An advertisement caught my attention for its theme. The ad is like this: a boy
sits in his class, its lunch break and the other boys are going to play a game.
The boy asks whether he can join and the leader denies him entry. Then the boy
opens his lunch box and shows the leader his lunch. If he wants that tasty
stuff then the leader will have to include him in the team. And lo behold! The
leader allows him in the team and even offers him leadership.
The theme that was meant by the advertiser was that his product is so tasty
that anyone will do anything for it. But what I understood was this, if you
offer something valuable then you can get anything. Well isn't this what it is called as
bribe?
I wondered whether this was an isolated incident but to my amazement
there were so many advertisements with the same theme. These ads were seen by small kids, it’s played in cartoon channels and regular channels.
I know what you will be asking, “Come on
its just some ads. Why are you analyzing it?” Well, yes dear friends it’s simply
ads, which we see daily, for every year and friends that ends up as
brainwashing. And then you end up giving
bribes because it’s normal.
A country, where even your ads are on the
theme of bribes and you enjoy them, should never blame when someone is caught
bribing. You taught them and you spoon-fed them this, then you should face the
consequences.
Bribe doesn't mean just money, any thing
or material given to a powerful person to get something back is known as bribe.
The oxford dictionary definition, ‘Dishonestly persuade (someone) to act in one’s favour by a gift of money or other inducement,as a verb and ‘A sum of money or other inducement offered or given to bribe someone’, as a noun.
So aren't we trained from childhood to give and take bribes? Some people
think intelligently and in large scale and reap the benefit, that’s it? What
else is different? Tell me in your life haven’t your parents offered you bribe
to be silent or to study or for any other thing? So is it OK then? And when
someone offers something big for some favor then that’s wrong? What’s the
difference? Aren't we all wrong or just the once who gain are wrong?
Then are the ads to be blamed or our upbringing or what is
wrong?
I am not telling that I am a saint (and
I am pretty sure all the saints have had the experience of bribe in one form or
other). I have given plenty of things to many in forms of sweet or other things.
I had offered my younger cousins things to be silent or to do something. So was
I bribing? Now am confused. Is this bribe or incentive or pushing in the right
direction?
Is it right to offer bribe or be bribed?
And if you are going to say that, under the right
circumstance to do the right thing and blah bla blah bla blah, it is a right thing, then aren't the ones who take bribes, which we see as wicked or cruel or bad,
thinking like you then?
Isn't corruption and bribing related? So that means each one of us is responsible for it.
I think we are a very big confused world, or am I just the
only one confused?
P.S:
I know there are a tons of articles on bribing written by
very famous persons and experts, but still am wondering would I have to
write this if those articles were effective?
????
P.S.S:
I will still be continuing my old habits of giving things as I have to live and
as I like to go with the flow not against it.
Disclaimer
I am not against any ads or the product or anything I am simply writing my views. And I use the product of which I mentioned and I love their ads.