Let me start by 1st stating that, "NOT ALL WESTERNERS/EXPATS ARE LIKE THIS" and that as I have mentioned on several occasions how I've met "a lot of really nice people" who have quite frankly welcomed me and are helping me with my transition through their communications and company (i.e. hanging out together) This is my disclaimer since there are some who can't read and comprehend. (LOL) Now that I have gotten my disclaimer out of the way....I have to ask: Why is it that if I get any type of comment to any particular post the person who "takes it out of context and gets defensive" is always a westerner/expat?
I have yet to get that from an Arab/Saudi who responds to either my posts or videos. In fact: on my video comments the Saudi/Arab's are always either welcoming, informing, or trying to educate me a little. But I never get the "get over it" or "so what" comments from them; it's always (from what I can guess based on the entire comment and/or their alias) from westerners/expats.
So...before I start getting slandered and receiving hate mail; I'm seriously curious about this phenomena. What is it? So...the comments I would like to receive on this are answers to my question as to why the westerners/expats, are the one's who are defensive and in some cases just rude?
Below are the 16 comments (these are all the comments received) on my video: Living in Saudi Arabia: 2 Weeks In. Please Note the comment from SAUDIBIPASHA who stated: Thank you for your beautiful feelings towards the My beautiful Saudi Arabia
Following is the link to the video comments page and the all of the actual comments submitted
http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=YuIrsTrOs0I&fromurl=/watch%3Fv%3DYuIrsTrOs0I%26feature%3Dchannel_page
All Comments (16 total)
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abaya looks kool on you
5 stars rate
LOL - 5 stars, I love the black dress, I want one
you are so funny!! lol!! that looks so good on you....i would love to go to any country and live like them for a year, you should try to learn arabic !! i cant wait to see the rest of your videos...by the way im watching all the way from cali baby!! haha take care and remember don't eat or drink with your left hand k..laaaaaaaaaaaaate
All the way from cali baby!! I love it...my home state. I'll be there for about 3 weeks in April...can't wait. And, yes...I plan to take some Arabic classes...but don't expect to hear me speaking it in the near future.
the black dress is a most for her in Saudi or she'll be arrested
Actually, that's not entirely true. I've seen numerous Western women in the malls without the Abaya on. I hear it's worst in Riyadh, but in Khobar...I see it quite regularly...western women not wearing the abaya. And, I myself, never cover my hair, even when I'm wearing the abaya.
May I suggest you shop for a "Jallabiyah". There's some really nice ones out there. I'm following your posts with lots of interest, and wish you a pleasant, memorable stay in Al-Khobar.
Well in Jeddah u will but not like Riyad dont evan think about it
well in jeddah u might be but in right or like some rural area u will be and evan might have a hearing with a Judge
LOL that was very funny , ill subscribe to you , waitng for more !!!
BTW am from qatar next to saudi
lool ..... I sow your older post first, the one you were talking about moving in ..... I was like : now here is another foreigner (particularly American) who think she is going to a desert and expecting to find camels and oil wells every where.... Saudi Arabia is way more than that .... and I hope you have the time to discover for yourself welcome to Saudi Arabia .... I would pour you a small cup of Arabian coffee if I could :)
That was you making assumptions about me. And, BTW: in my 1st post NEVER stated that. But...don't act like this isn't the desert...because it is. It is a desert with houses, streets, stores, restaurants, airports, etc...but none the less...it's the desert. And, you know you can't even think about offering me coffee. =) You're on restriction. LOL
hhhhhh cool
just like California :) .....( minus everything) loooool
well if you ever had the time to visit Riyadh you and your husband..... just give me a note .... you'll see what I can do.... :)
True that! Actually, when we drive around in some spots here it actually looks a lot like the western (inland) coast of Mexico.
I plan to visit Riyadh...I don't know when...but how can I not visit Riyadh at some point, just like I must go to Jeddah.
hay .. nice of you to show a good point of view about Saudi..
by the way.. i think you should go to Jeddah.. it's way cool than Riyadh..
both are nice places but Jeddah is better
oh.. i forgot.. wellcom to Saudi :))
Your soooo lucky!!
hey i'm from Saudi and i find you very interesting and funny would you like to be on saudi TV to tell your story ?? that would be awesome .waiting for your reply :)
Dear Madam
Thank you for your beautiful feelings towards the My beautiful Saudi Arabia
Believe me, the people of Saudi Arabia, a peaceful and good
I admire your beautiful Madam
you are welcome in saudi arabia =)
7 comments:
If you are referring to my comment on the prayer timetable, you are wrong..
I am neither a Westerner/American, and neither do I live in the Middle East expat.
Wow...is your ego such that you think I would devote an entire post to you; over your silly "so what"? BTW: A dear friend of mine wanted me to tell her about the prayer schedule, since she heard me mention it a few times.
OK. Maybe I shouldn't attack you. However, NO this post isn't about you or any person in particular...it was a general question based on what I've experienced.
We are thinking about moving to SA and so I have been looking at the SA Expat site, of course I stumbled across you and your blog. I enjoy your blog and also enjoy all the controversy that it stimulates :) You are always going to get this kind of stuff and in my opinion, you open yourself up to it with open blogs and posting on websites, it comes with the territory. I am not saying you are deserving of it but that you should expect it. But what makes the HUGE difference is how to deal with it. I personally would just let it slide, when you respond you in essence feed the fire and it is just not worth it. They then know that they have ruffled your feathers and get their secret sense of satisfaction. Rise above it girl, you will feel so much better for it. Keep up the good work, I look forward to more blogs when you return to SA.
We are thinking about moving to SA and so I have been looking at the SA Expat site, of course I stumbled across you and your blog. I enjoy your blog and also enjoy all the controversy that it stimulates :) You are always going to get this kind of stuff and in my opinion, you open yourself up to it with open blogs and posting on websites, it comes with the territory. I am not saying you are deserving of it but that you should expect it. But what makes the HUGE difference is how to deal with it. I personally would just let it slide, when you respond you in essence feed the fire and it is just not worth it. They then know that they have ruffled your feathers and get their secret sense of satisfaction. Rise above it girl, you will feel so much better for it. Keep up the good work, I look forward to more blogs when you return to SA.
Anon363: Controversy. Well....really that is the last thing I've wanted to create. My intention with this blog was to just document my experience for my friends and family back home. So...it is written in a tone as if I were having drinks with this person and "tellin' them my experience". They enjoy reading it because they can totally hear me from the tone of it and I enjoy writing it...because there is such a difference in culture....even how the Americans act here versus in the states, you have to share that stuff.
But...as you state...when you open yourself up...you're bound to get those few who...
I actually thought about making it available to just my friends and family by password protecting it...but I found I had more people reading it than I knew about...so I'm still on the fence about that one. Or...as you imply...I may need to just toughen my skin. We'll see.
Thanks for the comment.
Password protection is great for me and my family. Best wishes
Don't worry about the trolls. I really don't see how what you've written can generate that much so-called 'controversy'. If anything, I would just look to the Saudis who read your site or watch your videos as the litmus test - they praise you highly for showing KSA in a positive light. Your blog is about how you're adjusting to a brand new culture - there will be some hiccups and learning curves, and I'm sure the Saudis are fully aware of this and are not offended that you are writing about how you're adjusting to their culture. This is a universal story of any expat, really - if I moved to the States I'd likely be blogging about my Tim Hortons withdrawl, and how I'm grumpy it's somewhat harder to find live hockey on TV ;)
Password your blog if you want, but don't do it because of a couple of trolls!
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