugs to block that noise. It is all a perception....page-3, ChintaMany's diary}

I shift your focus now on to another type of Armchair Analysts - the social media variety. To start the ball rolling, these analysts just need a seeding analysis - to read and react. After embellishing the original, highlighting "threatened personal, adverse effects" and make the first forward, as a follow-up-analyst. Then a crop of easily excited fellow-follow up-message forwarders assist them in spreading their analyses."  Depending on the media type -hash tags, likes, dislikes and other forms of expressions start a string or thread. The forwarding frenzy ceases when the string or thread gets twisted beyond recognition. Then, they happily shift to another juicy topic. The bonding between the first forward-analyst and the tail end analysts itself may one day become a social media topic. 

ChintaMany was pleasantly surprised when his hindsight also echoed the same thought, probably wanting to be on the same page- "Who are they?"

They are not attached to any think-tank, not affiliated to any academic institution or to any pro or anti outfits. Still, they merit a mention and writeup, because they bring a basket of food for thought. ChintaMany put out a silent appeal to the original analyst and the first forward-analyst, "Let this gift these follow up-forward-analysts bear, not become a morsel for you to be chewed upon." The obscure fact of the matter is no one would like to subscribe or associate with these follow up -forward-analysts. Yet, forcibly invited groups (usually family members) get glued to and hang on to their WhatsApp wisdom, solely for the tax-free entertainment content. Unable to control their itching fingers, they too add their bits by way of considered opinions (to keep the family in good humour), exhibiting the famously known 'moths fall for a flame' syndrome.

 What credentials do these first forward-analysts and follow-up-forward-analysts bring to the cellphone screen, their preferred device for dissemination? Having raised the question, ChintaMany came up with a probable list; Some are in professional pursuits; some of them tinker and soldier on with technology; some of them could crunch numbers like an expeller, crushing oil seeds; some dabble in marketing; some are in fine arts and so on. He noted that more often, they do not stick to their traffic lanes and are stir crazy to cut across domains, either for the thrill of it or to showcase their terrifying traits. This versatility adds spice to their message-cooking and their favourite dishes being election, budget, mishaps or scandals. Occasionally, cinema, music and art  also come to their attention but vary of the lukewarm traction these get on social media, they just let them slide.

Election takes emotions on a rollercoaster ride and results leave a lingering feeling of wins and losses. This thrill filled ride makes the follow up-forward-analysts to eagerly scan for a "first forward analyst's post." The itching fingers take 'suo motu' notice, of the half-understood analysis, and hurriedly hit send command, not before adding a bit of own analytical wisdom. If unsatisfied with local input, this follow- up forward analyst has no hesitation to touch upon foreign sources. 

The catch words like, " Democracy is in danger", "Democracy is being murdered", "Elections are rigged", "Election is violation of human rights" and "Voice of press is chocked" adds colour to the forwarded analysis. For a humble follow up-forward- analysts, the temptation is strong like the freebies promised before the elections. They fall for these exhortations without analysing whether it originated from a democracy or dictatorship. ChintaMany could not take it anymore but to shoot a question to the forwarding analysts -" why don't you ananlyse and share opinion on the negative impact of such freebies?" Belatedly he understood, after a jab from his hindsight, that these analysts' politics is a limited over match, to be watched and not played. 

After the election fever runs its course, the next ripe topic is the budget, as it gives a chance to all these analysts, once a year. A Government is expected to spend on various schemes of development, aimed to get into the Club of Developed Nations. Revenue has to be generated in the form of Taxes and levies , to meet targeted growth. Accordingly, budget proposals are presented to steer the economy through the year. It pinches some, benefits some and leaves out some. Hoping for a budget that will please everyone is, at best a utopian dream. The moment a budget is presented, the first analysis appears in social media. It digs holes in the budget using cherry picking methods - favourable proposals are omitted, disliked proposals are selected. Ready with borrowed rhetorics , the first forward-analyst launches a frontal attack. Taking cue, the follow up-forward-analysts become hyperactive. Some even go to the extent of giving a tutorial to the budget makers. 

ChintaMany dug deep into this nexus to find out Who are these energetic analysts and why are they so upset?? He was puzzled with line up- those earning a reasonable salary, income from fixed deposits and deriving benefits from stock market boom (dividends/cashing out) or crash (buying in) and are busily engaged in finding ways to reduce tax liability. Compassionate analysts try to weakly touch upon the plight of senior citizens of the land. To add oil to fire to this distorted analysis, non-residents wake up( from different time zones) and contribute tables showing no-tax regimes in other countries, which the follow up-forward-analysts gladly include.   

Infuriated by this misinformation, ChintaMany spent some time, surfed internet and found that only the rows and columns drawn for the tables were true. The first-post analyst and the subsequent forward-analysts did not bother to look into the wealth generation modes of those countries, where no-tax regime existed. ChintaMany wanted to shout them down with- "Dig you get oil, dig you get diamonds, wake up you get tourists, go to sleep the tourist are still there spending money. The bottom line is others drive the economy, build infrastructures, pay taxes. No further need and so citizen live tax-free." ChintaMany wanted to question these analysts, "If it is so appealing, why waste talent here? Are you here only to enjoy affordable freedom?"

To the non-residents he had this question, "Honestly, do you have any choice to decide what you want to be there? 

Those who grumble can take the first flight, but remember this - Highways, metros, bridges, transport including the flight you board is made possible only by taxes paid by people."  Taken aback by the vehemence in ChintaMany's voice, his hindsight withdrew quietly.

In the event of an accident and even before an enquiry commission gets constituted, a bystander takes to social media as the first-post analyst. No need for an official enquiry panel to be constituted. His enquiry commission starts functioning. No doubt the official machinery has starting troubles - reach site, visit the spot, get a fed on solid data, interview the personnel etc. Whereas the on-the-spot analyst relies on known information from similar mishaps. Instead of a run of the mill reporting, he mixes a good number of surmises and end up giving the 'hot on the derailed wheels' verdicts. To add weight to the verdict he includes unsafe operations of other forms of transports that run on wheels. Due to urgency in getting it to the media, fortunately he forgot to rope in maritime mishaps, although ships don't run on wheels. This stop press media post is directly accessed by follow up-forward analysts, via a loop line. 

Demands of resignation, compensation to victims, allegation of corruption, impartial enquiry (and a JPC for political flavour), delayed arrival of medical teams, relief worker and other strings are added before the follow up -forward analyst finishes his post. Happy and free travel to the messages, getting forwarded across the globe (to reach kith and kin). It is a bonus if vested activists on foreign soil too join. Getting 'likes' is more important and if found off-the-mark, a post-post-accident analysis is always a choice. The officials rue the lack of this wiggle-room provision, in the guidelines of enquiry. 

ChintaMany had two doubts and posed it to his hindsight, " Was this bystander travelling by this train? Did he extend any humanitarian aid?" His hindsight went silent and then came on and whispered, "If he had been extending humanitarian help, how he would have got time to take to social media?" An exasperated ChintaMany needed a walk to clear his head.