Thursday, 5 September 2013

End of call packages and SMS bundles...Yin or Yang?

A few days back, I was conversing with two of my colleagues of University of the Punjab whom I attended the Erfurtian Summer School with. It was a group chat on Facebook and while talking about random things, we came up with the topic of whether the decision of PTA for ending all call and SMS packages is a worthy decision or not...It has not yet been finalized, but here is what I've got to say about it.
First of all, let's admit the fact that moral values are inculcated by the traits of morality descending through the ancestral chain, and not by force. Coercively, you may develop discipline among the public with, but not morality, no.



PTA banned YouTube, but still there are a large number of internet users of Pakistan who are utilizing Proxy services for opening it, for multiple reasons. They put a ban on Facebook, and it was removed. The PEMRA banned Indian channels, and then the Indian dramas and programs began to be broadcast through Pakistani channels, and there was way more nudity on many private and English channels being showed in Pakistan. So where do you see the benefit of putting a BAN on such stuff?? 
I know there is a great need to put the youth back on track... they are wasting a lot of time on cell-phones, texting and making long phone calls, with no positive outcomes. Their abilities are rusting out and they have very little interest in the "real" world outside the cell-phones. We all are aware of the use of cell phones/ texting during the class, during job, while having meals and so on. There should have, undoubtedly, been a check on them because it is affecting their academic and professional performance badly. Also, there needs to be an end to the wrong-calls, prank calls and digital harassment. The youth is also the main target in the mobile networks market. So this is a positive step of preventing them from falling into the pit of foolishness and immorality. But there is another side to it, too.


During the discussion, one of my colleagues, Anam said that,
"Have you seen any traffic wardens or ticket checkers in Germany they socialize their nation from very beginning, and time to time these values become part of their life. They are mannered, well civilized societies even without religious guidelines(I am not sure about this thing, though) where we stand.With out internalization such bans are more dangerous youth will find more drastic"
True that! And it is because they have got it from their ancestors... and such characteristics are deep rooted; to work hard and with honesty (we work hardly and even if we do, hardly with honesty! :P ), to cash time rather than wasting it; But another aspect is, that they have not been tortured by their government like us. We all are in the same quicksand of making money. We have been exasperated by load shedding, inflation, security issues, unemployment, increasing crime rate and so on. And when there are so many issues hovering around you and there is no direction or motivation provided to you, why would you think of doing anything productive and be honestly contributive?? Obviously in such an infernal situation, people would go for the type of entertainment they deem the easiest in access and gives them , at least, financial relief... or the one that satisfies some of their urges after "pait-puja".
SMS packages and late night calls are actually doors to a world of fantasy that mostly the youth choose as an outlet for their frustration, a mode of catharsis, where they can reach as many people as possible without having to SPEND much .. and getting A LOT in return, if you know what I mean!
And, sorry to say, but I feel that the people have come to the verge of being coercively controlled, we are far from hegemony because we've become badly addicted to the mirage technology which soon we'll end up having zilch access to... a horrible thing to imagine!

I am not against the BAN, but yes I do believe that putting a ban on these packages will not solve our issues. It will bring more complexities, most importantly, frustration among the already oppressed youth. They will find other alternatives like cell-phones with wi-fi technology, or spend more time on Facebook. This will also create a class-difference when the students with affordability will continue using the cell phones and those without it will either waste money on the cell-phone or feel as the "deprived ones"!
I think the youth needs motivation and direction towards other optimistic and positive aspects... rather than suppressing them or depriving them of the technology. Our youth has the strength and courage to bear everything and achieve the set goals, so there should be steps to set them targets, not MAKE THEM TARGETS of tyranny...!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

totally agreed... for me its just upto you how you use or get benefits through technology like mostly when we friends are doing assignments so we use skype or screen sharing facility through different softwares and mostly we waited for the package time to share and discuss our problems .. most recently i was out of town , my family and friends contacted me on the package timing so i can give details to them... and yes of-course if you are engaged or in a relationship with someone so i don't think its bad to have a good time with Him/Her except vulgarity or profanity in any mean ....

Unknown said...

Exactly.. :)