I just realised i hate idealists. Not all though cos i'm a self-confessed idealist although i'm not too sure of its meaning now. Last thursday, i was really excited cos i thought i would get to meet journalists from other papers at a conference arranged by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on how Greenhouse gases from vehicles are contributing to the increasing air pollution in the city. I had done my research before i left for the conference so i would know what areas had already been covered with respect to air pollution studies in the city. I had read what journalists from other papers had written and those from my own too. When i actually got to the KSPCB office, i saw all those people there and was quite excited frankly. Here were my bretheren. It felt good. I saw many smile at those they were familiar with and give a passing, haughty glance to "those newbies". It’s easy to guess the category into which i was slotted.
I dislike and detest those self-styled, stereotypical, generalising sorts who don't know who YOU are but smirk when they hear where you work or they come to, clairvoyantly, realise that you are a newcomer to the field and they are "veterans" (and it applies even if they have worked for 2 years..come on! its more than your lousy 3 months atleast!!). There were some from the Indian Express, more reputed for their text-heavy opinion columns, one from the Deccan Herald, which is really good with city news but whose journo decided that she had best be professional (here professional doesnt correspond with talking amicably and exchanging information..it is a self-generated version of deliberate snobbishness) and of course, my sister paper Bangalore Mirror who are more concerned with how many places are left for couples to "coochie coo". Well, all inclination to be nice and smile flew away into the air (i guess they musn't have come up with a special mechanism even in KSPCB to keep it clean of this sort of pollution!)
Finally, when the conference was over and the questions asked, tea and snacks was served to everyone. As i was the last to go, only two or three who were there till the end asking questions. I awaited my turn and thought i would talk to those already there. Oops! Wrong thing to do! Just one haughty glance and me, my smile, my ego, and my idealism - all died a lightning-fast death. As is usual with me, i asked my questions first, casually interrupting the shy slow 2-year old's (in the profession i mean!). I was met with "oh-sure-i-allowed-you-to-ask-first-out-of-my-generosity" look. Not that i cared! I was all upbeat and itching to sniff out an exclusive.
I anyway asked to meet the Chairman who looked utterly bored and lost as if asking "Shucks! what the hell am i doing in this chair???" Accidentally, he let slip some info that caught my ears and the rest as they say, is history! (oh how i love this line!!) So in the end, all they got was a press release and i got a scoop!! *chuckle*
I guess all's well that ends well and that applies to idealism too...
