If the TV remote at your place isn’t working, chances are that instead of changing the batteries you’ll first try and get it to work using an extremely scientific process named slapping 😛 But have you ever wondered who started this practice? And more importantly, why did they think it would work? Were they from India?
Journalist Sonal Kalra recently had a similar question if this was a typical desi jugaad or a universal hack followed meticulously across the globe. And it sparked an interesting discussion on Twitter.
Remote ko thappad maarne ka riwaaz sirf India mein hai yah international hai? 🤔
— Sonal Kalra (@sonalkalra) April 8, 2021
Some remarked that it was definitely Indian behaviour.
Every remote in India. pic.twitter.com/jUUb53oU8R
— Rajnish Chauhan (@14BillionOld) April 8, 2021
These are our indigenous beliefs and customs passed in from generations to generations. https://t.co/Dtret0SVgO
— Marvelous Miss Mudgil (@shivamudgil) April 9, 2021
It is a ridiculous thing to do. Tragedy is that it works! 🤦♀️
Humara #Innovation https://t.co/hca8H0OmUC— Shubha Sarma (@Shubha_Sarma) April 8, 2021
Others talked about slapping the computer mouse, torch lights and any other battery-operated device.
Hamare zamaane mein TV ko thappad maarte the. Coz Remote hota hi nahi tha 📺📺😂😂
— Pritesh Shah (@realpritesh) April 8, 2021
Hum to scooter ko bhi marte the ki shayad petrol khatam hone par bhi start ho jaye
— SHAILENDRA BORAR (@shailendraborar) April 8, 2021
It went one step ahead, we slap the mouse these days 😅 https://t.co/rk4EJP00EX
— Sangh’ism 🚩 (@sanghism) April 8, 2021
Watch any horror film that involves flash light. (1) Flash is bound to die during the intense scene (2) Flash light is bound to receive some thappad (3) When Flash light comes back it is scream time…. so the tech is well used for battery devices
— pavan raju (@apavanraju) April 8, 2021
Then a lot of people revealed that this process was followed by Indians living abroad as well as friends belonging to other countries. So much so that international TV shows also showed people kicking cars when they wouldn’t work.
When Indians settle abroad then it becomes international.
— Deepa Rao (@deeparaao) April 8, 2021
Indians mein hai… Phir chahe wo india mein ho ya kisi aur nation mein…
— Deepak yadav (@deepakyadavlko) April 9, 2021
Remote ka to pata nahi par thappad marne ka riwaz universal hai. 👋 pic.twitter.com/VxOgH7diPs
— Nikhil (@Nikhil_12) April 9, 2021
International. Recently I saw in a Korean drama series, the lady was kicking her car when it was not starting and then it started, my reaction was “it’s not only Indians who kick or hit something to start” .
— Shruti Mishra (@ShrutiM59708666) April 8, 2021
It’s comes ubder basic instinct….followed all over the world. I.e. small soap on big soap… squeeze paste till last…. use tooth brush for other cleaning once brush gets old … such many items… 😁
— Ashesh Khandelwal (@AsheshKhandelw1) April 8, 2021
International hai. Have seen Russian, Americans, Brazilians do it as well!!
— Pragya Rathore (@pragsrats) April 8, 2021
I came across my Russian/Ukrainian Techie friends banging dry cells (AA, AAA) on floor for gaining that final thrust in potential difference .😜😜😜 https://t.co/2L0nrH8DPR
— नवीन झा 🇮🇳 (@navinraghav) April 8, 2021
So it is safe to say that the practice is universal. But the next question is, is this behaviour due to laziness, frustration or some sort of logic that we don’t know? Thoughts?