From Thinnais > Parks > Prime Time Debates: A Timeless Journey of Time Wastage

📢  Ever wondered about the intriguing connections between Thinnais, parks, Prime Time Debates, and Social Media? Let us discover the common thread that links these seemingly unrelated realms.

First things first, a disclaimer: This is an unabashed, no-holds-barred roast of our collective time-wasting habits. And yes, I did say "our." Yours truly is equally entangled in the captivating chaos of these contemporary charms.

Let's set the scene with a bit of cultural context. A Thinnai, dear readers, is a traditional feature in South Indian architecture. It's essentially an elevated platform at the entrance of a house where folks would gather to shoot the breeze, discuss the problems of the universe, or just watch the world go by. Think of it as the social media platform of yesteryears, minus the cat videos and memes.

 

The Parks of old were not just about swings, slides, or picnics. Oh no, they were the democratic forums of the neighborhood - a place where anyone, irrespective of their age or status, could weigh in on matters ranging from local politics to international affairs, with the authority of a seasoned diplomat. Bonus points for the natural ambiance and the delightful background music provided by chirping birds!

 

Now that we've set the scene, let's dive into the heart of the matter. These beloved pastimes - the Thinnai of yesteryears, the parks of the slightly more recent past, and the formidable duo of today's social media and prime-time debates are all stones in the same river of time wastage, each contributing its unique flavor to the all-you-can-eat buffet of banality.

 

The Thinnai was our training ground, where we mastered the art of whiling away hours under the guise of community bonding. It was here that we honed our debating skills, discussing everything and anything, with no topic being too trivial or too grand.

 

Then we graduated to the parks. Amidst nature's bounty, we carried forward the tradition of spirited debates. The rustling leaves and the chirping birds provided the perfect backdrop for our deep discussions about, well, just about everything under the sun.

 

And today, in the age of digital dominance, we have prime-time debates and social media. These platforms provide us with the comfort of time wastage, right at our fingertips. From the comfort of our homes, we can now discuss, debate, and disagree, maintaining our time-honored tradition of avoiding solutions while arguing about problems.

 

Consider yesterday's prime-time debate on Times Now. As our nation basked in the glory of Chandrayaan 3's success, the debate focused on what Congress said about Nehru and Vikram Sarabhai. Why discuss the triumphs of today when we can stir up debates about the past, right?

 

So here's to these champions - the Thinnai, the parks, social media, and prime-time debates. Long may they continue to serve as the pillars of our cherished pastime - wasting time. After all, some traditions are too sacred to be abandoned.

 

The catalyst for this post originated from a Tamil song, (Sollathe Yarum Ketta - from Tamil Movie Sorgam) which you can find below.

I apologize for the potential language barrier as a complete understanding of Tamil is essential for full appreciation. However, at its core, the song consists of three poetic anecdotes criticizing instances of time wastage, all beautifully picturized overall.