tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post6803896111801375619..comments2024-03-27T15:45:49.926+04:00Comments on Life in Dubai: Indecent or inappropriate?Seabeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06939892206726271433noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-28990990528027824252009-10-12T11:53:36.591+04:002009-10-12T11:53:36.591+04:00Anon@9.20,you make a huge sweeping generalisation ...<b>Anon@9.20</b>,you make a huge sweeping generalisation about people and societies, and you're comparing apples with oranges.<br /><br />Western countries such as the UK and Australia, which I know well, have officially promoted multi-culturism (a huge mistake in my opinion). They have encouraged immigrants to bring their culture with them and to continue to practice it. Most immigrants have integrated but a minority keep pushing the boundaries because that's what they were told they could do, to bring and practice their culture.<br /><br />Dubai is a Muslim state, is a guest-worker society not allowing immigration, is liberal by Gulf standards but conservative by western standards. There's freedom of religion and people have a large degree of cultural freedom, but it's multi-national rather than multi-cultural and there are society standards which must be followed.<br /><br />Interestingly, it's criticised when it's Dubai policy but it's exactly what people in western countries are demanding their governments introduce.Seabeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06939892206726271433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-40686425753675920872009-10-11T21:20:37.062+04:002009-10-11T21:20:37.062+04:00So, Westerners who visit or live in a Muslim count...So, Westerners who visit or live in a Muslim country are supposed to adapt and change their habits and behavior according to the local culture. At the same time, Muslims who travel or move to the West want to keep their own with no change at all. That's not ignorance? That's not arrogance? Or some people find those double standards OK?<br /><br />It's also surprising to me there's one thing left unnoticed: basically, this campaign implies Muslims consider Westerners indecent for wearing certain clothes or acting in a certain way. Obviously, there's a huge lack of respect here, but going into a different direction than suggested.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-55814828441244312562009-08-13T13:02:32.615+04:002009-08-13T13:02:32.615+04:00Richard, you are hitting your head against the wal...Richard, you are hitting your head against the wall here. Do not expect someone here to concede that the local govt is even 1% more guilty that that of countries like US and UK, on the subject matter. some people cant tell the trees from the woods, and some can but would not accept it as it is an inconvenience right now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-71173717447029247172009-08-10T21:57:13.162+04:002009-08-10T21:57:13.162+04:00True, but I can't think of examples in civiliz...True, but I can't think of examples in civilized societies that knowingly allow sex trafficking or comparable illegal activity - probably worth pointing out.Richardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-86796894658859878452009-08-10T12:09:36.282+04:002009-08-10T12:09:36.282+04:00ZTG, 'think' isn't something that most...<b>ZTG</b>, 'think' isn't something that most people do I'm afraid.<br /><br />On your point about holiday wear, I've never understood the mentality either. You might remember on a forum we're both active on a question from someone coming to Dubai along the lines of: 'when he's on holiday my husband only wears shorts, is it OK to wear them in Dubai's five-star restaurants'.Seabeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06939892206726271433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-32715868434773408272009-08-10T11:40:43.560+04:002009-08-10T11:40:43.560+04:00"miniskirt and according to my background it ..."miniskirt and according to my background it is a decent outfit"... seabee, I almost fell off my chair with laughter when I read that: Russian ladies in Dubai see miniskirts as decent day-time outfits, hilarious & sadly typical.<br />I think also a lot of tourists are "to blame" for wearing shorts and clothes that are more suited to the beach in the shopping malls. They're on holiday so they probably don't see anything wrong with that (which is still strange IMO, because when I'm on holiday I don't walk around in beach clothes UNLESS I'm actually AT the beach.) I do agree that I think it's more ignorance than intent. And in some cases: sheer stupidity. If, as a woman, you're walking around areas such as Satwa or the souks half-naked, and then you complain that men are constantly staring at you / following you and you don't know why... THINK!ZeTallGermannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-48817533148268872532009-08-10T10:52:28.801+04:002009-08-10T10:52:28.801+04:00Richard, hypocrisy is high up on my hate list, but...<b>Richard</b>, hypocrisy is high up on my hate list, but it's hardly worth pointing out in government, there isn't a government in the world that isn't guilty of it.Seabeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06939892206726271433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-58456513810739146332009-08-10T10:18:58.860+04:002009-08-10T10:18:58.860+04:00Great article, and I agree that a core problem is ...Great article, and I agree that a core problem is not so much the standards they set themselves, but that it's not uniform between men and women (and even where the law is the same between men and women, the courts are harsher on female transgressors). I've linked to this article from my page on <a href="http://www.flightsdubai.org/dress-code/Dubai-dress-code.php5" rel="nofollow">Dubai dress code</a>.Dubai travelhttp://www.flightsdubai.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-64790790593136063702009-08-10T03:12:54.753+04:002009-08-10T03:12:54.753+04:00"At the next table were two young men in thon..."At the next table were two young men in thongs..."<br /><br />Oh my. Dubai is just going down the drains, thank God I left.Sat Eeristnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-16285665048587871682009-08-09T18:28:49.071+04:002009-08-09T18:28:49.071+04:00I was having my make-up done at a shop the other d...I was having my make-up done at a shop the other day when a girl and her boypal were browsing the shop. 'What do you use then?' she said. 'Oh I use this one...' he goes, walking past a girl in hotpants.i*maginatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11768590735811322295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-54633430381539837392009-08-09T17:49:49.147+04:002009-08-09T17:49:49.147+04:00Anon@1.35 you must be referring to a different blo...<b>Anon@1.35</b> you must be referring to a different blog. Nowhere did I compare countries' policies, nor does that have anything whatsoever to do with this post.<br /><br /><i>...we will all be kicked out when useful working life is over</i> makes it sound as though you're simply being used and there's no advantage to yourself in being here. Why do you stay?Seabeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06939892206726271433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-69570550303770361812009-08-09T17:45:08.409+04:002009-08-09T17:45:08.409+04:00whatever you say, grandpa. and as for what Richar...whatever you say, grandpa. and as for what Richard said, I agree. Cut down on rampant prostitution, and I'll consider the dress code. Allow the sex trade to run rampant then you shall be entitled to no superficial conservatism.eric blairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792656103149724140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-57443180799372587802009-08-09T17:44:51.058+04:002009-08-09T17:44:51.058+04:00I think that there is some difference in what peop...I think that there is some difference in what people may consider a 'public' space; Dubai is not a pedestrian city and these people that wear 'inappropriate' clothing aren't exactly walking around the city half naked (in most cases).<br /><br />Maybe the problem is that people congregate at malls, and people are comfortable in malls. I would like to see someone wearing hot pants on a public bus or on the metro when it finally starts.<br /><br />There are no signs on the street side telling people to wear 'respectful clothing' so what are people respecting? The mall? The western shops? The American restaurants in the food court? The shops that sell the exact clothes they are wearing?<br />A mall is hardly the epitome of Emirati culture so I can see why people would think it difficult to think they are somehow disrespecting the culture when they are in a marble floored commercial emporium that barely even has Arabic signage. Maybe if they were walking through the Bastikya area wearing hotpants then it would be another issue entirely--but on the whole people don't.samuraisamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06177501779546963794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-6247984650267450982009-08-09T15:31:22.406+04:002009-08-09T15:31:22.406+04:00I think it all boils down to basic courtesy. If yo...I think it all boils down to basic courtesy. If you visit friends, you don't go there wearing clothes that you know they will find embarrassing. So why do it when you are visiting another country? Any visitors who go to Dubai surely know that it is a Muslim society. There is enough information in the news and on the internet for anyone to know that Muslim society appreciates more modest behaviour than what is tolerated in most western countries. It is plain rude to insist on your "right" to wear what you want.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258644.post-63410944935136841252009-08-09T13:35:37.388+04:002009-08-09T13:35:37.388+04:00Comparison to other countries policies is disingen...Comparison to other countries policies is disingenuous, expats in Dubai are not immigrants, even if we did take the time and effort to assimilate we will all be kicked out when useful working life is over. It is a two way thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com