Consider the scene below:
Father: Daughter, I see you on the phone so often. Would you mind telling me what’s happening?
Me: Dad, you won’t understand, I am solving numericals.
Father: Really, on the phone?
Me: Yes, Dad. What’s wrong with that? You are silly, don’t you see me with the book and the pen.
Father (rolls his eyes and mutters to himself): God only save this generation, as they have discovered such unique use of an instrument which was perhaps invented to pass on urgent messages.
Me: Were you saying something? Or are you trying to listen to my conversation (with the tone of supreme indignation)? Now I don’t even have my space in this house? (For a 13 year old, space means parents doing the “disappearing-act” while an interesting chatter is on with the best friend in those land-line days irrespective of how high the phone bills came).
But wait, my father had a free phone facility courtesy his appointment as a doctor at a government hospital and this was one of the several perks he received. I justified the long conversations by “Dad, why do you bother? You don’t even have to pay!!!” (Giggles are followed by Father leaving the room with a mild look of exasperation).
More than fifteen years later, I think I finally understand the proverb – Time is money. This could not be more true than in Uncle Sam’s own country. I have finally figured the underlying principle – if you are smart you will save money, if you are wise you will save time as well. I did not realize the wisdom in these words until I experienced this concept LIVE. In United States you are charged (rather your minutes are counted) even while receiving phone calls unless you are talking in the free-time slot (usually between 9 pm and 7 am). American government and its telecom providers could not have been smarter than this – reducing cost to company, saving man-hours by directly linking conversations to cost and doing business in the process. Therefore, you are left with no other choice but to keep conversations strictly official, brief or even better activate a voice-mail to receive all those non-life-threatening situation phone calls in work hours.
Ever thought, by saving yourself a mindless gab, you are actually adding on to productive minutes at work? I did not think so. Going back to where I started – in one’s perennial quest to survive a recession hit economy or like in my case, a lean fellowship budget, one gets judicious and frugal about their spending habits. An average American who has not been to India would wonder what is the big deal about incoming calls being charged. Well, you obviously haven’t lived in India. But I am generous enough to tell you what is so different and why my jaws dropped when I heard about my calling plan (I could not afford an unlimited plan which was further compounded by my temporary visa situation and had to settle for something not so economical).
At the opposite end are the Indian Telecom service providers, rather creative about enticing their customers (remember we are a country with more than a billion in population). In a market with a stiff competition (you have Vodafone, Airtel, Idea, Tata, BSNL, MTNL and so many other budding players) only penetration strategy will work as they provide sms bundle at dirt cheap rate, or free additional sim-cards and sometimes free calling facility to one number and so many other fringe benefits. This invariably contributes to longer conversations, more personal touch (as opposed to my cryptic one liners to mother calling from India) and therefore better relations (supposedly as you have more time to emotionally connect) and better business for the telecom provider.
Its an apparent win-win for all but do you see the vicious cycle? Majority of our generation is hooked to cellphones. My heart sinks whenever I realize I have left my phone somewhere. Our reaction is often akin to and at times worse than it would be if someone close was hurt perhaps. Is this need to stay connected all the time in this increasingly lonely world, a misplaced emotion? I have also heard my friends occasionally rave and not so often, complain about their better halves, partners calling them more often than required just to check if one has eaten his/ her lunch (real love you see, sic!) or to plan some exotic get-away – all non-work related conversations, period.
Here in the States, long mobile chats are regarded as anything but good phone etiquette and shows your inability to respect another individual’s space (since conversations in public can be overheard). In addition, during peak traffic hour when people are immersed in their i-Pads, iPhones, newspapers, novels and occasional snooze, talking for long hours on phone can call for trouble. Therefore, my personality is undergoing a rapid change wherein I have greater admiration towards using my personal time more judiciously and not indulging in mindless chatter. Now I love making use of these fleeting moments to construct my thoughts better (for blogs like these), play a game or two on the mobile (yes, I am a self-confessed game addict – of any form. Those of you who saw me at the Country Club on August 11, 2011 stuck to the skeeball pod can vouch for me) or even better, catch up on my sleep with some 3 Idiots style power-nap on one of those sleep-deprived days.
As I sign off tonight, almost six months down in the fellowship, way past my teens, I have one more take-away – a free ‘lesson ‘ in exercising ‘thrift’ taught by our very own Uncle Sam. My father will be proud of me for embracing something he has been attempting to teach me since my childhood. Yes Dad, I finally learned the value of time and money…
Very nice observation. However, I think you choose to look at the benign side of it, overlooking the damage. Well in my very humble opinion, the US government did not just charge inbound and outbound calls to keep it short and efficient. This is CAPITALISM wonderland- People get charged to death, Sudu.
Agreed, but there’s a silver lining to this not so admirable “capitalism”. Would you have valued time had you not been charged? I did not. Occasionally I have forgotten what is time sensitive in my inability to cut off a call which I did not make and found it so hard to say, “let’s save this chat for later”.
Well observed, well learnt and well written indeed!
Interestingly, in India there are two Indias residing together. One that is emotional (thinks ‘how can I be so abrupt on the phone? Will I not come across as rude? How can I hang up as soon as my purpose is served? Will I not come across as selfish?’) and one that is becoming more professional (aping the West, as some say) but it is also being more considerate of the time of others! To the point conversations always beginning with ‘is this a good time to talk?’ Yes, time is money and one should save it, but the question thereafter is ‘How do you invest your savings?’ The bottom line is you have to spend it (smart), and see that it is well spent (wise).
Having a long conversation with your mother once you have saved enough talktime (and spare time) is a way of well-spending both.
what an awesome blog post. well articulated, too. has given us some food for thought. what’s interesting is that we can learn so much from Uncle Same and vice versa, and the more open-minded we are about it, the better things shall be for us.
Great Read! In India it is considered rude if you are not answering the phone. The few minutes that I spend in the metro each day where the phone doesnt connect to the network is bliss.
I think this has a lot to do with the basic human nature to adapt as well. Remember the telcos were the ones who came in with the plans that suit their businesses, and kept optimizing them in their quest to survive. We, if you see, simply reacted to what was on offer.
On the whole, a good read Su. My biggest takeaway from the piece has to be the following two lines: “if you are smart you will save money, if you are wise you will save time as well.” Nicely put.
Keep writing
This reminds me, I have forgotten where my mobile is! I detest receiving calls, as much as I detest making calls. They are the bane of life I tell you, interrupting at the most inconvenient time. I love asynchronous communication, preferably the type where people can message me, but I choose when and where to read. Not that I can’t hold a conversation together. Here in my apartment community, people are often surprised that I actually can talk quite a bit when I want to. But mostly I keep to my thoughts. Lesser noise that way.
You moderate comments on wordpress! Or is Akismet behaving badly?
@All – thank you for your comments. Indeed, being open-minded and adaptability are two traits that help you admire and appreciate a new place better.
@Laksh – Agree with you – asynchronous communication helps un-clog mind space and gives more control on our lives.
On your other question – its not Akismet. Its ME all through. I do that since moderation enables me to keep all spam, ‘salesy’ ads and potential ‘virus’ at bay. Only yesterday, I had 2 comments un-related to my post promoting their ‘domain’ and some ‘cool’ features. I SO don’t need those promotions.
P.S. How’s your kiddo doing? Must have grown quite a bit eh?
She’s doing great. I have shared some photos on Plus.
Laksh, your comment on asynchronous communication also reminds me of Pager days. But it was mostly used by folks on time-sensitive work profiles like doctors, airport handlers etc.
Your daughter is adorable
Good observation. And well written. I would never be able to call any other country home other than India.
Mera Bharat Mahan. Incoming free. Out going cheap. Now cell phone show off has reduced considerably. People whom I have met off and on I can speak and say ‘excuse me but I need to speak to you now’ without thinking that they would be annoyed. And they wouldn’t be.
DC (Uncle Sam) taught you to value yap time. But am sure once you return you will get back to your love for long yaps.
really nicely written and expressed sista!
I’m so glad that you are finally finding time for yourself!