patience wrote:Absolutely just because somebody doesn't live in Dubai does not mean that they cannot have an opinion and I have met enough people to know that not everbody shares mine!!! But as BM will be the first to admit from her previous posts it is your experiences that shape those opinions. Whilst travelling to Dubai BM's experiences seem to have been pretty positive, who's to say that this will continue. Maybe she will change her mind, but as somebody who comes and goes the chances are she will not. If however she lived in Dubai for a significant period of time the likelihood of her opinion changing increases significantly. Most people on this forum are Dubai haters based on their experiences living in the region and the majority of those negative experiences comes from direct contact with the locals. Until BM experiences any unpleasantness first hand she will of course understandably 'take as she finds', and right at this moment in time that is the smiling, sincerity of the Emirati's. It is no good anybody telling her that it is a crock until they turn on her (and I hope to God they do not). It is however a little naive to suggest that people only find themselves in trouble in Dubai because they break the law, anybody who has been targeted by the locals over some petty grievance knows that the locals realise that the legal system is in place solely for their benefit and they go about using this for their own ends. It is the very fact that the law is weighted so heavily in their favour and that as a non muslim you will be discriminated against that has people so riled.
Yes Patience, I agree with most of your post but I have to say that the majority of people finding themselves in trouble here is because they have broken the law or have been very ignorant of local customs.
That's not to say ALL. I fully accept that there are some who have been very unfortunate in their experiences in Dubai. I know of at least two who post here who have my full sympathy for them finding themselves in their own predicament. I have heard their stories and they are truely horrific. I hope they get justice and can move on with their lives in a positive manner.
I can have no sympathy for those who find themselves in trouble for having a quickie on the beach or touching each other up in the local burger bar.
Long may my visits to Dubai be peaceful. It's one of the reasons why I chose this country for my holiday home.
I don't get any hassle, apart from the usual stares from the Indians.
-- Thu May 19, 2011 3:53 pm --
patience wrote:Well as I have never met UAE Kid I cannot comment on whether he is reasonable or not, he may well be but my experiences colour my judgement of the locals and that doesn't allow me to give the benefit of the doubt to him. I don't think I would even risk trying to get to know him in real life and I am pretty sure he would feel the same about me. The only evidence I have for my opinion of UAE Kid is his posts on the forum.
Patience, surely you must realise that you can't judge people from what they write here? Why do you say you wouldn't risk getting to know him in real life? Are you afraid of the locals? I bet he's a perfectly reasonable person, face to face. You can't blame him for sticking up for his country. I would do the same for England. My country isn't perfect but I would object to foreigners bad mouthing it.