Job Discussion Forums

trapezius · Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 2:41 am Post subject:

I find her behavior/persona (as vaguely and indirectly as it has been described) to be at odds with the fact that she is an evangelical Christian.

Sydney2002 · Joined: 10 Apr 2012 Posts: 55

To the poster above- that's quite the stereotype, don't you think? People of all faiths come with their own personalities- there is no 'one size fits all' in Christianity or Orthodox groups anymore than there is within Islam.

To everyone else- I do appreciate the responses here. Anyone with helpful comments please pm me. I do agree that I am probably worrying entirely too much over something that is really not so much my business. It was just the shock of finding out that she really is going to be going to Riyadh, and soon.

I am feeling much more reassured today after having spoken with some fellow teachers who have KSA experience as well.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The OP should get something else to worry about. Get a cat. Develop an alcohol or heroin addiction.

crewmeal1 · Joined: 08 Jul 2010 Posts: 75

May be she has an issue with authority? Who knows? Perhaps if she upsets the locals or religious police she might be looking forward to beatings? S&M? I used to know a guy who was into all that!

If she has any sense she would read up on SA and try to understand the country she is visiting. There is no point in arriving into a new country with attitude and baggage of all sorts!

rollingk · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 212

We all have attitude and perhaps some baggage too, but there's some strange codependency going on here for sure. I wonder who's teasing who up.

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

Gulezar · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 483

As soon as she gets off the plane in the airport and says, "I'm not putting that black thing on," the university will put her on the next flight out. The officials who must deal with her at the airport are not going to risk the university's reputation. Eventually, it will be the shaila or the abaya or the curfews or something, but she will not be jailed, just discreetly swept under the rug on the next flight out before she proves to be an embarrassment.

myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

Sydney2002 · Joined: 10 Apr 2012 Posts: 55

The woman is in Riyadh now. She's fine. Hopefully she'll stay that way. I was worked up for no good reason, it seems.

Thanks all.

Gulezar · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 483

nickelgoat · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:03 am Post subject:

I find the attitude of many of the posters in this thread as reprehensible! The OP had a legitimate concern and the tone of many of these posts is mocking that concern. As soon as the OP mentioned the fact that her friend was Christian, out came the ridiculous anti-Christian remarks. In addition, more comments came up about beatings and other nonsense as if some of you enjoyed making those remarks. Seriously, is there any wonder why ESL has such a bad reputation, if those involved in it turn to black humour when colleagues are struggling? Think about it.

CANDLES · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:03 pm Post subject:

Chill out!!!!

If the woman is insane (and many are in KSA) then they deserve all the criticism they get.

Nothing to do with religion!

nickelgoat · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 5:18 pm Post subject:

Why diss others? This post shows your frustration with life. You'd probably never have the courage to say things like this toher face, hiding behind a assumed name. Are you trying to make the world a better place, or tearing it apart by being true only to yourself? We need less of that here in Saudi and in the world at large. You may be right in that it has nothing to do with "religion" (spoken like an atheist would say) but with simple decency and human kindness.

johnslat · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 7:05 pm Post subject:

Dear CANDLES,

Insane people deserve criticism? Is that a new psychiatric technique? If so,
I doubt it'll have much, if any, success. Very Happy

Regards.
Crazy John

CANDLES · Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:06 pm Post subject:

Most 'crazy' people don't tell the HR or the recruitment agencies that they are on prescribed medication for their behaviour.

Their colleagues get to find out about this in the most frightening and unexpected way and get the brunt of it.

No, I wasn't being pedantic, bored with life or generally anything negative, but if someone pointedly wants to affront people, their culture, etc. for the sake of it, then really I have no time for them.

As for religion-WHY or WHY does religion come into (any) conversation when it's not required or needed? And why assume that I'm an atheist?

Rolling Eyes