How To Be Virtuous To A Fault

We're all familiar with those quickie onepage one-minute type of one-sentence interviews with middle level celebrities that are published in umpteen page three sections all over the country. The questions are usually of the same sort and generally meaningless: “What would you do it you woke one morning to find you had become a man/ woman?” and “I would scream and scream and scream!” Nothing of any import or substance ever emerges and the whole thing is conducted merely as an exercise in vicarious gratification for the benefit of the junior paparazzi in us. 

Having said that however, there’s still a lot to be learnt about human nature if one follows these Q&A sessions over a period of time — namely, no celeb seems to have any bad qualities. They may not come across as intellectual giants (although who can, answering questions like these?) yet morally, they appear to be upright, forthcoming and principled to the point of being naive. When asked for instance something like “What is your greatest fault?” typical responses range from “I’m too trusting and take others at face value,” or “I can’t get along with people who don’t have a sense of humour,” or “I’m not too tolerant of people who are evil.” Notice, that these are not at all faults; they are virtues being paraded as character flaws.

However, having said that too, it’s exactly what the majority of us are also guilty of all the time. Obviously we aren’t paragons of perfection but if asked the same question, how many would answer “Actually, a lot of people don’t trust me,” or “I think I have a great sense of humour but others frequently find me repetitive and boring,” or “I can be pretty arrogant and intolerant sometimes,” or “I don’t genuinely admit my faults, not even to myself.”

Now, people in the public eye might not necessarily want to air their imperfections for everyone to read since such persons may also have a fan following or an image to maintain. And ditto us, to a lesser extent. But if we begin to really believe we have no shortcomings we could end up being in a lot of trouble. A good way to check it out though is to make two lists of personal failings, one to show five friends and one to keep totally confidential. If the first turns out to be a sanitised pageant of disguised virtues, you’re only human. Join the club. If both turn out to be the same, one probably requires professional help.

MUKUL SHARMA