Hari's Corner

14 comment(s)

1. typical indian mind
   
   Comment by Shrinidhi (visitor) on 19 Jul 2008 @ 20:42:31 IST #
2. Shrinidhi, I suppose it's the mindset of people who lives in the tropics - to find a place to cool off.
   By the way, your photo blog looks interesting.
   
   Comment by hari (blog owner) on 19 Jul 2008 @ 21:06:26 IST #
3. That is the reason that I used to go to the mall. I try to avoid those at all costs, though.
   
   Comment by MrCorey (visitor) on 20 Jul 2008 @ 06:23:20 IST #
4. But malls are so crowded. I prefer quieter stores. It's best to walk into an expensive air-conditioned Swiss watch showroom.
   
   Comment by hari (blog owner) on 20 Jul 2008 @ 09:20:02 IST #
5. I'm with you guys - nothing better on a hot day than a shop with free air con and shiny gadgets to look at. In fact, that would be a great business - start a shop with a minimal entrance fee and lay out toys. Sort of a creche for grown men while their wives are shopping!
   
   Comment by Ray (visitor) on 20 Jul 2008 @ 16:04:50 IST #
6. Ray, from the above I gather that Shrinidhi's comment about "typical Indian attitude" was a touch harsh. :>
   
   Comment by hari (blog owner) on 20 Jul 2008 @ 16:20:23 IST #
7. When we buy something from these AC showrooms, we pay indirectly for the expenses like building rent, electricity bill etc, on behalf of all those who visited the store but didn't buy anything.
   So once in a while it is perfectly fine to relax a bit in these shops... That's the indian way of paisa vasool...
   You must be knowing the joke-Indians prefer to take loan from bank by giving their car as security, because parking fee is expensive than loan interest...
   
   Comment by Shrinidhi Hande (visitor) on 21 Jul 2008 @ 10:54:19 IST #
8. Shrinidhi, excellent analysis as usual. But what about art galleries?
   
   Comment by hari (blog owner) on 21 Jul 2008 @ 11:21:09 IST #
9. Heheh... well if you think about it: there is profit for the shopkeeper as well in getting more people to be browsing the place: then it doesn't seem empty. Besides, it is advertisement: even while browsing idly, you might come across something which you'll buy although you did not intend to do that in the first place.
   
   Comment by Sudipta Chatterjee (visitor) on 23 Jul 2008 @ 09:08:29 IST #
10. Sudipta, good analysis. But would the cost of air conditioning (which must be considerable) pay off tangibly? In many small shops you often find the shopkeepers turn off the AC when there is no crowd.
    
    Comment by hari (blog owner) on 23 Jul 2008 @ 12:07:10 IST #
11. Awesome. In Arizona, a friend of mine and his father used to hang out in a place (I don't remember where) all day during the hot 120F temp summers. I could never get a hold of them until nightfall because of that -- they didn't have cell phones as well as air conditioning.
    
    Comment by RT Cunningham (visitor) on 24 Jul 2008 @ 07:22:15 IST #
12. Thanks RT. Yes, I knew this toon would strike a chord with a few of my readers.
    
    Comment by hari (blog owner) on 24 Jul 2008 @ 08:41:28 IST #
13. My mother is an artist, so I am quite familiar with hanging out in galleries from my childhood. While they are usually cool and do have interesting objects to look at, you might find a 'quiet sense of desperation' about the place. A lot of artists are struggling and desperately need someone to buy so they can eat. So, you need to be able to avoid or assuage the guilt you might get from not buying, especially if the artist is around!
    I am unable to attend most art shows or craft shows anymore, since the feelings of quiet hopefulness and desperation make me feel bad.
    
    Comment by Tim (visitor) on 24 Jul 2008 @ 09:56:55 IST #
14. Tim, that was quite a unique perspective. Though I've never visited art galleries myself, I can sympathize with artists who don't get recognition as I know how much creativity goes into it.
    By the way, there are both commercial and non-commercial art galleries (like a National museum or something) right?
    
    Comment by hari (blog owner) on 24 Jul 2008 @ 10:26:15 IST #