Job Discussion Forums

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 6:20 am Post subject:

I told Prodigy before but he doesn't seem to understand: abayas do not have veils.

Actually, I think we are fools to be feeding what is clearly a second-rate troll. I can only wish that he is having fun lifting the veils of Emirati women in Dubai: yes, they wear them there too.

Desert Storm · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 30 Location: Classified

Alhamdulilah I am not working with the prodiigy. Life is problematic enough without having some klutz like this as a colleague !

Come to think of it my employer is careful to filter out the obviously unsuited like him !

Desert Storm · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 30 Location: Classified

Alhamdulilah I am not working with the prodiigy. Life is problematic enough without having some klutz like this as a colleague !

Come to think of it my employer is careful to filter out the obviously unsuited like him ![quote]

It's a wonder that teachers are so culturally insensitive and biased. I would hate to know how you really feel about anyone who doesn't look like you? You know I have read just about enough of these ridiculous, arrogant, racist, small-minded posts by small-minded people. It is a pleasure not to work with an ignoramus like The Prodiigy.

if you don't like the people/culture/religion of the country your in, there's a simple solution.....GET OUT.

and you can let the door hit you on the way.

Bebsi · Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Posts: 958

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

Prodigy -
Actually calling women "chicks" ---really? What does that make you -- the sexist "rooster?"

So what are you doing in Saudi if Dubai (UAE - country. Dubai - city) is so great? As far as the Saudi royal family goes even Saudis say their leaders are complacent and selfish - this isn't new or relevant information. Anyway, it�s not our country so as long as the Saudis can deal with it, and arguably they can and are, an expat�s opinion doesn�t matter.

Men stare at women all the time in Saudi, and nobody has ever faced "severe punishment for looking.� I suppose if you had ex-ray vision or the cultural sensitivity of a neanderthal there maybe repercussions however.

And yes youth may make random phone calls to meet each other, toss phone numbers to each other on the streets. So what? This is normal behavior. Some people register for matchmaker.com, go on blind dates, chat online with strangers for a thrill, or worse in other countries. What�s the point in making fun of that? Most women are fully covered with that "bin bag" you referred to, so there isn�t much to be stared at anyway. Making arrogant remarks about the Saudis who pay our wages and ask for little save a native accent in return is a very colonial attitude. Hmmm, could it be the very reason why Saudis are "complacent" towards modernization because they have been generous yet they are still mocked? Or maybe its why Mutawas want expats and all things Western out of the Kingdom in the first place?

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:50 pm Post subject:

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

Bebsi · Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Posts: 958

Your experiences there must have seriously scarred you, Prodiigy, as all of your postings seem to be for the sole purpose of verbally shredding everything about KSA. If you want to warn others, OK, you've now done so...many other people have had and are having positive experiences in Saudi. Mine were mixed, as I imagine is the case with most people who work or have worked there. Indeed, most of my grievances re KSA would have to do with individual employers than with the place itself. Bad employers are a sad fact of life there, as elsewhere. Hence the usefulness of this forum.

Good and bad employers exist, and through this forum, we try to help others distinguish BEFORE making the mistake of committing to them. The country itself is a different matter. We try to pass on the benefit of our experiences, good and bad, to others going or thinking of going there. A balanced presentation always carries more weight and conviction than a consistently negative one.

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

I went to the country with a completely open mind.

I have a Saudi friend, whom I met in the UK years ago and sought out the opinions of expats who had experienced The Desert and returned.

I was in the fortunate position of having travelled and lived in a few other countries before and thoroughly enjoyed the experiences.

Saudi had nothing to offer in terms of lifestyle comforts. And the vast majority of expats we talked to had similar opinions.

Living in a place where people are there under sufference, where non-Muslims are tolerated at best and held in contempt or pity is disturbing.

A number of my students were distraught and frustrated about being surrounded by such an repressive regime with no chance for any change.

I taked to a psychologist who was alarmed by the number of young women he treats for depression and prescribes medication.

And who can blame them ?

Having lived in KSA and had the luxury of being able to leave I expect you can also sympathise.