tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post116151425093476652..comments2024-03-27T15:47:17.599+04:00Comments on UAE Community Blog: The next timesecretdubaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13115610824191031176noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161734934557387022006-10-25T04:08:00.000+04:002006-10-25T04:08:00.000+04:00If there was one. I lost interest halfway through ...If there was one. I lost interest halfway through War and Peace up there.marwanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10304774218048387311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161727284456382322006-10-25T02:01:00.000+04:002006-10-25T02:01:00.000+04:00BabyKaos,I suspect your intent was lost somewhere ...BabyKaos,<BR/>I suspect your <I>intent</I> was lost somewhere in your meaningless, tediously protracted speech; unless your purpose was to bore people silly.<BR/><BR/>In writing, clarity and conciseness go a long way when you want to make a point.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161714451946742202006-10-24T22:27:00.000+04:002006-10-24T22:27:00.000+04:00Nyet Sam. Methinks, that 'go post a thread' thing ...Nyet Sam. Methinks, that 'go post a thread' thing was the official UAE response: "You have a problem? Go swim in the desert." And our suggestion box is directly connected to our shredder, please use the facility.<BR/><BR/>But I could be wrong.Prometheushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00100825003021199721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161693368984140862006-10-24T16:36:00.000+04:002006-10-24T16:36:00.000+04:00"everyone that has a comment on anything other the...<I>"everyone that has a comment on anything other then what I intended this post to be go post a thread on it."</I><BR/><BR/>excuse my narcissism; but is there some reason why I feel you are avoiding responding to my comments? Have I done something to anger you?samuraisamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06177501779546963794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161638981306990612006-10-24T01:29:00.000+04:002006-10-24T01:29:00.000+04:00Off topic: how much are one of those sable hats go...<EM>Off topic: how much are one of those sable hats going for these days? </EM><BR/><BR/>Dunno mate. I'll let you know when it gets cold enough that I have to buy one. :)Tim Newmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12037178111868843708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161634525359352782006-10-24T00:15:00.000+04:002006-10-24T00:15:00.000+04:00everyone that has a comment on anything other then...everyone that has a comment on anything other then what I intended this post to be go post a thread on it.inmotionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16146200951322929386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161628579350128102006-10-23T22:36:00.000+04:002006-10-23T22:36:00.000+04:00Dear Babykaos,I do not wish to comment on SD issue...Dear Babykaos,<BR/><BR/>I do not wish to comment on SD issue since it does not interest me. <BR/><BR/>Some of the other comments about expats however disturbed me and I wanted to share some thoughts re same. <BR/><BR/>Until last year, there were some extremely high paid jobs available in Iraq, due to the risks attached to a war-zone. People still took those jobs, and some of them died. By your logic, it would seem we should not condemn such act since these employee's knew what they were getting into. For this reason, I do not concur that this logic should be acceptable. <BR/><BR/>Please also note that UAE is a member country of the ILO and has ratified (confirmed, formally) nine ILO conventions including,<BR/>• Convention No. 29: Forced Labour, 1930<BR/>• Convention No.100: Equal Remuneration, 1951<BR/>• Convention No.105: Abolition of Forced Labour, 1957<BR/>• Convention No. 111: Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), 1958<BR/>• Convention No. 138: Minimum Age, 1973<BR/>• Convention No. 192: Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999<BR/><BR/>I am sure there is no need for me to go into how many of them are currently being adhered to (and that is not saying none of them). I also admit that UAE has come some way in human rights, but it still has considerable distance to cover. Taking the high road, and ignoring the rights of 75% of the total population does not seem to be the best road to same.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161623816162993932006-10-23T21:16:00.000+04:002006-10-23T21:16:00.000+04:00Woo hoo! This is getting longer than Tolkien's wor...Woo hoo! This is getting longer than Tolkien's works. I add my irrelevant bit, nonetheless. <BR/><BR/>BabyK, sweets you need to write a wee bit more concise. I'm sure it ain't my Attention Deficit Disorder but reading thru this takes stamina and time. Both of those, like you suggested, are more required to 'deal with / move on' wrt Etisalat and DEWA. I dunno if anybody else faced this but meself finds no truth is 'you knew what you were getting into before getting here'. As an entrepreneur, all I got was superglossies extolling this Vegas of the East. And as Sam rightly said, what of folk born here?Prometheushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00100825003021199721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161611581003276462006-10-23T17:53:00.000+04:002006-10-23T17:53:00.000+04:00Unless somebody can stand having their most treasu...<I>Unless somebody can stand having their most treasured beliefs ridiculed, mocked, slandered, and torn to shreds then those beliefs aren't worth a damn anyway.</I><BR/><BR/>Right on the money, Tim.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, it makes not one bit of difference to the audience you aimed it at. Independent secular thought with regard to the society & government is unkown here. Which means we live in an Islamic Mississippi until folks can place individual rights within the proper context.<BR/><BR/>Off topic: how much are one of those sable hats going for these days?i, Bobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13445841923478826203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161576677297563382006-10-23T08:11:00.000+04:002006-10-23T08:11:00.000+04:00sam, the emirates evening post put up an article a...sam, the emirates evening post put up an article about the camel jockeys..out of the 800 that were meant to be sent back, only 300 were traceable and 500 are now 'missing'...<BR/><BR/>it's too bad that the evening post doesn't have a website, thou some of their stories are worth a readAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161574448126666932006-10-23T07:34:00.000+04:002006-10-23T07:34:00.000+04:00"I agree with Sam. A lot of us ("expats", "arabs",..."I agree with Sam. A lot of us ("expats", "arabs", "subcons")didn't have a choice, neither did our families. My family moved to Dubai in the sixties, when the UAE was all sand, and nothing else. I didn't agree to any "crap" I was going to get when I was born here. True, I can leave, but what if I don't want to? Should I just "put up and shut up"?<BR/><BR/>Thanks - The pills were placebos. Often I feel, we are perhaps the forgotten ones - I can't call the land I was born & raised - home, because that's the law of the land (I am not saying this is a fault or otherwise). Part of the frustration is - I can't feel "at home" whilst at my parents home countries (India or the UK), because I do not fit in.<BR/><BR/>Few years ago, I chose to make a “home” for myself and moved to NYC (perhaps the most cosmopolitan and multi-cultural city on this globe) and here I have found several like I. I have a fantastic job, an amazing apartment overlooking the river and friends I can relate to. <BR/><BR/>However Every Christmas, I find myself going “home” - to walk the neighborhood I grew up, to be with the people I care for in life – to be around places, which made me what I am today. There are days, I wish I could do away with such feelings for good - wish I had a choice.roshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03271894997251528158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161573804495667542006-10-23T07:23:00.000+04:002006-10-23T07:23:00.000+04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.roshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03271894997251528158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161571150395420792006-10-23T06:39:00.000+04:002006-10-23T06:39:00.000+04:00Dear me! Don't tempers get frayed easily in the h...Dear me! Don't tempers get frayed easily in the heat of the desert!<BR/><BR/>Some people take offence way too easily, and if that is a cultural thing then the culture is doomed to failure from the outset. Unless somebody can stand having their most treasured beliefs ridiculed, mocked, slandered, and torn to shreds then those beliefs aren't worth a damn anyway.<BR/><BR/>I have to say, the Russians have a far greater sense of humour, and indeed perspective. True, call on of them a goat and he'll give you a good kicking. But generally, you can make heaps of fun about their country and culture and they simply laugh and pour you another vodka.<BR/><BR/>Yup, even with the winter closing in without mercy, I'm not sorry I left Dubai.Tim Newmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12037178111868843708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161565536627216792006-10-23T05:05:00.000+04:002006-10-23T05:05:00.000+04:00Let's start by clarifying things, shall we?1.And n...Let's start by clarifying things, shall we?<BR/><BR/>1.<B>And no I don't think expats here are only westerners .. expat is everyone that isn't from here by citizenship ..</B><BR/>Sorry, I thought otherwise....and to help you understand, I've quoted some of your gems:<BR/><BR/><B>Moving on to the expat vs local and expact vs arab and everyone vs the subcons debate that keeps coming up and up again.</B><BR/>So who are these expats you talk about?<BR/><BR/>And again: <BR/><B>As for expats: The majority of you get better jobs than your arab and subcon counterparts...</B><BR/>??????<BR/>You can't blame me for being confused. <BR/><BR/>The sentence structure comment is a fact...and for your benefit, I will explain myself:<BR/>What you said: <B>The next time you work overtime for a week or 6 months maybe and you feel underpaid, find another job that pays you more if you can and if you can't invest in your skills and then find another job that pays you more.</B><BR/><BR/>What I read: <B>If you're underpaid (for whatever reasons)in your current job, look for something else or if you can't; "invest in your skills" and look for another job.</B><BR/>What does that even mean?<BR/><BR/>Sorry, I find your posts too long, boring and pointless.<BR/><BR/>2. I don't believe I mentioned anywhere that you created any issues. You are what you write; I make that assumption since you've openly stated that you speak your mind freely.<BR/><BR/>Maybe instead of tagging all laborers as "subcons"(I believe I've seen a few Filipinos and Arabs in the mix), just refer to them as laborers.<BR/><BR/>The race isn't the issue here, is it? We're talking about basic rights that every human being is entitled to. <BR/><BR/><B>It isn't easy to change jobs but you don't seem to suffer from that problem or the many other problems the remaining members of your cultural group suffer from ..</B><BR/><BR/>I wasn't offended before, though I'm laughing now. <BR/>The subcons/south asians comprise 57% of the population in the UAE.<BR/><BR/>And we all have "problems"...LOLERZ.<BR/>I reiterate....I don't but the rest of the subcons do- you said it, not I.<BR/><BR/>(It would be funny, and a bit sick if sarcasm was your intent).<BR/><BR/>And you say I'm jumping to conclusions.<BR/><BR/>I agree with Sam. A lot of us ("expats", "arabs", "subcons")didn't have a choice, neither did our families. My family moved to Dubai in the sixties, when the UAE was all sand, and nothing else. I didn't agree to any "crap" I was going to get when I was born here. True, I can leave, but what if I don't want to? Should I just "put up and shut up"?<BR/><BR/>It's impossible not to have expectations and grievances; after all this is theoretically "home" for most of us.<BR/><BR/>SD singlehandedly revolutionized the UAE blogosphere; from spoilt expat teenagers who <B>tYpE LiEk diS</B> to great, thought-provoking blogs. <BR/><BR/>And for that, I thank her ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161563553105264062006-10-23T04:32:00.000+04:002006-10-23T04:32:00.000+04:00Word to Harsha.Word to Harsha.marwanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10304774218048387311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161561126725287632006-10-23T03:52:00.000+04:002006-10-23T03:52:00.000+04:00Nice post BK, well writtenNice post BK, well writtenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161558326287735152006-10-23T03:05:00.000+04:002006-10-23T03:05:00.000+04:00"The only reason I can come up with all the cribbi..."The only reason I can come up with all the cribbing about whats going on here is because we care, we want the place we consider home to be a better place and stray away of things which are otherwise not socially acceptable."<BR/><BR/>True that Harsha, I share your sentiments.roshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03271894997251528158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161557384930855992006-10-23T02:49:00.000+04:002006-10-23T02:49:00.000+04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.roshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03271894997251528158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161537865518685592006-10-22T21:24:00.000+04:002006-10-22T21:24:00.000+04:00My fav from SD's commentors is Al republican.. Who...My fav from SD's commentors is Al republican.. Who can turn anything into a religious blame game. No matter how Dubai or ppl centric the topic maybe, he can turn it into an offensive ' my religion is better than yours' argument without even the slightest idea about the background of the person hes pointing at.<BR/><BR/>All that aside, for all those ppl who keep saying ' if you dont like it leave and go back to your own country'<BR/><BR/>Like, Sam, I was born and brought up here too.. all my life.. this is home and I know plenty plently more just like that. The only reason I can come up with all the cribbing about whats going on here is because we care, we want the place we consider home to be a better place and stray away of things which are otherwise not socially acceptable. <BR/><BR/>And as far as those stories are concerned Sam, the local press here, clearly was not allowed to publish it. Confirmed.Harshahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02226854548006061537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161533753910684822006-10-22T20:15:00.000+04:002006-10-22T20:15:00.000+04:00"If you feel that you are unable to express your m...<I>"If you feel that you are unable to express your mind anywhere than other the internet how is that something to blame me for?"</I><BR/>I'm not blaming you.<BR/>and I don't think you get it; there is a reason people express themselves on the internet and through letters to the editor; journalists don't exactly have many hard and fast rights in this country.<BR/><BR/>Even if I was to report something controversial yet fair on my blog, what guarantee do I have I wouldn't be arrested?<BR/><BR/>None.<BR/><BR/><I>"7 days was doing a pretty good job at pointing out all the bad stuff here"</I><BR/>That's because you read 7days and take their coverage for granted, if you're doing so, you're an exact ideal end-product of what censorship is supposed to produce.<BR/>Explain to me where stories like <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6053232.stm" REL="nofollow">this</A> and <A HREF="http://uaecommunity.blogspot.com/2006/10/arab-sheikh-grants-amnesty-to.html" REL="nofollow">this</A> are in the local press?<BR/>Can you explain why I, on the internet with all my mediocrity can express more than any local paper can and seemingly ever will?samuraisamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06177501779546963794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161532478871383592006-10-22T19:54:00.000+04:002006-10-22T19:54:00.000+04:00I cannot blame you for literally exploding here. Y...I cannot blame you for literally exploding here. You live in your own world where you believe 'passing the buck' can help you to move forward. <BR/>And about the 'feeling bad about yourself' in the job bit. Maybe you haven't even heard of the 'labour ministry' and their laws, have you? Its evident you still dont. Why the hell do you think 7dogs and the other rags are chock full of sob stories? Is it because they never thought of changing their job?<BR/><BR/>About charity, my point was that inflation has stopped me as well as many other people from doing their small bit. It has nothing to do with those 'who can give and can't'. How about letting your brain comprehend whats written before you let your fingers do the tap dance?<BR/><BR/>Thanks for letting me know that 7dogs and their friends will help me feel better about myself. Point taken, Dr.Phil. <BR/><BR/>Compromising and 'giving up your rights to a decent life'. Theres so much you have to learn, because from the way you write - it seems you were born yesterday.archer14https://www.blogger.com/profile/02990990402521726149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161530623142272722006-10-22T19:23:00.000+04:002006-10-22T19:23:00.000+04:00To migraine Here are a couple pills for you buddy ...To migraine <BR/><BR/>Here are a couple pills for you buddy <BR/><BR/>I didn't create the divide .. those with a chip on their shoulder did and propegated the myth .. I'm only explaining what I see <BR/><BR/>And no I don't think expats here are only westerners .. expat is everyone that isn't from here by citizenship .. <BR/><BR/>As for the subcons who work under unfavorable conditions and with little or no disregard for their humanity, once again I didn't create the issue, highlight it, or assume that all subcons are doing so bad .. you jumped to that conclusion on your own because you wanted to see that .. and I purposely avoided the topic because I didn't want to get a comment such as this one .. I still did .. Its impossible to please everyone<BR/><BR/>It isn't easy to change jobs but you don't seem to suffer from that problem or the many other problems the remaining members of your cultural group suffer from .. <BR/><BR/>You've been offended by my comment on some level because you think I think all subcons are somehow beneath me and the rest of the population here .. where is this coming from? <BR/><BR/>and thanks for the heads up about the structure of my sentences. You had to drop that in there didn't you. What exactly was or is the point that you are making with that comment? That I cannot speak or write english correctly? To what ends are you pointing that out? That your sentence structure is better than mine? Why would you even bring that up?inmotionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16146200951322929386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161530182856377332006-10-22T19:16:00.000+04:002006-10-22T19:16:00.000+04:00To ArcherNo one requires you to donate to charity ...To Archer<BR/><BR/>No one requires you to donate to charity other your own standards and what you hold yourself against .. donation is not the only way to give back .. you have issues with your income and so do and so does the next person ... if you think about it .. it's never enough .. but that's besides the point isn't it .. I don't expect anyone to give anyone anything if they can't ...<BR/><BR/>changing a job as I see fit? you're oversimplfying the statement .. what was meant is that if you're not happy for whatever reason do what you think is necessary to get ahead within limits.. wasting your time feeling bad for yourself isn't going to do you or anyone any good <BR/><BR/>I speak my mind freely whenever and wherever I see appropriate for me .. on the net and off the net .. If you feel that you are unable to express your mind anywhere than other the internet how is that something to blame me for? or anyone else for .. last time I checked everybody and their mother could send a letter to the editor at gulf news, and 7 days was doing a pretty good job at pointing out all the bad stuff here<BR/><BR/>I realize alot of people have comprimised .. Everyone does at some point .. but when I said comprimse I did not mean give up on your necessary rights to a decent life ..inmotionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16146200951322929386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161527400438715452006-10-22T18:30:00.000+04:002006-10-22T18:30:00.000+04:00"the intentions of SD were."Here is the poem in fu...<I>"the intentions of SD were."</I><BR/><BR/>Here is the poem in full technicolor reproduction:<BR/><I>"Oh let Saturday be cloudy<BR/>So they can't sight the moon<BR/>We lose a day of holiday<BR/>If Eid begins too soon<BR/><BR/>Let's hope the sky stays dusty<BR/>And hides the moon away<BR/>For if Eid starts on Monday<BR/>We will get four full days"</I><BR/><BR/>I have no belief whatsoever that there is any hidden message.<BR/><BR/>The problem is this; people are visiting SD's blog and <B>looking</B> for ways to be offended. Which is difficult to stop considering it was blocked <B>for</B> being controversial.<BR/><BR/>The fact a large number of SD's commenters are morons is sad; but being that it is probably the most popular blog around .ae town it is inevitable.<BR/><BR/>The fact the UAE isn't an ideal society is no ones fault; getting a hundred or so nationalities together and being subjective towards certain ones isn't going to make a whole lot of people happy; but that's the way it is; and if that kind of stuff is supposed to stop someone blogging about holidays in Eid then it's just sad.<BR/><BR/><I>"It is out duty to question unfairness but to also respect that when coming here we knew full well what the deal was."</I><BR/><BR/>Sorry, I didn't. I grew up here, I didn't exactly have a choice; and I'm not alone in saying that. If you grow up somewhere, for better or worse you call it <I>home</I>; except it really isn't our home and we're all <I>"temporary migrant workers"</I>.<BR/><BR/>At the end of the day, the UAE has developed far too fast and is going to take a while to settle; as for ethnic/class tensions, they've existed for a long time and it's easy to see why... Imagine you're a construction worker getting paid (if you're lucky to get paid at all) driving past people in the latest Mercedes model while being crammed in a giant ugly bus.<BR/><BR/>The UAE government has to work towards the wishes of a large variety of people; in particular expats, locals, expat businesses, local business, construction workers, oil billionaires (and the list goes on and on); if it does one thing to please someone it's going to make someone else unhappy.<BR/><BR/><I>"The next time Etisalat and Dewa overcharge and underserve you, deal with it quietly and patiently and move on to the next set of problems."</I><BR/><BR/>I'm glad you feel like going to Etisalat's office, getting a ticket, and waiting 7 hours; but some of us have better things to wait for, like our deaths.<BR/><BR/>When I see my families internet bill for 20 dhs more than I was paying in Australia for a idiotically-censored 8-times-slower connection, I find it a bit difficult to "deal with it" or be patient, especially when the modem goes down continuously as soon as I arrive here and I call Etisalat and am promised a technician the next day who doesn't even arrive (though one did arrive 3 days later).<BR/><BR/>It's difficult for me to be patient watching Etisalat suffer/invent undersea cable cuts shutting off the internet for an entire month and offer no one compensation.<BR/><BR/>As for their whole proxy-complaint thing; people I know have contacted them to complain about websites and their responses have taken more than 6 months.<BR/><BR/>I don't think you get it. This is people's <B>only</B> option, short of joining the write-to-7days crowd people choose to express themselves on their blogs and what is wrong with that?samuraisamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06177501779546963794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15456688.post-1161523965732448252006-10-22T17:32:00.000+04:002006-10-22T17:32:00.000+04:00I'm not going to comment on the deliberation of Ei...I'm not going to comment on the deliberation of Eid but I will ask why you divided the entire UAE population into locals, the expats, arabs and the subcons. I hope that it's an honest to good mistake....god forbid if you actually think that the expats here are only the westerners.<BR/><BR/><I>I won't begin to address the subcon issue with anything other than it is a landmine field riddled with every social stigma there is. The bottom line the treatment they receive is unfair and we all help it along.</I><BR/>I'm a subcon, born and raised in the UAE. My family has lived here for over 30 decades. And the last time I checked, we were doing just fine. And we're quite a sizeable number in the UAE. All the subcons who live here aren't laborers and vice versa. <BR/><BR/><I>The next time you work overtime for a week or 6 months maybe and you feel underpaid, find another job that pays you more if you can and if you can't invest in your skills and then find another job that pays you more.</I><BR/>Say what? Now I'm convinced that no one has read this post all the way through. <BR/>How easy is it really to change jobs in this country?<BR/><BR/>Off topic, but you really need to work on your sentence construction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com