the ghost of TEDx

Several weeks ago, I wrote a piece that was scathingly critical of the TEDx talks that took place in Karachi.  Apparently, it upset some people, perhaps even the organizers, who had put in days of hard work into it.  The gist of the feedback to my blog was that it was nonconstructive and overly cynical. Personally, I still think ideas worth spreading should be worth spreading; and just because we in Pakistan, need positivity and hope does not mean that we should be unsceptically noncritical of everything that is thrown our way.  Most reviews of TEDx were positive, and so the organizers had much to blush about.  And easily, they can dismiss me as a "jealous" fringe critic.  Look, people mean well.  But as we know good intentions and capitalism with hiccups are not enough in a country that needs revolution.  Perhaps, as pointed out, my piece was irrelevant because of its negative and sarcastic tone.  I do feel that i  need to be more rigorously well read and my crap better researched. My peers are publishing in journals.  And I have, well, as a well meaning (I hope) friend said to me two weeks ago, "found an outlet."  So, I removed it from my blog.  No one can ever read it again.  And, here is a less negative version.

http://www.tbl.com.pk/tedx-in-karachi-new-ideas-inspiring/

I am sorry I called Ms. Novogratz Nancy Drew.  I am just so inspired by Sawyer's racism in the tv serial "Lost."  And, just so you know, I loved Nancy Drew.  But I should have known, sardonic humor is a bad idea when people think they are in the middle of something important.  I asked the ushers if Tedx was connected to Fedex, and I got that look that is followed by a prompt phone call to security or as if I were Meera amidst Grammarians.

I am so sorry, guys!