Have Defence Officers Lost Their Sense of Humor

Sometime ago – I was a member of a group called “HUMOUR IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM” (HIAOOU)

Unlike many passive members – I was one of the active contributing members who posted “Humour in Uniform” Stories regularly.

The biggest joke about this “Humour” group was that most members did not have a “Sense of Humour” 

One day I posted the “Humour in Uniform” story below – and – I was promptly expelled from the group at the behest of some non-contributing killjoys who thought that this story painted the services in a poor light. 

Dear Reader – Please read the story – and – tell me – do you also feel that present day Defence Officers have lost their “sense of humour” and have become overly sensitive to any criticism, albeit true, even if made in a humorous way...?

RECRUITMENT ADVERTISEMENTS ARE LIKE FASHION SHOWS

A Story for Cadets and Subalterns

By

VIKRAM KARVE

The young under-trainee direct entry Sub Lieutenant who had just joined our ship appeared quite dejected. 

Impressed by the sleek navy recruitment advertisements and jingoistic hype – he had quit a corporate job – and – he had joined the Navy.

And now – the truth had dawned on him – that there was a big difference between hype and reality.

Life in the tough prosaic real-world Navy was quite different from the romantic imagery portrayed in recruitment advertisements.

In order to put him in good humour – I told him this famous Mulla Nasrudin Teaching Story called FASHION SHOW:

FASHION SHOW – A Mulla Nasrudin Story

One day Nasrudin went to a prestigious fashion show.

When he returned – his friends asked him how he liked the fashion show.

“They cheat you,” Nasrudin complained, “it is a total swindle.”

“What are you saying...? The fashion show is a swindle...? They cheat you...? How...? Tell me. How do they cheat you...?” 

“They show you the women – and then – they try to sell you the clothes.”

MORAL OF THE STORY

Do remember this story if you are thinking of “job hopping” – especially of you are thinking of quitting your civilian job and joining the military – like the Sub Lieutenant mentioned above did.

Remember – metaphorically – Recruitment Advertisements are like “Fashion Shows”.

Just like Fashion Shows which try attract you by showing you glamorous “women” and then try to sell you the clothes – Military Recruitment Advertisements show you the “glamorous side” of military life and try to recruit you to undergo the tough life in the Armed Forces.

And later  – you will be disillusioned when things do not turn out as you had imagined them to be – as portrayed in the advertisements.

Do remember this FASHION SHOW story – especially if you are thinking of a military career – because the real life in the military is tough and hard – and – life in the Armed Forces is not all glamour and adventure as portrayed in recruitment advertisements. 

Do join the Defence Services – but – do so after due diligence – after taking a realistic view – and asking yourself: Do you have it in you..?

VIKRAM KARVE

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Disclaimer:

All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

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This is a re-post of my story FASHION SHOW posted online earlier a number of times including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/12/life-is-like-fashion-show.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/07/recruitment-advertisements-are-life.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/10/fashion-show.html  and  http://creative.sulekha.com/the-fashion-show-and-the-recipe_74988_blog  etc