A dozen vocabulary guides, hundreds of books and thousands of magazines later, we are still flummoxed by the English language.
So the dictionary and thesaurus are our constant companions.
Lately, we’ve noticed that the word proactive is being wrongly used here (by at least two comment-posters). It’s being incorrectly used as a synonym for useful.
The most common – and correct – meaning of proactive is acting in anticipation of future problems, needs or changes.
Here’s an example of the correct use of proactive:
In the perilous journey of life, it’s better to be proactive than reactive.
Being Proactive on English added by SearchIndia.com on
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err.. You wouldn’t believe me, I realized my mistake just a couple of seconds before I saw this. 🙂
I think both of us had “productive” in our minds.. or atleast me.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Yes, both of you meant to say productive use of time.
Thanks for pointing it out, though. I didn’t realize that you had a separate section for English.. Will go through it.
While you have correctly described the meaning of the word ‘proactive’, I am afraid that your example is rather incorrect, on two counts.
1. Abhishek Bachchan has survived, tormented us, will survive in Bollywood, and continue to torment us even if he is not proactive. All because of his surname.
2. Note that the key word in your definition is ‘anticipation’.
Bachchan Jr. will continue to survive amidst more mediocre members of Bollywood (notably, other star sons/siblings), and will not need that anticipation.
BTW, have you watched Fashion ?
Reviewers here in India have called it somewhat superficial, which may well be an understatement.
I am waiting for a more brutal assessment.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write above: your example is rather incorrect, on two counts
Our example is actually a reckless example of the Triumph of Hope over Reality. A better and simpler example would have been: We must be proactive on health issues or the one we’ve now used in the above post.
2. Fashion??? – Not yet….almost left the door but then decided to do it on the morrow to combine Madhur Bhandarkar & Anand Amritraj
Sorry off topic – would like to see an article from SI on the facts / truth on suicides of indian american techies.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We haven’t seen any major reports on the subject like for instance the mass suicide of cotton farmers in India.
There are stray reports of India Americans calling it quits (a whole family in L.A. passed away recently in a murder-suicide incident) but nothing to suggest a trend or pattern.
SI : but nothing to suggest a trend or pattern
Actually there is one more, heard in the news this morning… btw, my intention of asking SI for an article on this is to know what would be the real cause… (because it’s not clear for me why on earth a seasoned techie should do such thing)
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We still think those are stray incidents but with the layoffs picking up momentum here things could change.
From what we’ve heard (from friends & family) and seen, some Indian IT guys on H1B visas are duped by ’employers’ and are then forced to work as gas station attendants (in New Jersey) or restaurant staff. Some of them lose their immigration status, which makes a bad situation worse. Sad.
What we don’t understand is this craze of some South Indians (mostly Tamils and Telugu IT guys) to come here. We can understand the demand and interest in coming here in the 1990s….but now India has everything…but still some people are keen on coming here. Perplexing.
They’re being deceived by watching too many Kolly movies that depicts growth & status are being achieved living and working in the US. Like what we see in SIVAJI and many other movies as well.
Maybe, they develop this craze and base their dreams on that.
SI : 1990s….but now India has everything…but still some people are keen on coming here. Perplexing.
Very true… I have seen few of them leaving a lucarative job here in india for a 45-50k starter(in paper they make it 60k being CA’s min) in San Jose…. Perplexing .. perfect word used.