Dubai Consumer Mirror

Friday, December 16, 2005

Benefit of the doubt, NO MORE

/begin rant

Frequent visitors to this blog may have noticed that I don't really rant too much.

I am not a picky kindda guy.. Things like .. "bo ho ... someone cut me off on the road.." or "..how could that waiter ask me if i finished my plate or not.." - don't really bother me. Life is way too short to dwell over such things.

But today's nerve surges were exceptional... not only they were an interpretation of a serious lack of consideration, civil responsibility and generic manners within a growing segment of the expat community, they all went down in one day!

The plan was to have an outdoor BBQ lunch today. So, on my way to the meeting point, Mrs. M and I passed by a gas station. The Eppko guy didn't realize for about 10 minutes that the gas pump stopped at Dhs 3 when I actually told him to "fill 'er up". Thats OK - these things happen all the time and I wasn't really in a hurry - an extra 5 minutes of watching people coming in and out won't hurt... or will they?

As I waited, a guy pulled out of the mini mart parking with his toddler in his lap clutching on the steering wheel. I have seen this before and every time I do, i ask myself: Why don't we arabs stop this backwardness? Its not cute, its reckless, its against the law and its plain dumb. Doesn't the fckuer realize that is using his baby as an airbag?

I look away to notice another (fckuer), parking his crappy piece of junk in the middle of the driveway - literally blocking access to the mini mart parking space. His 3 year old is jumping around strapless in the backseat and his wife busy fixing her make up (typical).

Then the schmuck gets off his car - GET THIS - with a lit cigarette in his hand! Can you believe that wanker? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?!

"OKAY... Time to leave the place ASAP!".

Car is full, paid up the overworked gasguy and in anticipation to leave this disaster-waiting-to-happen, I start zigzagging my way out between cars that are double-parked and others nosing too much into the driveway. (I was ok with that since I do this zigzagging every morning on my way to work)

We met with our friends at Safa Park on al Wasel Road. We found a cool spot, set up the place and settled down. Great weather, great company and great fresh-straight-off-the-grill food.

While having lunch, we notice a lady, which I will not mention her background, with her son closing in. She brings her 2 year old, strategically places him between the bushes few yards from our table, strips him buttnacked and watches over him as his takes an impressively large dump.

As we stood there watching in disbelief, all what I was thinking of is this: The lavatory is just a few feet away and, as far as i know, Dubai Municipality is generous when it comes to manuring up its parks' greenery - so if thats the case - COULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHY IS SHE DOING THAT?

I usually give people the benefit of the doubt. Thats the way i am. But from what I am seeing everyday, some behavior is just ... unjustifiable

I am really losing hope.

/end rant

22 Comments:

  • This world is full of weird and bizarre things.. I guess it just needs 40-50 years of intensive training courses to make people realize that some things they do are wrong.

    But take it easy Moryarti and Enjoy the Breeze...

    By Blogger YAB, at December 16, 2005 at 10:38 PM  

  • HO HO HO!! Wait till you have your own! When you leave the house and ask them if they want to go and they say in that solemn voice, NO MAMA.
    Then they wait till you get to a place, where a) theres not a toilet in sight or b) theres a public toilet.
    When you enter this public toilet its a case of. Its YUCKY! ITS SMELLY!
    You can either let them do it in their clothes( not a good idea) or you can opt for the buttnaked method.
    This year when we travelled to London on the aeroplane my 3 year old had to go. I took her and she took one look and totally froze up. Imagine 9 hours no amount of bullying,begging ,cajoling made her use that toilet.
    Wait Professoré... just wait.

    By Blogger *, at December 17, 2005 at 12:52 AM  

  • why does kaya call you Professoré?

    also interesting rant u got there.. and i respect you for not ranting that much.. i don't like people who complain a lot (unless you can refine it to an art-form such as Feed Your Head).. i prefer the easy-going approach to life.

    anyway.. it truly suck about driving habits in the UAE.. mind you i gotta gear myself to Dubai mentality coz guess who's gonna be in town soon.. and nop it's not santa...

    reverse culture shock.

    By Blogger BuJ, at December 17, 2005 at 2:53 AM  

  • Buj u have no culture. quotes:

    'why does kaya call you Professoré?'

    ;)

    By Blogger Jassim, at December 17, 2005 at 8:35 AM  

  • @ Buj - my nickname is inspired by Sherlock Holmes' all time nemesis: Professoré James Moriarty.

    (for some reason, i swapped the (I) and the (Y) by mistake and it stayed that way :P )

    By Blogger moryarti, at December 17, 2005 at 12:48 PM  

  • local hero,

    You have no brains. Plus my question was to Moryarti not you.

    Mr M,

    I've been meaning to ask you about your nick, but never got around to doing so. Thanks for that! I used to read a lot of A.C. Doyle in my teens, so I should have recognised the name!

    Interesting that you chose such a dark name when it seems you're such a nice person. You're soon to be a father, you're a food critic, etc.. as opposed to you collecting knives and studying toxicology in your spare time.

    By Blogger BuJ, at December 17, 2005 at 1:25 PM  

  • BUJ - i also wondered the same thing about his nickname .. maybe because he trully is friendly he would like to experience his darker side..

    With regards to the post let's all concentrate on the general point of views and not just the 'nature calls factor'...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at December 17, 2005 at 2:04 PM  

  • @BuJ - i am inherently evil - being allegedly nice is only my cover up :)

    @mood: i hear you mate ..

    @Makdeez - DAMN! You must be having a really really really really bad day! This will not be about a certain nation or race. Its about the lack of decency thats eating away whatever courtesy we have left ...

    Ya3ni for heaven's sake, the bit on the smoker in the gas station -
    It happened to me 3 times in the last 2 months-

    In one of them, i told the smoker something within-the-lines-of "what the hell are you doing?" - he goes like "yallah ma3lesh ma sar shi" (Its OK, nothing happened).

    Why Of course! Because you see, this is how we work here.

    It takes 3 drowned kids per swimming pool to realise a life guard is required or one dead girl to ban (or regulate) quads and buggies ... and the list goes on.

    What are we waiting for to have the companies operating Gas station enforcing the 'NO SMOKING' SIGN? One station going up in flames?

    By Blogger moryarti, at December 17, 2005 at 2:23 PM  

  • I think it's fatalism and the culture here of denying responsibility: it's always someone else's fault. It seems that many local Arabs won't accept blame, because it is more important to "save face".

    Therefore when a 16-year-old kid crashes his luxury sports car and dies, or the baby you saw flips through the windscreen one day to fatal effect, it is always "Allah's will" or perhaps even a "djinn" (yes - I have heard this excuse!)

    It is never: you were a cretinous, stupid, irresponsible human being that directly caused your own child's death. Instead, just a lot of fatalistic wailing.

    By Blogger secretdubai, at December 17, 2005 at 4:59 PM  

  • @ Mrs.M

    But the Professor has to know. How his life is about to change.
    All those nights of staying awake, of colic, of baby wipes, of poo that smells like nothing he has ever smelled before, of drooly patches on his clothes, of projectile vomiting, of a wife who (should she continue to feed baby over a year)will no longer find the benefits of breastfed baby very informational.
    Mixed in with the blessings of a sleeping peaceful baby smelling of baby johnsons,of seeing little clothes drying on the rack, of that first smile, of the baby recognising you, of the baby reaching out to you.
    And then the baby getting POTTY TRAINED, doing the famous hopping from one foot to other dance with hands tucked in, and REFUSING to use the bathrooms at PETROL PUMPS, Restaurants; you choose.
    Because they are YUCKY and SMELLY.

    By Blogger *, at December 17, 2005 at 5:13 PM  

  • @ CG LOL ROFL AND LMAO! ATTAGIRL!

    By Blogger *, at December 17, 2005 at 8:58 PM  

  • kaya / CG - what you have mentioned is exactly what i know will happen, the smelly, drooling, midnight cries & feedings, etc etc etc.. I swear i know our whole life will change and no matter how many sleepless nights we will endure .. it will be a beautiful addition nevertheless..

    however as CG mentioned, no one can prepare you for that job unless its time.. so i guess both of you would support me on being 'in denial' for the next 1 and half months ... i am calling it pre-baby denials.. then no matter how 'honorable' me or Mr. m SEEM like now .. i assure you later any bathroom anywhere will be suitable for the job, especially when your kid is hoping from one leg on to the other (i loved that description btw!!!)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at December 17, 2005 at 10:26 PM  

  • Moryarti

    You have to give Blog writing rights to Mrs M so that she can contribute to the DCM blog.

    You both have style, wit and a sense of humour that can keep us entertained for hours!

    cheers
    nzm

    By Blogger nzm, at December 18, 2005 at 10:27 AM  

  • thank you nzm! =)

    - you see lately, i can't use the net without Mrs. M's permission: she makes sure all pending moving-related tasks are done are completed by yours truly.

    Having said that - she is the one who gives me writing rights.

    By Blogger moryarti, at December 18, 2005 at 3:32 PM  

  • Mr and Mrs M

    You're both extremely cute how you have these rules for net usage.. It's very entertaining to watch your interaction on these pages :)

    By Blogger BuJ, at December 18, 2005 at 6:50 PM  

  • cute Buj? they are gonna love you for that!

    By Blogger CG, at December 18, 2005 at 8:11 PM  

  • Cute? HOOBOY!
    Mr and Mrs M and BABY M.
    Now I know. The M&M's !!!!

    By Blogger *, at December 19, 2005 at 12:35 AM  

  • Moryarti san...
    I have already given up hope mate... unless there is a complete re-education of the general public with regards to driving, eating, spitting, talking on mobiles etc. in PUBLIC.. we'll be heading down dooms highway

    I'm quite fedup in fact.. I really just don't bother anymore !

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at December 22, 2005 at 5:44 PM  

  • KDD-anon - long time no see mate ..

    By Blogger moryarti, at December 23, 2005 at 5:35 PM  

  • I was on holiday ... Kuala Lumpur, Genting and Bangkok with my better half of course ! :)

    beautiful places, authentic culture, history, fantastic shopping and incredible cuisine..

    ahhhh I want to go back !!!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at December 24, 2005 at 10:01 AM  

  • Oh maaaan .. i'd do anything to go again. We stayed in The Ritz, next to the Sheraton - did you go the KLCC, SUNWAY LAGOON, Suria Mall (Petronas)? Don't you just love the malls there? Did you go to the butterfly park? the birds park? underwater sea world? ... Did you go to China Town and Bintang Walk?..

    How about Langkawi Island? we spent 4 days there .. I MISS IT SO MUCH ..

    I love that place

    By Blogger moryarti, at December 24, 2005 at 10:44 AM  

  • moryarti...we stayed at Isthana hotel...
    petronas towers, kl tower, night markets, klcc suria shopping mall, butterfly park... did almost everything. then went up to genting higlands , its about 2000feet above sea level. brilliant place, you open your hotel window and look into clouds. there's the biggest casino there in south east asia.. won a few pennies meself ! :)
    next went to bangkok.. which is even better. fantastic food, great masages.... MAAAANNNN I WANT TO GO BACK TOO :(

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at December 24, 2005 at 1:18 PM  

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