The Chowk Jam!

Cheeno & Anita:

I am not too keen on costumes. What if the contest is over Hijab? (Sorry Zehra, can`t let go of rationality, can we?!)

Anita:

``....extenuating circumstances`` hmmmmmm!

Saad:

Great idea! I second with a proviso. Each participant be granted ONE veto over guest list. Afterall we wouldn`t want every ALif,Bay or Tay there, would we?

Regards

Re: Chenno post # 28

Yiddish....makes sense!

Self modesty is a virtue which I can`t afford! On this score, I stand guilty.

Hey, next time you`re in town, give me a buzz. We will find ourselves a kosher deli and share a bagel with some schmeer. Perhaps, a little Irish coffee with a touch of Bailey`s Irish Creme. After I am drunk, we`ll both say a little kaddish for the soul of Pakistan!

Would love to talk with you. You got what the Jews call menschkeit! All you now need is a little chutzpa. Remember, the world is full of schmucks and putzkopfs with their yodels hanging out of their hosens! Just show some chutzpa and tell those yadzts to mind their own scheiss! You will go a long way!

Oh, I just speak one language English....the German and the French is interest related to couple of other things!

Vos Vydinia Tovorvich!

You`ve got good memory and mine is not too bad. I have been busy writing and then presenting paper in a conference in San Jose, Costa Rica and what a fabulous and exciting the trip was!! I would love to write what I observed in a small but live city.

regards

MAK

Your suggestion of get-togther is quite interesting and several times I came across this idea. I fully endorse Saad`s recommendation with an addition of Anita in the committee (I know Saad you`ve been so humble).

MAK

I am an occasional visitor of Chowk. In the beginning I enjoyed a few articles, but the quality of articles have deteriorated considerably. Then, I stumbled upon the replies. The first time I read the replies I felt odd about the tone and the mannerisms of the participants. Since, I am not particularly fond of such forums and find then somewhat tedious, I attributed this weirdness to my distaste of the forum. On insistence of a friend I read a few more replies. Although, most of the replies were very interesting and informative I still did not enjoy reading them and continued to have the same feeling. I tried to analyze the reasons for this strange feeling, now bordering on dislike. I wrote a long email message to my friend on whose insistence I got involved in Chowk. In this message I tried to explain the reasons for my dislike of Chowk like forums in general and promised my friend that I will communicate my feelings about Chowk replies to other contributors. After reading a few more replies sessions I came to the following conclusions, which I want to share with you:

1. Most of the replies are posted by the same group of people, which tends to become boring after a while.

2. This core group of people has a great interest in finding personal information about the other people in the group. This is very distracting to the other readers/contributors.

3. Most replies are written in a pretentious manner. The terms like yar and bhaijan seem forcibly injected. Even those people who write in somewhat simplistic form, seem to be putting on a persona.

4. Some contributors have a tendency to preach and be pedagogic. I was particularly incensed by an instance when someone referred to a couplet from Ghalib and then went on to explain the meaning of various words.

5. The people of the core group seem to have an incredible need to impress others with their knowledge of other topics, languages, cultures, etc. Most of the times such ostentatious show does not contribute anything to the ongoing discussion.

6. It may be that the average Chowk contributor is much younger than me and I am too old fashioned to fully appreciate the communication behavior facilitated by modern technology. I still prefer meeting my friends once or twice a week for a good gup shup with sharab and kabab.

re: chowk get-together..

if you all are serious, im game. i am curious to ask why i was nominated...who`s been whispering about my great organizing skills here?

just a thought..how would our interactions change after meeting in the flesh? would we all be obliged to be `nicer` or would things be just as they are? how would it affect the interactions for those who would not be able to attend...chowk should never be seen as some private club that only some can be a part of..

suggestions for a location: (1) my place, i have a pool. (im kidding, my parents would have a cow cuz it would actully have to be at their place, `my` place is a tiny apt). (2) montreal or quebec city, its just gorgeous there. (3) morrocco..just cuz ive always wanted to go there. (4) SF, NY or Seattle...why not soak up some culture while we are at it? (5) Vermont..some nice ski resort or sumthing (6) some lake place..(7) any place that guarantees that we can sit around, drink chai and soak up some sun during the day and sit around a fire at night, all the while talking...any throat irritations can be cured by anita, saad and sohail. herbal tea could also do the trick.

temporal: rationality is for losers anyway :) you are talking to a piscean..we don`t believe in rational :)

rizvi

Shafqat: Saad, yaar, I admire your extroversion! By the way, I`m all for it. What`s the worst that can happen? So, we all won`t be as beautiful as our words reflected, and we might see some disappointed expressions when we extend a hand (``Hi, I`m Cheeno.``

``YOU`RE Cheeno? I expected a 6`` 2` hunk with rippling pecs.``

``Actually, on the inside, I am just that...``)

And we might not all hit it off. So what? If things don`t work out, those of us who want to, can go about their own business, and have a vacation exclusively with their family or something.

Here`s how I imagine some of the regular players here (and I say all this lovingly):

Feroze: on the slim side, about 5``8/5``9, curly black hair, fair skin (by Paki standards).

You (Saad): 5``10-11, sanvla, moustache (sometimes), glasses, worried about your hair loss--and gotta work on that little bulge in the abdominal area that us 33-year-olds have to watch like a hawk!

BG: tall, thin, dark, beautiful, too much energy!

SR: short-medium height, thinning hair, relaxed, easy demeanor.

Anita: 5``5, maybe? short-medium length hair, can`t stop talking (remember, l o v i n g l y).

MAK: a strict father.

etc. etc.

Can`t wait to see how WRONG I am!

Feroze: Hey, please, DO save us money, if it means showing off till you`re blue in the face!

Majnoon: Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. I just think you gotta lighten up a bit. Actually, how can people be out to make an impression any more on an electronic forum than in real life? In a forum such as this, many people operate under pseudonyms, so the showing off factor doesn`t really stand. And most of the others are probably never going to see each other anyway. Oh well. To each his own. By the way, I insist you come in case this get-together thing ever materializes. Sha... sh..., okay, kababs on me!!

BG: would you come?

Cheeno

Re: Zehra post # 38

To: All Chowkies

Concerning Chowk get-together....here is my idea, but first I have to respond to Zehra`s post!

Your place....okay with me!

Montréal or Québéc City....no way in hell am I spending time with some French speaking wallahs!

This is what I would do.....

First I put select the date: In this case, I would opt for late August and for a weekend on or near Aug. 14. Since that was the day of Chowk`s birth and our eventual meeting of minds, it seemed the right date to choose. Also, a weekend in August would give everyone time to check and organize their schedules and allow them to plan for such a get together.

Next would be the location. I would pick Jackson Hole, Wymoming. One, it is a ski resort and in the off ski season of August, the hotel rates would be down and there would be no crisis over reservations! Also, Jackson Hole is located within the Yellowstone National Park ecosystem and we all can take a day trip to Yellowstone and have a Chowk BBQ there! The real reason for picking Jackson Hole is that I know owner of a bed and breakfast there - the same person who just bought a travel agency and I think that I can talk him into giving Chowk a group rate on both the airfare and rooms! A group discount plus off season resort costs are in very one`s financial interests!

I know that some will think this to be an example of self-display on my part and they would be right, but I don`t give a damn. I could be modest and could have kept quiet about it and we could have paid more for the get together! This is about our time and money - a topic which we all care about, so please excuse me if I am not modest!

This is just my suggestion and it is up to the committee, whenever it is formed, to consider this.

Zehra:

You were nominated for good reason. There must be at least one woman on the committee. This is just a feasibility committee, so you don`t have to have organizational skills (wouldn`t hurt, though). Good old common sense is the main requirement, and from what I have seen, you`ll do nicely. I also thought of Bina Shah and Shandana Minhas, but they`re in Pakistan. Also, I agree with MAK that Anita would be a good choice, but she`s too busy.

The names I had suggested were for the following skills:

Sohail Rabbani - ability to cut to the chase.
Wasiq Bokhari - no-nonsense wisdom.
Zehra Rizvi - perspective balanced by common sense.
Cheeno Agha - author of the idea in its current form.
Safwan Shah - the real brains behind Chowk.

Waheed:

The rationale for having a Chowk get-together is to experience `in the flesh` (as Cheeno put it) what we are already enjoying in cyberland. You make a good point about the anonymous amongst us, but I think these individuals could still attend a live Chowk get-together. They can come in pardah or fancy dress, for example. Alternatively, Umair could call them up on speakerphone with all of us assembled and we could all have a little chat.

Temporal:

I`m all for inclusivity. Everyone would be welcome, of course. However, there does need to be some framework to prevent chaos. This would be something for the Feasibility Committee to thrash out.

Saad

PS: Safwan, are you there ?

Just saw Ferozk`s post. Jackson Hole, Wyoming - excellent idea, my friend!

Sohail, what do you say ?

Majnoon Sahib: (re # 37)

Gar ijazat hou tou aap kay kuch nooktouN ka jawab diya jai?

To understand the interacts better, I would refer you to my interact # 82 on another article, Growing up in America.... by Zehra Rivi elsewhere in this issue. In a nutshell, Chowk is like a cyber Cruise Ship one can net-visit at any time.

1: Skip the boring replies. That goes for articles too that do not interest you.

2: The `core` group you refer to has perhaps jelled together, share one or more things in common. If you visit Chowk ir-regularly you can notice such things, but if you visit regularly you tend to overlook.

3: Each person interacting here has a unique persona. In fact, Chowk policy discourages dead persons from using the interacts!

4: That someone you referred to is this khaaksaar. I posted those couplets. The tashreeh came because it was requested. Your post doe not indicate clearly whether you are somewhat angry at me for the tashreeh or at Ghalib for writing those couplets. If your irritation is directed at me, I apologise. If not, Chacha Ghalib can fend for himself.

5: I know what you mean, sir. One of the individuals I think is Ferozek. He is known to have disturbed too many hornet nests. I am surely you will presently hear from him too.

6: Aray qiblaa aap old fashioned nahiN haiN. Is daur maiN jo bhi meh-noshi ( aur woh bhi bihari kebab kay sath) ka zauq rakhta hay woh sada jawaan hota hay.

Goostaakhi maaf,

Re: Chenno post # 43

Chenno! What are you about!? :)

Curly black hair.....you gotta be kidding me....try salt and pepper styled ala Marine Corps recruits...like a convict`s...shorn real close to the scalp! Easy to air dry and maintain!

Slim, right you are on that one! Fair skinned, don`t know that one, but can pass off as a California tanned American....helps to attract women in this cold forsaken land by being tan all year around! Some times for a joke, walk around town wearing a yarmulke! Easily mistaken for a Jew. American friends think that my last name is spelled Kahn!

Height real close, but off by an inch...5`5``!

Dress: Prefer open collars and seldom suit or ties. Like to dress casual....Mostly oxford button downs and chinos and Timberlands! GAP, Banana Republic, or Eddie Bauer favorites! Even when at work...prefer computer nerdy casual styles to republican stiff necked stuffed shirts! Opt for scuffed bomber leather jackets over dress overcoats. My favorite is an old Royal Navy duffle coat navy blue faded and worn out with a maroon scarf: Colors of Karachi Grammer School!

Glasses: round accountant like Giorgio Armani torquoise shell gold rimmed. Am suffering from a Napoleon complex though....like to show off! Favorite past time: getting drunk and tying a blindfold on the dog and having fun watching him stumble into objects and spaz out!

Still interested in meeting me; I am telling ya all, I am nerd, a dork and a freak!

Cheeno! your memory is commendable but imagination requires more practice specially in my case. ``Aray aik young student ko (aur wo bhee strict) Father banadya!!!``. I am slim 5`10`` with glasses and most of all evergreen Single ;)

Sorry for the double play....

Re: Majnoon post # 37

Sir:

I found your post be highly informative and particularly well suited to the discussion going on about the idenity of Chowk and on the personas of its InterActers!

I appreciated your comments and your observations on the nature of Chowk. As you mentioned, you visit Chowk occasionally, and I would humbly suggest that such an observation, based on a few selective trips, can not fully delve into nor can it fully explain what Chowk is.

It is akin to saying that you disagree with a culture or a country and its population just, because of what you experinced in a few short trips. Chowk, in my opinion, is like a country. You have to live within its cyber thoughts, walk through its cyber alleys and get to know, but more importantly, accept its cyber personalities on their own merits without any conditionalities attached. Just like an immigrant elsewhere, you first have to accept Chowk and its ways and have to make yourself welcome in this forum.

When I first migrated to these cyber shores, I was a little lost, a bit confused and would wonder how I would fit in. Everyone on this forum is far more educated than I am and that thought weighed heavily on my mind. I was defensive in my first interacts, but as I learned to relax and discard my preceptions about Chowkwallahs, i became comfortable in interacting with other Chowkwallahs. By interacting, I carved an idenity for myself on Chowk and now everyone either hates me or likes me because of that.

I agree with the five points by which you identified your dislike of Chowk and its contributors and InterActers!, but then sir, that is what life is all about! As Shakespear said it: all the world is a stage and we strut and preen for a time and then are heard no more! As to the issue of age, age has nothing to do with being a Chowkwallah.

Chowk is, in more than one way, a state of mind and what you see in the InterActs! is a reflection of what we think and yes, some times life creeps into these interactions and colors our personalities. After all, sir, we are all creatures of our environment and experiences.

Sincerely and Respectfully,
Feroz R. Khan

cheeno said : ``So, we all won`t be as beautiful as our words reflected,...``

zehra says: speak for yourself babe. zehra also suffers from a high self esteem.. *sigh * becharee.

saad.. :-) i would love to get this get together on the road..lets give it another shot..but perhaps, if you recall who was trying to set up the first one..lets see if we can get those people on board also..they probably had ideas that could very well heave us into action. can the chowk board hear us?

hello? caaalling chowk board, hello..awaz nahi arahee hai..tohra zoor say bolaiN.

p.s all: the AKUweb seems to be pretty good about loading the boston eid pictures fast. 2 down...how many more to go?

z

ferozk...round glasses..i am beyond intrigued...

(yes i admit it..i have a weakness for the cool looking nerdy types).

so, wyoming along with the air deal and lodging deal sounds great to me..why not we set up a suggestion box right here on chowk and have our different interactors ( those ever present and those who like the read only option) drop in their suggestions for us to look over. at a set time, the committee members can get together ( taking into account time zones etc) on some chowk channel with a password that only `we` (committee members whoever they might be) know and talk about it, discuss the feasibility etc...also the best deal :)

so, saad, i would be the `token` female then on the proposed committee? tsk tsk.

cheeno..no guesses about me..how dissapointing...its alright, i had thought you were a woman..imagine my surprise at that one..

later

z rizvi