The Price of Free
“Nothing in this world is free. Everything has its price and its own consequences.”
If looked closely upon, there is always a motive behind what people do, a reason for why things are the way they are. Once this rationale is lost, everything ceases to exist. This motive or basis is what we know of as the price. The mentality of free corrodes the human brain and is a certain kind of addiction. It keeps you from working hard and makes you opt for an easy way out. Once you get something for free, you never stop.
Imagine yourself at the promotion pop-up at the mall for the newest flavour of premium chocolate. Don’t you wish you’d get another piece of chocolate? Sure, if you’re not into chocolates, but you get the point.
We all have our indulgences. It is where our weak spot of rational imbalance lies. We lose our circumspect thinking in these circumstances. These indulgences in today’s world are often attainable through a medium we call money. When you’ve got the green, you’ve got everything else. Wealth controls the way we live, eat, breathe and rest. It isn’t wrong to claim that our fortunes control our health and well being. When so much as life depends on financial assets, everyone wants some. And as long as it serves a purpose it is good. Then again, the mind is reminded of indulgences and ambitions and this is where things start going downhill.
Do you value something you’ve earned or something you’ve got for free? Even if it is the same thing? Addiction leaves you with dependency and you can’t get enough of it. This is the reason why scandals exist, occur and recur. But is it limited to these isolated targets? The small things we do in life are equal offenders. Everything has a start.
•A free gift from the shopkeeper every time you buy something keeps you from going elsewhere.
•A quick borrow of something you require slowly increases the number of times you borrow.
•A free answer obtained by cheating; and the next thing you know, you cheat your way through all your exams.
The list goes on. The problem however also extends to work ethics. The problem is faced by countless offices throughout the world. The workplaces in the government sector often face this problem, especially in developing countries where everyone wants free money but don’t want to work at all. Some get around by bribes, others misuse the power that their position grants them. The methods are numerous, but the goal is singular: “feather your own nest.” Most major problems originate here. Issue of fake documents, illegal licenses, the bribes that blind those who ought to bring order to chaos, and so on.
The words free and greed are two sides of the same coin. The more you get for free, the more you want. At that point, the human mind finds happiness in the things you get for free. A root that traces back to addiction. You forget what true satisfaction is. Instant gratification becomes the norm. This is the bigger picture of free. Put an end to it before it consumes you.
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” — Abraham Lincoln
This article was written in the wake of recent fire accidents in Surat, India. The fire engulfed 22 teenage lives. The reports showed that it was an electrical fire due to a load outburst of the electricity meter, caused by illegal extra construction which demanded a higher output than certified. Also, the operators at the fire-station instead of responding immediately had started asking for details. They arrived late to the scene with a half-empty fire-brigade which showed clear neglect towards their work. It was heartbreaking that ultimately, the teenagers in the building paid the price, the price of free.
This article was written in collaboration with Mithran Jeyashankar, Abhishek Ramachandran and Antony Terence.
