Job Discussion Forums

joeboe · Joined: 01 Aug 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Santa Monica

MOD edit

johnslat · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:38 pm Post subject:

Dear Mr. TEFL.
"Not to appear offensive, but witnessing discrimination is something totally different to experiencing discrimination as you probably are aware of."

I'm not taking offense, but I do think I can recognize discrimination when I see it. Actually, I've been on the receiving end. I attended Florida A&M university, whose student/facility population (at least at the time I attended (1975) for a year was 99% Black. I took an English class given by a Black professor and wrote a paper on James Baldwin. The professor gave me an "F." So, knowing what I truly great writer I am, I asked him after class one day about the grade. He told me that no White man could ever understand a Black man's mind or writing, and therefore what I had written was completely wrong.
Well, I was more than slightly flabbergasted. So, I told him that, if such was the case, I felt sorry for him. He was taken aback and asked why. I told him that it would follow that then he would therefore never be able to understand anything a White man wrote - or a women (of any color) or a member of any other race.
I'll give him credit - he changed the grade to a "B", but it does go to show, I think, that racism doesn't necessarily go one way.
By the way, I never had any other problems with any of the facility or students, three of whom were my roommates (Hmmm, but maybe I just didn't realize I was being discriminated against.)
Regards,
John

Tom Le Seelleur · Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 242

Like Neil said yes they do and did. I stayed two years and made enough to move on.

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

A lot of Saudis are quite rascist.

I heard many comments over the years from Saudis especially in regards to darker Saudis but then this is not new to anyone who has lived in KSA.

Just about everyone is discriminated in Saudi based on race or religion.

Twentyplus · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 17

johnslat · Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject:

Dear Mark100,

"A lot of Saudis are quite rascist."

That may be true - on the other hand, have you ever heard what many "Westerners" say about Arabs?

Ignorance and stupidity are - unfortunately - darn near universal.

Regards,
John

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

I dont know why this is necessary to be delineating in such detail.

johnslat · Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject:

Dear eclectic,

"1 day you marry a black Brazilian girl, the next day you are cursing at Al Sharpton's preposterous accusations."

I'm not so sure that cursing the preposterous accusations of someone who happens to be black - or white or any other color - can be considered as racist.

I once had to speak to a British teacher who made the very same mistake after three separate sessions when figuring out student grades. He accused me of being prejudiced against Brits. I admitted to being prejudiced, but not against Brits - rather against idiots.

Regards,
John

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

Mr TEFL,

I don'y mind you asking why I only stayed for two years - there's no secret about it.

When I signed on with BAE I signed a two year contract. At that time there was a �1000 a MONTH "retention bonus" - i.e. danger money - and although the actual danger was probably overestimated, there were still incidents in parts of KSA, so it made sense.

The �1000 was then cut to �750; to �500; and then, in February 2007, we had a VERY stupid and complacent letter from the Company, saying that retention levels were good and that the bonus would be further reduced to �250.

I had signed on to work for approximately �50,000 a year, not �41,000 with the prospect of a further pay cut.

At the same trime, I had received encouraging signs from the Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, which led me to believe that if I applied to work there, then I would get the job. On both counts I turned out to be right.

So I resigned from BAE (and was number 70 something to do so) moved to SQU, and started working for about half my Saudi salary. Since then I've had two pay increases, I've been promoted, and I also have the option of working until I'm at least 65. In Saudi I would have had to stop work as soon as I reached 60.

Eight times a half equals more than three, and I'm back in a country where there is no threat at all; working in far more congenial conditions, and in touch with the people I knew when I worked for RAFO.

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

Mr TEFL · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 35

Thank you Neil.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

when did all this pc stuff start? I clearly recall hearing about it back in the late 80's.

Mr TEFL · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 35

Eclectic,

Maybe you could share with us what you mean exactly by 'nonsense'?

Thanks in advance, homie.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

Dear Mr. Tefl,

I mean that everyone now has to double- and triple-review every littel nuance and inadvertent implication of every part of speech they use, so that nothing can be even remotely construed as even slightly offensive

What do you mean by "Homey", and could that be implying something, too? See what I mean? Its a never-ending paranoia that not only creates a very stilted communication due to the nervousness of the communicators who are trying to monitor every darn word and its unintentional meaning while they are trying to communicate their ideas to begin with, but its also shows how very delicate we have all become.

Mr TEFL · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 35