As you sow, so shall you reap!
Agree? Do all of us agree or not? No, first tell me. We all do, right? Okay!
THEN WHY ON MOTHER EARTH DO WE ASK PEOPLE TO WRITE US TESTIMONIALS? Why? No, Why? Why do we want people to write stuff about us that they really dont want or plan to. Why do we ask them to write us 'all that good' testimonials when we probably aren't all that good? Why do we ask others to write us any testimonials at all in the first place? Why do we want those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not? Does it really matter all that much? Will they really make a difference in what others think about us? If we really are deserving, then we'll have those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not someday or the other.
(For everybody's convenience we'll use the term THP - Testimonial Hungry Person)
What's at stake? THPs themselves are at stake. They seem like some desparate wannabes. Imagine people asking you to write nice stuff about them every now and then. Who'd want to talk to them? Try ignoring them a few times and they'll get more desperate. There have been cases where THPs, suddenly, out of no damn where, come up with such coo-chie-coo things about you. And all this effort for nothing? Naah... you'll be caught in a chakravyuh. There's a catch there. Oh yeah, there is. The moment you accept those testimonials, you're caught. Caught under an obligation. An obligation to return the favour. Return the favour in such a way, so as to balance-out each and every detail of the favour you've just received. Now that's some implication you're under. An implication to write things about the THP and make people infer the implied.
And then there was this case where one of the THPs was literally messaging people and asking them to write him testimonials. And here, he wasn't returning the favour. I'd love to know how could he even think of getting through with such a deal. What would he do with it? Adorn his online-self with these testimonials to show people how smart, philanthropic, kind, good-looking, talented, et al he is. Then? Message others, get in touch, talk, meet. Meet again. And again. And then maybe a few meetings down the line, the testimonialised image might prove to be incorrect. Maybe then he won't actually be like what his testimonials suggest.
What's the solution? Trust me, the REAL people do not pay any attention at all to the testimonials when they're just taking off with you. People who are there to interact, know and be friends, gauge others themselves and not by referring to those testimonials. Careful! I'm not denying the fact that these REAL people don't write testimonials. They do. And that is when testimonials turn invaluable. And the difference in their testimonial is visible when you read it. I say this with the backing of a very trusted source - MY EXPERIENCE.
a 'instant idli mix' packet - Rs 35
a pair of boxer shorts - Rs 250
a bike servicing session - Rs 1500
receiving a testimonial from those REAL people... priceless :p
There are somethings THPs can't buy, for everything else there are testimonials.
(and yeah, receiving a testimonial from those THPs......... free :D)
My REAL people: Juhi the Roo, Dhruv and my di - Baxter.
Nothing much left to say. Just that it's the THPs who are at loss when they beg for testimonials. And in the process of doing so, they spread this contagious virus of FORCED TESTIMONIALISM. It could be you too, spreading this virus. Stop doing it. Let us not beg for testimonials, let us earn them. 'Aye saala... abhi abhi... hua yakeen... ke aag hai mujhme kahin' - once you realise this, you'll start earning. Yes, you will. You'll start earning those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not.
I'd request each and everyone of you to join me in this quest, this akhil bharatiya andolan, this movement, this fight, whatever you'd want to call it, against FORCED TESTIMONIALISM.
SAY NO TO FORCED TESTIMONIALISM!
Thank you...
(your views are welcome)
Agree? Do all of us agree or not? No, first tell me. We all do, right? Okay!
THEN WHY ON MOTHER EARTH DO WE ASK PEOPLE TO WRITE US TESTIMONIALS? Why? No, Why? Why do we want people to write stuff about us that they really dont want or plan to. Why do we ask them to write us 'all that good' testimonials when we probably aren't all that good? Why do we ask others to write us any testimonials at all in the first place? Why do we want those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not? Does it really matter all that much? Will they really make a difference in what others think about us? If we really are deserving, then we'll have those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not someday or the other.
(For everybody's convenience we'll use the term THP - Testimonial Hungry Person)
What's at stake? THPs themselves are at stake. They seem like some desparate wannabes. Imagine people asking you to write nice stuff about them every now and then. Who'd want to talk to them? Try ignoring them a few times and they'll get more desperate. There have been cases where THPs, suddenly, out of no damn where, come up with such coo-chie-coo things about you. And all this effort for nothing? Naah... you'll be caught in a chakravyuh. There's a catch there. Oh yeah, there is. The moment you accept those testimonials, you're caught. Caught under an obligation. An obligation to return the favour. Return the favour in such a way, so as to balance-out each and every detail of the favour you've just received. Now that's some implication you're under. An implication to write things about the THP and make people infer the implied.
And then there was this case where one of the THPs was literally messaging people and asking them to write him testimonials. And here, he wasn't returning the favour. I'd love to know how could he even think of getting through with such a deal. What would he do with it? Adorn his online-self with these testimonials to show people how smart, philanthropic, kind, good-looking, talented, et al he is. Then? Message others, get in touch, talk, meet. Meet again. And again. And then maybe a few meetings down the line, the testimonialised image might prove to be incorrect. Maybe then he won't actually be like what his testimonials suggest.
What's the solution? Trust me, the REAL people do not pay any attention at all to the testimonials when they're just taking off with you. People who are there to interact, know and be friends, gauge others themselves and not by referring to those testimonials. Careful! I'm not denying the fact that these REAL people don't write testimonials. They do. And that is when testimonials turn invaluable. And the difference in their testimonial is visible when you read it. I say this with the backing of a very trusted source - MY EXPERIENCE.
a 'instant idli mix' packet - Rs 35
a pair of boxer shorts - Rs 250
a bike servicing session - Rs 1500
receiving a testimonial from those REAL people... priceless :p
There are somethings THPs can't buy, for everything else there are testimonials.
(and yeah, receiving a testimonial from those THPs......... free :D)
My REAL people: Juhi the Roo, Dhruv and my di - Baxter.
Nothing much left to say. Just that it's the THPs who are at loss when they beg for testimonials. And in the process of doing so, they spread this contagious virus of FORCED TESTIMONIALISM. It could be you too, spreading this virus. Stop doing it. Let us not beg for testimonials, let us earn them. 'Aye saala... abhi abhi... hua yakeen... ke aag hai mujhme kahin' - once you realise this, you'll start earning. Yes, you will. You'll start earning those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not.
I'd request each and everyone of you to join me in this quest, this akhil bharatiya andolan, this movement, this fight, whatever you'd want to call it, against FORCED TESTIMONIALISM.
SAY NO TO FORCED TESTIMONIALISM!
Thank you...
(your views are welcome)
8 comments:
You do NOT get sarcasm now DO you??
Baxter and I were playing fun-testimonial-fun-testimonial and it reminded me of you[Paap number 1]. To make life more interesting, and less cliche with all that daily-Howr you, Long time no see stuff, We decide to have fun[Paap number 2] with pre-existing-boredom-of-orkut-without experimenting idea. And all we get is a mention in your superbo testimonial.
PS:Testimonials, if are what you truly feel about a person, then better not be on public display, yeah. And, and fun-crappy stuff in them reminds you of happy days JUST as much as emotional stuff, when you read them again and again. The madness of bugging a person for a testimonial shows a "RIGHT"![if not that close to a person, then Paap number 3] That "I" have the auks[aukat] enough to ASK you to spill some beans of my life so that i get desperate franshipers:p
anubhav ek testimonial likh dena mujhe
lol!
great stuff
master card stuff is good .
Ya, I suppose if you write nice things people will write nice things back and vice versa.
p.s. you have an amazing blog!
heyy anu!!
i guess ur article is a lil wider...i mean it cud b less generalised...
its nt dat ppl who ask u 4testimonials dont alwaz deserve em...n well its up2 us 2 jot dwn after all...
n i feel evry1 likes 2b appreciated...dats y dat happens...
i havent cm across any diehard THP...so i mite not b very authentic abt it ya...
newaz keep blogging...wud lv 2c more of u ya
I second Spirit...
Tho I am more than happy with a mention~~~~~ :D
Sorry about this *very* late comment!
Nice blog. Better blog entry this. So comment I. Here.
I've written about 30 testimonials, and all of them were forced :P
But I enjoyed writing them, more so because I was the one forcing myself to write them.
Well, I think it's atleast better than copy-pasting those "YOU ROCK" testimonials. Yes, the REAL ones, are not meant for public display.
PS: You got nice testimonials too! :D
Hey...I have never read a blog in my life ...believe it or not that in this techno-age etc. etc., I have never read one! anyways, just wanted to tell you that your blog is amazing! this testimonial thing is as fickle sometimes as that whole thing of being nice to people so that they are nice back to you. Testimonials are meant to have a meaning and not be some fake thing, but I guess you can kid around sometimes, like between friends and all...but when a person that you don't even know writes you a testimonial saying how amazing you are and what a good friend you are, then its just ridiculous!
anyways,
cool blog=)
humdinger has enlightned my friends!!.. thankyou...:P
and.. keep blogging..
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