Recently one read an article about a new study published in the Psychological Science journal. It was about researchers recruiting volunteers to read, view a video or listen to arguments on topics deemed controversial. The participants were then asked to answer questions about the opinions with which they disagreed. The researchers found that those who listen or watch someone expressing opposing views were less likely to characterise the speaker as “uninformed or heartless”.

However, those who read the arguments were more dismissive of opposing opinions. Though the subjects were from a different societal background than India, the gist of the article-it is futile to argue on the social media and more effective to work out differences by speaking with each other rather than through the keyboard-is applicable to our scenario too.

Right now, considering the Lok Sabha election that seems to be difficult to imagine as the social media experiences a flood of views, propaganda, exaggerations and cleverly edited depictions in support of some party or against some. The focus, in general, is on displaying one’s views in support of the favoured party/politician and against the ones disliked. One would observe that there is little interest in gaining reliable information or indulging in constructive dialogue, rather the trend of maintaining one’s own views and fruitlessly arguing with those holding opposing views continues to rise in popularity.

Constructive debate is important to pave the wave for necessary action but there is a proclivity to divert the focus of the dialogue.

The popular trend is ad hominem (Latin for "to the person"), which is defined as a fallacious argumentative strategy whereby genuine discussion of the topic at hand is avoided by in stead attacking the character, motive or other attributes of the person making the argument, or persons associated with the argument, rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself.

Hence, a lot of stuff being shared on the social media by supporters of various parties comes out as utter nonsense aimed at influencing the gullible. And, be it hatred spewed for the prime minister, jokes aimed at the projected wannabe Prime Ministers, all such immature and even cheap content appear to entertain and also influence the under-worked minds of many.

All this makes it seem as if election is the time to freely and loudly blame someone or some party for some or all the problems being faced.

It is apparently also the time for those who have supposedly risen through blind sycophancy to step up the chamchagiri while maintaining their blindness to logic and ethics.

Considering the vast population and diversity of circumstances in India, there are still many people for whom elections are not a time for hectic expression of biased opinions.

However, there is still a marked rise in such expressions in the run up to elections. One is not an expert to dissect the reasons for this but observation has taught that passion, frustration, ignorance and illogic do tend to fuel such expressions. This might probably be a phase and hopefully we may rise above pettiness and be guided more by logic in the coming years.

But for now, most seem to be carried on by waves generated by ideas floated by rival sides. The citizen is projected as the decider of fate in this ‘festival of democracy’. The flaw with this concept is that though the voter has the power to decide how his or her life in society turns out to be, one seldom acts the whole part.

Any festival is basically a celebration of beliefs and concepts that are not meant to be observed only for one day or occasion but to be observed throughout the year or longer.

If election is a festival of democracy, post-election, why does the voter tend to become pallid in pursuing democratic duties and rights bestowed upon all of us by the constitution? The answer might not be that simple but one of the effects of the impending elections made me wonder more. Since a considerable proportion of the police force has also been deputed on election duty, there are fewer of them to man the traffic in Dehradun.

Due to this, various areas have been experiencing regular traffic jams. This makes one wonder whether people who fail to use roads without congesting them when not directed and monitored by the police will make logical and sensible decisions while casting their votes and also pursue such logic in the post-poll scenario. We will come to know soon enough.