POLL: The repercussions of a US attack on Iraq

[rs7]

Quote from max401:

TF, why is that those from the middle east are almost universally known as liars? Why is lying a part of that culture?

Max, TF will probably give a cut and paste 10 page answer to refute your statement. But I will be presumptuous enough to answer for him more briefly: People from the middle east do not consider lying a part of their culture. It is evading the truth that is a part of their culture

And the fact of the matter is this is actually a valid answer. If you try to buy something from an arab (or anyone in the middle east) in a marketplace, and you ask the price, and the merchant tells you the price is 100 camels, and you say, "ok, deal", they will get crazy. Because the price cannot be what it is originally stated. This is not acceptable.

I grew up in a town on Long Island which has since been inundated with Iranian Jews. The business people have for the most part given up. The Iranians would not accept the prices on the shelves of the supermarkets. They were compelled to argue with the cashiers (who used scanners and had no say). The beauty parlor owners could not deal with giving a haircut and then having to argue after the haircut to get paid. It indeed is a part of the culture. I am sure Babak could give a better insight. But this is my read. And I have personally experienced this in Israel. So it isn't an arab thing, or a persian thing or an Israeli thing. It seems to be a middle eastern thing.

Peace,
Rs7

 

[OPTIONAL777]

 

[candletrader]

Congratulations to all of you... you have collectively achieved 1000+ posts on my thread... is this a first on ET, Baron?

 

[traderfut2000]

Max,

this is what the Nazi propaganda said of jews and this is also on that basis that you had pogroms in Russia and Inquisition in spain... So please stop your bullshit..

Quote from max401:

TF, why is that those from the middle east are almost universally known as liars? Why is lying a part of that culture?

 

[Babak]

Quote from max401:

TF, why is that those from the middle east are almost universally known as liars? Why is lying a part of that culture?

rs said it well. They don't at all see it as lying. Its what we might call 'spin'. As well, they assume that whatever you are saying is 100% BS. So everything is a negotiation. Nothing is taken for granted. Nothing is assumed. Except that the other guy must be screwing you over....because that's what you would do if you were in his place!

Ohhh man! The stories I could tell you!

A friend of mine (Persian but living in UK) had his Mom come over for a visit. So he takes her to McD's because she had never been there and because he is a cheap Jewish bastard .

So the pimply teenager punches in the order and looks up and says:

"4 Pounds"

His Mom looks him straight in the eyes and in a thick accent says emphatically:

"I give you 2 Pounds."

 

[max401]

Quote from traderfut2000:

Max,

this is what the Nazi propaganda said of jews and this is also on that basis that you had pogroms in Russia and Inquisition in spain... So please stop your bullshit..

Whatever. Please answer the first part then:

"TF, why is that those from the middle east are almost universally known as liars?"

 

[traderfut2000]

Could you give me an example??? I have never heard about that. Of course, I heard many insults about the Arabs in general but not that they are universally known as liars???

Quote from max401:

Whatever. Please answer the first part then:

"TF, why is that those from the middle east are almost universally known as liars?"

 

[TM_Direct]

Quote from max401:

Whatever. Please answer the first part then:

"TF, why is that those from the middle east are almost universally known as liars?"




Even I would have to draw the line at that and say that's a little to broad a paint brush, however they do tend to 'negotiate' more than most groups.

 

[rs7]

Quote from traderfut2000:

Could you give me an example??? I have never heard about that. Of course, I heard many insults about the Arabs in general but not that they are universally known as liars???

I don't see where Max mentioned "Arabs". He said people from the middle east.

Like Babak and TM I took his post to mean more about them not saying what they mean (negotiation) than about being "liars". (Not that Saddam and other "middle eastern" leaders don't lie. What politicians anywhere don't lie?)

Why so defensive TF?

 

[traderfut2000]

I am not ... FRom what I know the vast majority of the inhabitant of the middle east are arabs and as I said, I never heard about the fact tehy are liars but of course I know all the insults said about the arabs

Do you thing I am being defensive saying that RS7??

Quote from rs7:



I don't see where Max mentioned "Arabs". He said people from the middle east.

Like Babak and TM I took his post to mean more about them not saying what they mean (negotiation) than about being "liars". (Not that Saddam and other "middle eastern" leaders don't lie. What politicians anywhere don't lie?)

Why so defensive TF?