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flying carpet
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 18
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 Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject: greetings |
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I hope you will embrace me or bow down or whatever you usually do.
I would like to ask about people going round the bend whilst in Saudi.
Do you think this happens often? Perhaps condition on arrival has something to do with it, but sensory deprivation/monotony may be the main culprit.
What do you think?
You all seem to be very bright, sane and surprisingly fun on this saudi board, I hasten to add.  |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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People arrive
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| very bright, sane and surprisingly fun |
but end up
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| going round the bend |
Probably because they have spent too much time with 007  |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: greetings |
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| flying carpet wrote: |
I hope you will embrace me or bow down or whatever you usually do.
I would like to ask about people going round the bend whilst in Saudi.
Do you think this happens often? Perhaps condition on arrival has something to do with it, but sensory deprivation/monotony may be the main culprit.
What do you think?
You all seem to be very bright, sane and surprisingly fun on this saudi board, I hasten to add. |
You are most welcome, flying carpet.
BTW, is your carpet a Baba Yaga one, or a Tangu one? 
Anyway, I think the best person to answer your questions is our resident poet, Van. Wait until he logins and see your queries.
I hope he will help you. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think KSA makes people weird in and of itself. It's just that the environment here brings out the inner weirdo in all of us.
But didn't we just have this conversation a few threads ago? |
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flying carpet
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Baba yaga or Tangu ... never heard of those before!
I have heard that, if you put people into sensory isolation, they begin hallucinating.
Does this happen to you sometimes, at work or on your way from the compound? |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject: sensory isolation???? |
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| Saudi Arabia is what it is; you either learn to cope or you don't; all this talk about sensory isolation or whatever...is a joke right? or else you have some strange notions about KSA. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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Sensory deprivation is real in KSA. There are ways to combat it. Books, DVD's Videocassettes, Eating Out. Sparkling Wit, Repartee and Convivial Meals Out.
Of course for those in the 300 Club these are not possible. |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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| oh where are my manners... welcome to the Saudi Forum... |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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I think Scot, not for the first time and hopefully not for the last, has hit the proverbial nail on the head.
Sure, KSA is undoubtedly short on entertainment options and what's there doesn't exactly leap out at you. However, there are ways around this, as detailed by Scot. Trouble is, in order to find such ways you need a modicum of initiative and determination, not to mention a willingness to spend a rial or two every so often. Many expats have none of the above attributes.
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Sensory deprivation is real in KSA. There are ways to combat it. Books, DVD's Videocassettes, Eating Out. Sparkling Wit, Repartee and Convivial Meals Out.. |
...fishing in the desert, cooking Kabsa in Farasan, and training and running away from Muttawas.... |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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I would like to ask about people going round the bend whilst in Saudi.
Do you think this happens often? Perhaps condition on arrival has something to do with it, but sensory deprivation/monotony may be the main culprit. |
Search in this forum for psychonauts.
The hothouse effect of having your work and social life in the same limited circles, plus the fact that you will probably spend too much time on your own no doubt leads to pressure.
However, in general, people who go and live abroad crack up surprisingly often - it's just they do it in different ways according to the country.
The main danger in Saudi is becoming pessimistic, bored, depressed and ill-tempered. |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:04 am Post subject: sensory deprivation |
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[quote="Stephen Jones"]
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| The main danger in Saudi is becoming pessimistic, bored, depressed and ill-tempered. |
These negative tendencies could be said of any place. I think some of the remedies to these negative senarios are as Cleo and Scott47 mentioned; those that constantly look outward for external gratification; in constant need of "westernized" sensory input obviously will not do well over here.
I get the feeling there is the tendency to blame everything around us for feeling bad; People talk like Saudi Arabia was a white padded cell with no window....really there are plenty of ways to enhance ones senses in KSA; sitting in your room day after day counting your riyals isn't one of them.
If Saudi Arabia causes one to have all of these negative tendences you mentioned then perhaps it is time to leave.
Last edited by cmp45 on Thu May 17, 2007 4:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:07 am Post subject: |
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| Many count the riyals for entertainment - but do not leave. For decades. The result is irreversible psychic damage. |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:15 am Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Many count the riyals for entertainment - but do not leave. For decades. The result is irreversible psychic damage. |
You can't very well blame the whole country for that can you????? Maybe one should be grateful one has riyals to count! Anyways people need to start taking responsibility for their well being and happiness. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:33 am Post subject: |
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I am not blaming KSA. I am trying to pouint out that you have to make choices about how you live. In KSA or elsewhere.
Having worked here on and off since 1970 I think I could describe myself as pro-Saudi ! And poor - since I do not follow the precepts of the 300 Club ! A bunch of skinflints, misers and heretics ! |
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