tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post116139990268922729..comments2024-03-28T22:59:15.275+04:00Comments on UAE Community Blog: Blogosphere Mannerssecretdubaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13115610824191031176noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161533067916341762006-10-22T20:04:00.000+04:002006-10-22T20:04:00.000+04:00DG: please let me state: in no way was I offended ...<B>DG:</B> please let me state: in no way was I offended by what you said. I can only be offended if I allow myself to feel that way, and I didn't!<BR/><BR/>My intention was to say that I thought that your message was relevant to all bloggers, regardless of their religious beliefs.<BR/><BR/>And if you see bloggers commenting that they are more superior, then name and shame them! :-)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your thoughtful response and clarification, and Eid Mubarak to you.nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161517602362982612006-10-22T15:46:00.000+04:002006-10-22T15:46:00.000+04:00DG: Don't take this wrong way, but I have no inter...DG: Don't take this wrong way, but I have no interest in being judged according to the beliefs of a man who died over a thousand years ago.marwanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10304774218048387311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161515207395724622006-10-22T15:06:00.000+04:002006-10-22T15:06:00.000+04:00Thanks for your kind words, DG."Non-muslim blogger...Thanks for your kind words, DG.<BR/><BR/><I>"Non-muslim bloggers don't need a reminder because they are supposedly more "cultured" than us."</I><BR/><BR/>It depends what you mean by being "cultured". Take for example a local muslim man in a spotless white robe, who enjoys reading and writing Arabic poetry, holding the door open for you at a restaurant. Compare him with a non-muslim tourist from the UK who walks around the lobby of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in a cheap-looking bikini, tattoos and gut hanging out, swearing into a blingy mobile phone as she pushes her way to the front of the lift-queue.<BR/><BR/>But then compare a muslim man on Jumeirah Beach in a dirty robe, who comes and stares at women, and makes lewd suggestions to them, with an elderly non-muslim lady who has come to Dubai to visit the museum and heritage areas, and has learnt some simple Arabic phrases to try and communicate politely with those she meets.<BR/><BR/>A lot of it is about education, and parental upbringing. But I think basic human decency and humankindness transcend even that. I have been shown kindness and respect by the lowliest kind of worker here, and I have been offended by far richer, more powerful people who have been rude or dismissive. Regardless of religion, regardless of race.secretdubaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13115610824191031176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161507046793489582006-10-22T12:50:00.000+04:002006-10-22T12:50:00.000+04:00Anon @ 07:44 Come back when you can debate constru...<B>Anon @ 07:44</B> Come back when you can debate constructively and contribute to the conversation.nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161488667909923722006-10-22T07:44:00.000+04:002006-10-22T07:44:00.000+04:00bla bla bla NZM, this blog should be called expat ...bla bla bla NZM, <BR/>this blog should be called expat venting blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161448583715050372006-10-21T20:36:00.000+04:002006-10-21T20:36:00.000+04:00hopless: or was that supposed to be hopeless?Criti...<B>hopless:</B> or was that supposed to be <B>hopeless</B>?<BR/><BR/>Criticise, no - constructively critique, yes.<BR/><BR/>There are so many comments being made that (often innocently) create further divide when the aim has been to unite.<BR/><BR/>As always, it needs people to re-read their posts and comments, then think, and then think again about what they've written before they hit the publish button.nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161446456477803872006-10-21T20:00:00.000+04:002006-10-21T20:00:00.000+04:00LOL DG, it doesn't matter what you do or say, they...LOL DG, it doesn't matter what you do or say, they will always find something to criticize.<BR/>The only person who seemed to get your poit here was SD.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161442110505586182006-10-21T18:48:00.000+04:002006-10-21T18:48:00.000+04:00DG: I agree with this post, however I do also find...DG: I agree with this post, however I do also find askance in why you had to include this:<BR/>This post is a reminder to fellow muslim bloggers about the good manners which our religion teaches us. Non-muslim bloggers don't need a reminder because they are supposedly more "cultured" than us.<BR/><BR/>Blogging etiquette is not governed by religion - it's about respect and tolerance, and the ability to debate in a reasonable and intelligent manner without having to resort to profanity or personal insults.<BR/><BR/>Good manners are taught and also learned, and from some bloggers' responses it appears that they are just as quickly forgotten.<BR/><BR/>If most parents saw what their kids were writing on blogs, they'd smack their children around the ears with comments like, "We didn't raise you to use such language and to be so disrespectful." :-)<BR/><BR/>Your reminder would have been less diluted had you aimed it at the blogging community as a whole, instead of segregating the UAE blogging community into muslim and non-muslim. In the Secret Dubai post that you refer to, I also doubt that all the profanities and insults were from bloggers who are muslim.<BR/><BR/>We can all learn from hadiths - in the Bible they are known as lessons or epistles. Whatever they're called and from whichever brand of religion they hail, their pure message is the same.nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161442019494684222006-10-21T18:46:00.000+04:002006-10-21T18:46:00.000+04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161425188875935152006-10-21T14:06:00.000+04:002006-10-21T14:06:00.000+04:00I'd rather be someone who spoke profanely but hone...I'd rather be someone who spoke profanely but honestly, than someone who was slowly strangling themselves in a straitjacket of civility. <BR/><BR/>FYI, I never swore anything worse than 'Damn' once till the age of twenty. <BR/>*That* was being immature.marwanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10304774218048387311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161424880736612752006-10-21T14:01:00.000+04:002006-10-21T14:01:00.000+04:00Thanks for this DG!In retrospect, I should have ju...Thanks for this DG!<BR/><BR/>In retrospect, I should have just deleted the offensive post (as it was clearly trollish) and not reacted. I think what really got to me was that it wasn't intended in any way to be a negative or anti-Islamic post/poem. And what also got to me is that I truly do have a lot of admiration for the concept of Ramadan: a month when people slow down a bit and focus on family and the poor.secretdubaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13115610824191031176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161422733060768742006-10-21T13:25:00.000+04:002006-10-21T13:25:00.000+04:00I like the self confidence in Arabs and Muslims no...I like the self confidence in Arabs and Muslims nowadays!!<BR/><BR/>"Non-muslim bloggers don't need a reminder because they are supposedly more "cultured" than us."Arab Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079717554425500917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161422515212589992006-10-21T13:21:00.000+04:002006-10-21T13:21:00.000+04:00I feel regardless of the name, every religion teac...I feel regardless of the name, every religion teaches its followers to be cordial in their language and behaviour.<BR/><BR/>I feel many of the commentators on SD's blog enjoy the sadistic pleasure of using foul language, calling her filthy names, and trying to "write" their voice... which they wouldn't have even thought in their dreams to do in person!<BR/><BR/>It also sadly reflects the state of (I guess) many of the young local residents here - and I'm intentionally not pointing to any religion or nationality here! Arrogance, improper use of their religious perspectives and language, and overall abusive temperament, germinating from not being able to match their skills and education to that of the expats here, are together taking their toll. Unless checked we can expect total sweep-out of the UAE's <B>local identity</B> 10 years from now.shansentahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116071647828153760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161419978614637082006-10-21T12:39:00.000+04:002006-10-21T12:39:00.000+04:00I think that a person should have a right to act o...I think that a person should have a right to act or speak in whatever manner they wish unless it materially impairs a society's ability to function. And while it is incredibly rude to refer to SD as a "whore," I think that what you walk away with is that the person who said it is a moron. I mean, we as educated people can draw the conclusion that in this case the profanity was used a personal attack and as such can make further conclusions about the person's motivation in making such a statement. But to ban profanity on the basis of civility? Or religious precepts?<BR/><BR/>Sorry, I can't fucking go there.<BR/><BR/>In 1944, Felix Frankfurter wrote:<BR/><BR/><I>"One of the prerogatives of (REDACTED) citizenship is the right to criticize public men and measures - and that means not only informed and responsible criticism but the freedom to speak foolishly and without moderation."</I><BR/><BR/>The context was a US Supreme Court ruling on the right to free speech. I redacted the word "American" because I personally believe these ideals should apply everywhere.<BR/><BR/>And also because most people in this region go fucking batshit whenever they hear the word "American" these days.<BR/><BR/>And I'm sorry if the words "fucking" or "batshit" offend your sense of blogosphere manners, but it's occasionally helpful to <I>"speak foolishly and without moderation..."</I>i, Bobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13445841923478826203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161419840311635632006-10-21T12:37:00.000+04:002006-10-21T12:37:00.000+04:00DG tries irony!DG tries irony!Keefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04820411415545249138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161419645377777202006-10-21T12:34:00.000+04:002006-10-21T12:34:00.000+04:00"This post is a reminder to fellow muslim bloggers..."This post is a reminder to fellow muslim bloggers about the good manners which our religion teaches us. Non-muslim bloggers don't need a reminder because they are supposedly more "cultured" than us."<BR/><BR/>This in my opinion, is worse than any foul language anyone can use. Very predjudiced and uneducated thing to say.skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564687286743254317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161419417716364762006-10-21T12:30:00.000+04:002006-10-21T12:30:00.000+04:00Yes you can.Thanks to statements like this:"This p...Yes you can.<BR/>Thanks to statements like this:<BR/><BR/>"This post is a reminder to fellow muslim bloggers about the good manners which our religion teaches us. Non-muslim bloggers don't need a reminder because they are supposedly more "cultured" than us.'<BR/><BR/>Wonder what it means. What do other religions teach? (Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism and countles others practised around the world.) Who exactly is creating a clear separation between Muslims and "everyone else" (i.e., the "kaffirs")?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161410017773819982006-10-21T09:53:00.000+04:002006-10-21T09:53:00.000+04:00it seems most folks kissed and made up. SD, I thin...it seems most folks kissed and made up. SD, I think you've done a fantastic job, bringing all bloggers together to the community blog. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Can't help feel concerned - if the recent blogs, including, those in 7days are anything to go by - you can slice the social tensions in Dubai with a knife.roshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03271894997251528158noreply@blogger.com