| turbo_tamago |
| OK I have just rocked into Dubai (around 6 weeks) and have had a great experience so far. I came with an international company and luckily for me that took care of the flat and utilities etc so I admit my integration into Dubai has been pretty stress free and I am hitting the ground running and am singing the virtues of Dubai to my colleagues back home. Notwithstanding my recent experience, I do hear of occasional moans about a "pecking order" from certain people, notably the security guard at my building, the odd taxi driver and from others who have lived here a lot longer. I must admit I have not seen or been subject to any real issues, I am of Chinese origin but was born and raised up in the UK. Today I witnessed a pretty shocking event which I hope was an aberration rather than a way of life here. Picture this: at around 8am we are all queuing up at the lift lobby of our office (I work at one of the tall offices at the top of Sheikh Zayed Road), morning rush hour to get to our respective floors. It still amazes me that people will queue for minutes to take the life to the first of second floor rather than take the stairs but hey, this must be a way of life here so I live with it. Today was no exception. The lift arrives and we all get in. Full lift. The lift closes and stops at the first floor (I am on the 26th). 2 people are waiting to get in the lift. A middle eastern man (not sure where) and a mature Indian office worker. Indian worker comes in and we all shuffle to make space. There is still space for the other ME man if he wanted to squeeze in, that wouldn't bother me as I have seen it many times. Instead, the ME man holds the arm of the Indian man and pulls him out of the lift, saying that he is on the wrong floor and he needs to go to the second floor. He slides into the Indian mans space in the lift and the door closes. As the door was closing the Indian man, clearly incredulous as to the event that just happened remarked that it was not a very "professional" thing to do to which the ME man said "yes, I am not professional, so what". I thought they knew each other and they were having some fun, only when the ME man left on the second floor did the reality of what happened dawn on me. I was also ashamed I didn't intervene or pass judgement. The Indian man clearly was an office worker and quite mature. I hear these kinds of stories but I have never been a witness to such events. The blatant lack of manners displayed by some is truly appalling behaviour. Is this something that is acceptable in Dubai? Those in the service industry and others are all there to make our lives easier. Everyone deserves to be treated with a basic degree of courtesy? What brings it out in people to believe that they are superior when compared to others? Is it historical or is it the economy which drives people to behave this way? |
| Concord |
| Racism is very overt in Dubai. However I am not sure what you witnessed was necessary a case of "shocking racism". The guy could just have been a very rude person who grabed whoever was there in order to make room for himself. Good thing you were in the back. |
| Jeevan |
| welcome to Dubai, and about your post -you will get used to what happens, and i would say its upto the person who went through the experience to raise his voice first before others pass a comment or a judgement. If you stand up for yourself, no one can treat you as a piece of crap, I am an Indian and i never had such a experience in Dubai. Relax and get used to Dubai:) |
| Concord |
Yeah but that's because you are a big guy and they know you can beat the crap out of them! They are racist: not stupid. |
| Dr.D |
| Give the guy a break, maybe firefingers was just having a bad day. |
| St.Lucifer |
| But unfortunately, the truth says, in here, one (a non local, non arabic speaker) would think more than twice, n look around n try to analyse who this bad a$$ could be.. even if he'dnt have thought even for a split second before launching a punch, had it been their home ground.. but that aint racism.. thats existential criteria... for the bad guy its simple. home ground advantage.. |
| firefingers |
| Ok you see guys again you are relating racism to my beloved country ,like it doesn't happen elsewhere forcing me to start using adult language in my posts dam it I'm tiered. Well as he said if you don't stand up for your self even the wife will bitch slap you all the time, it doesn't matter where or how, stop crying and star fighting . And no Dr.d it can't be me, I'll never be near you guys , you guys really smell, I don't know what is with foreigners hating to shower . |
| gtmash |
| Want examples of racism? Dig up any of firefingers' old posts. Heck even the one above is an example. Although keep in mind that he does not represent educated locals. |
| firefingers |
oh sweet heart there is no need to dig, I never said I liked you guys and I'll always hate you , you guys are good for nothing , and you are our slaves , the sooner you will realize that the sooner everyone will be happy, I admit it , I am .and you can't do nothing about it but watch us slave you . now all I'm saying is that start acting like men for ones in your life, and stop hiding behind your nick names, stop being such a little girls ( oh mommy this happened to me oh mommy the boy touch my mini skirt ) you loving lady stand up for your selves. This is my education gtmash. |
| bushra21 |
| you are the reason people hate us so much... :roll: |
| firefingers |
sorry but don't think I' ll just stand doing nothing while those ladies talks tasty about us in this love up forum. they are nothing but puppy's crying people who got issues in their lives and takes it out on our system, government or us.. you know it dear, non of what they are saying reflect us, culture or religion. solo things happen in their daily boring lives and they start crying here like moms boys. they got tasty jobs or life it is not our problem, suck it up people handle you tasty. and what I hate the most when most of them acts moderated and the truth is they them selves ran a way from their won love up countries looking for a better life that they found here, but nothing is ever good enough for them. I tried being polite with them and rational but they won't understand so I have to behave they way they understand and they way they behave in their won countries. so.. until I get kicked out of this forum I'll keep doing whatever I'm doing people >> see yaa |
| bushra21 |
| all right. but what good has that done? the only thing that has happened is that they have absolutely no respect towards you, and you come off as an uneducated, 'typical local'... you are basically proving their point. if you feel they are being ignorant then why act that way yourself? |
| firefingers |
honey I don't need those low life group of people approval or respect, they acuse us racism and if you look carefully throw the forum they always categorize all bad behaviors under locals, hell with them, that’s racism it self. They'll never tell the story like it is, they always generalize. I don't know what's wrong with them, I have more foreigner friends than they can count and starting from my childhood ,schools and work never I heard this pull shi* but here. Someone Behavior does not necessarily shows or tells his nationality. Stop linking those 2 things idiots.. |
| ^ian^ |
| Slaves eh? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH. Who is more dependent on who? Consider this in the equation. We can always leave. |
| fayz |
Out of curiosity, what was the cultural breakdown of the other people in the elevator? You mention a full elevator but not one person said anything? That in itself is sad. At the airport I had an issue where somebody tried to push infront of me in line, I pushed back. |
| Concord |
| Actually I think the post itself is racist. Maybe the person was simply a nasty person. So that the post could be "I saw this nasty person in the elevator today who did....". The assumption is that the person did it because of race but not necessarily. So making that asssumption would be racist itself. There is lots of racism in Dubai to be sure. |
| St.Lucifer |
:) If u really dont want the approval or respect of those low life groups, Y do you bother to post. Y do u take all the effort n go overboard to prove your point... Its just that you dont know how to put things in perspective or to use your words effectively to express yourself. Racism,Slavery exists everywhere at psycho, socio economical levels than physical. It's something that we can fight and fend off.. but slavery, the way u've understood it, is called cooperation. World peace everyone.. :) |
| fayz |
You know you've been in Dubai too long when you start quoting people by their race and job title, My Indian Coffee boy, My German doctor, etc. Sadly for most this happens in less than a week after arriving. Where else do you see this?? or have I been that sheltered? I remember going to my doctor back in Canada and never recall mentioning to anyone that he was Irish or my dentist and not saying my Chinese dentist, I’ve been in Dubai too long. |
| jabbajabba |
I totally relate to this - it's quite sad. Its also quite a contrast coming from the UK, where its gone to the other end - you could be the best man for the job, but equal opportunities schemes will mean it goes to someone else. |
| fayz |
| Being a visible minority I can relate to what you say, with a passion I hate equal opportunity rules, because even if you tend to be the most qualified people will assume it is because of your tan, Rules like this breed racisim. It is sad and I’m not smart enough to suggest a workable solution. But yes I think most just want an equal footing with others to compete for the same opportunity, I don’t want to be favoured or behind the eight ball. It's just easier said then done to implement. |
| Concord |
The solution is more exposure and inter-marriage. When everyone is "gray" then the world will be a better place. Ironically I think if you are black or very dark skinned (but not indian/pakistani/srilankan/bangladeshi) you will suffer less racism that if you were in say the USA/Canada, UK, Australia. More ironically the reason you would not experience "racism" is racism itself - that is, some people will give you preferntial treatment because you might be "local" or simply "arab" (all based on your race!). |
| gtmash |
Theoreticaly everyone would be brown. I haven't seen a gray person yet, except in vampire movies. |
| Dr.D |
Dead people are gray. |
| KeithL |
Well done Fayz :lol: |
| gtmash |
I thought you told me some guy at the airport pushed you back when you tried to cut in front for a toilet emergency. Was it Fez? |
| dale |
| An entire community should not be branded as racists because of a few people. The person obviously reflected his own cultural background, attitude and personality. I know some Locals and who are very cultured and sophisticated. Arabs have a wonderful history of culture and tradion but sadly some of the newer generations are not able to keep up to it. |
| Chocoholic |
| We are all citizens of the world - nothing more, nothing less. |
| fayz |
no? maybe you've mistaken me for some guy from the 70's show ;) |
| fayz |
well said. |
| firefingers |
thank you and I rest my case |
| benwj |
I suspect that the elevator case is no different. The office worker thought that it was OK to get into the lift in front of the other guy, who had been waiting (got off at the wrong floor), and was promptly dragged out. |
| St.Lucifer |
| ^ a different angle? a retake...:) r u tom tykwer.. run lola run fame.? :) |
| fayz |
True and good point, but the person doing the pushing said you're on the wrong floor, if he said wait your turn or something than that's one thing. Plus the OP said that there was enough room for 2 so these two things led me to make the conclusion I did. Possibly wrong though. |
| fayz |
Re-reading it could have meant that the other guy (ME) was saying he was on the wrong floor, or he was telling the other guy that ‘he’ was on the wrong floor. But if the response was saying that wasn’t professional I’m not sure that he (Indian guy) was budding. In my case for reference it was a person who looked of Indian/South Asian persuasion so I know there are rude from all cultures, and many here don't understand the concept of lines. I’m just not sure in the example given at the beginning of the post was the Indian guy being rude and cutting but rather the other guy. |
| Concord |
Now if the other guy was a dishdasher I would be impressed. Specially being pushed by someone with your hairdoo ^^^^^^^^^ |
| fayz |
| hahaha, I have no qualms about pushing back whomever they are but I've actually never had a really bad experience with a local. Only once a Leb tried to steal my parking spot at MOE and the experience above and both times I made my feelings known, I'm pretty sure the day I get deported it'll be for giving the wrong person the finger though, but meh i've had a good stint here, <-- actually edit, there was bad experience with a local lady who cut me off but I held my anger, because she was a she though, not because of her nationality. |
| Concord |
Me, I've done the finger thing a few times (without consequences). It's on auto-pilot/instinct. Now I just "wave"! p.s. I hope I don't loose the instinct or I'll get the crap beat out of me when I get back! |
| BabyDoll |
| Consider the following scenario. Could it be that: 1) The indian guy did not know the direction. Spoke to the arab man before the lift came re where he needed to go. 2) Knowing where the indian dude needed to go, the arab man tried to help (in this case pulled his arm) 3) Indian dude thought Arab man is gay since he touched him, so he retorted " this is not professional" 4) "I am not professional so what" - maybe arab man's English wasnt that good. I have come across arabs who said certain things which sounded rude and offensive but they dont mean it. As english is not their first language Personally I have been discrimated in this country but its none other than the british themselves and women !! Boo hoo.. |
| Caricatures@orangejar.com |
it's great that you had a sweet and smooth integration into life here. good for you! read somewhere in the replies that it could just be a case of rudeness, i agree. what you saw was not shocking racism, it's just a case of bad manners or well, no manners at all. but that's not saying that there's no racism or discrimination here, cos its everywhere. if you want to see racism, check the classifieds. that's a good start. |
| arjun7ue |
| There is nothing shocking in it. This is a reality here. The other day I was waiting for a taxi for 20 min. when one finally comes, this lebanese guy rushes in fropm somewhere behind. protesting that I was first - he rudely says "so what, what will you do, get lost!" All the middles easterns - lebanese, egyptians, palestinians are the worst of the lot. Disgusting attitude. Treat other people like crap. Most dirtiest attitude people I've seen in the world. The worst manners - whether it is on the road or in offices or public spaces. Doing business with them is pathetic. Locals are relatively better |
| nikka |
| Guys this is nothing new. A lot of arabs are rude and carry a vhip on their shoulders. I have experienced it many times. I was in S Arabia once. I was waiting for the lift behind a handful of ladies. The lift came and I waited for the ladies to get in first. As they got in, this arab guy came into the lobby and rushed towards the lift. I saw this and put my hand against the side of the lift to stop him barging in when he got there (I was still waiting for the ladies to finish getting in). He got there and pushedmy hand and got into the lift. I got into the lift and he started shouting at me in language. I could reply but pointed to the ladies trying to explain that the ladies need to board first. He carried on shouting, so I got of the lift and let them go; I caught another one. I could have floored this guy and given him some lessons in manners but when you are in their country the police is always on their side. Best way is always stay well out of way of the arabs. After 15 ceturies of Islam, good manners have not quite got to their culture and society. I am sorry if I offended anyone but this is the harsh reality. |
| Mr & Mrs Inquirer |
| Race row Tintin is best-seller By Bonnie Malkin 14/07/2007 Image hotlink - 'http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/07/14/ntintin114.gif' Sales of a Tintin comic book have rocketed by 3,800 per cent after Britain's equality watchdog claimed that it depicted "hideous racial prejudice". The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) condemned Tintin In The Congo for making black people "look like monkeys and talk like imbeciles" and called for it to be taken off the shelves. But its intervention seems only to have increased the popularity of the controversial book about the boy reporter, as by last night it had reached number eight on Amazon's most popular books list. The internet retailer said Tintin In The Congo had "jumped" into the top 10 since the CRE's comments, which followed a complaint by a member of the public. A spokesman for the CRE accepted that its comments may have fuelled the rise in sales but said: "It is a delicate balance but because we had a complaint from a member of the public we felt we had no choice." telegraph.co.uk |
| Bleakus |
shows that you are mature about this lol |
| St.Lucifer |
| :):) :) ^^ one thing for sure.. I'd seen this man at work.. :) without realizing its him :D during a blunt working day peak hr..He definitely didnt seem a nano fil racist :).. :D |
| Bleakus |
| I thank you sir |
| dave101 |
| getting back to the point of the post, there is certainly a layered class system here, tho being somewhere near the top is ok for me (english), id hate to be an indian in Dubai! whats this finget thing you are not allowed to gesture, is it just the single finger, so two fingers is ok, and also the glorious w nker, is that ok? i have found myself to be increasingly racist in Dubai, my blood boils when i see idiot muslims on the road, jumping queues, etc. im pretty sure im going to launch someone soon (i come from newcastle, its in my blood), i wonder what the repurcussions would be...? |
| gtmash |
You're the first guy to admit to the class system here. |
| uaebadoo |
| This could happen anywhere in the world, just take it easy and welcome to dubai |
| bushra21 |
yeah saying that isn't going to go over too well...especially if you are a local...they will jump all over you for that. because apparently it doesnt matter, the only thing that does matter is that 'locals' are racist :roll: |
| uaebadoo |
| :D |
| uaebadoo |
|
| bushra21 |
| you, firfingers, symmetric, i pray to god you aren't really locals because you just make us looks bad and enforce those stereotypes :roll: |
| uaebadoo |
Ofcourse I am proudly pure local from Alain, you said they think we are racist so what u want me to say about those people, I was educated in the US, England, France, and I have visited many many countries of the world and I know what is racisim means, so let them say what they want, but I am sure there are many many non-nationals who dont think that way about us |
| bushra21 |
yes but it doesnt mean we have to enforce their stereotypes.... and many locals have lived and studied outside of the uae and know what racisim is as well...but to completely dismiss it in our own country is wrong and just plain stupid. |
| uaebadoo |
I did not mean to enforce any stereotypes but I meant that racisim is much worst in other countries of the world compared to the UAE |
| arniegang |
| that is not always the case |
| gtmash |
I wouldn't say it is racism as much as it is a class system around here. Anyway, I have this big Indian friend who was once referred to as a "bloody Indian" by a British family as they fought over a parking space at a mall. Now that was a case of a blatant racist remark. Seems he is the target of aggressive behaviour (from all nationalities) a lot just for looking especially Indian, although he puts these people back in their place due to his size and tough attitude. Local cops occassionally speak to Brits and Indians differently, but that's because it is automatically assumed that the Indians might be a middle-class nobody. But they are fair I'd say. |
| xibit |
since u r a PURE local i guess ur dad is from iran and mom from the philipines ? |
| uaebadoo |
And u r guessing who is ur dad,Hint: I might be one of them |
| Rosbif71 |
| this coutry is institutionally racist. I doesnt matte how long you live here or what you do for the country you will never get citizenship! |
| bushra21 |
That isn't completely true. I know of some who are not even arabs that carry a UAE passport. Also, I see no problem with the govt not handing out UAE passports to any bloke that decides to move here...we aren't the U.S.... :roll: |
| gtmash |
Bush, it's not that easy getting a UAE passport. That said, there are Iranians, Omanis and a few Indians who did become UAE passport holders, but they have had family in the country since before independence, in the days when it was possible to mingle with Sheikh Rashid and company on the streets. In the US, it is a more straightforward affair, without uncertainties such as how much wastaa you have. Of course, they reject you if your name matches some terror suspect (which is retarded), but they have specific rules that one can follow. |
| bushra21 |
I know...that's what I said, except you put in a -- umm, more in depth manner. |
| arniegang |
Well i can say as a true Brit, what and how the UAE is an example of what the so called western countries had many years ago. The difference is that the UAE wont change because thats how it is, like it or fcuk off and then theres us - the Brits We pay 40% tax to subsidise everyone and anyone that gets on a plane train or boat to the UK, so that our government can give them housing, benefits and enough money that the majority take without giving fcuk all back. Racist moi ? - if you say so :roll: Having immigrants into your own country then let them take the piss - yep thats the British. UAE - racist no, they are just protecting their interests and why shouldn't they, its their country and like i said in the begining, if you dont like it, then go elsewhere. End of So |
| The Major |
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| Chocoholic |
| Agree with you Arnie. I nearly fell over when recently the UK government were talking about getting UK citizens overseas to pay tax! My butt, they gotta find me first, I'm not paying a penny to that country, so someone else can sponge off my hard earned cash. I' happily pay tax to the UAE, where I'm resident, but why the heck should I pay taxes to a country I'm not resident in, nor have any intention of goig back to. |
| arniegang |
| you are probably referring to the Revenue getting tax from all those who are UK residents but have offshore accounts and not declaring their untaxed interest Chocs. Currently if you are absent for more that 186 days a year you are safe and not subject to UK tax. |
| scarlet |
| my cats racist. Every time a workman enters the house to deliver furniture or for maintenance he hides under the couch cover. What to do about this. What does it say? |
| Sydneysider |
| one thing i have found is that most south asians i have encountered here seem to me incredibly respectful of others in a way that may seem almost deferrent (tho i don't perceive it that way). perhaps this cultural emphasis on respect is mistaken as a sign of weakness/inferiority? i have found arab people i have encountered as extremely hospitable and humble. 'locals' i have had the pleasure to meet=lovely. saudis whom i were told are 'arrogant'=lovely & proud of their culture. i risk stereotyping two groups of people (i'm an anglo-american) and i apologise, but if i have done so, it is only in an honestly positive way because this is how i have perceived my own personal treatment/reception. i'm not naive and have been around (and lived a few places) a while BUT there are jerks in every group/race/class. dubai-- no exception. yes, there is a class system here-- like everywhere else. but dubai is pretty OK imho. let a thousand flowers bloom... |
| gtmash |
You just said you are anglo-american. That automatically gets you respect here, no matter where the other person is from. |
| jabbajabba |
That is true - philpinos are some of the nicest and friendly people I have met in Dubai. I wish they would all come to the UK instead ;) |
| SCY |
| ^Filipino workers are no longer welcome to work in UK due to EU. I think UK should focus on the real illegal immigrants, and not the group of workers, who went there legally to work. |