If you don't like it, WHY don't you leave?
We've all heard of the expression 'If you don't like it, leave'. There are some who don't like this statement, for example, secretdubai, and most of those who comment on her blog. Why? Because those against the statement believe they have every right to force change upon the land which they have chosen to settle in. Why is this? Look back in history!
For the record, I have NEVER met anybody personally in Dubai who doesn't like it, apart from those who are less fortunate money-wise, and those whose life circumstances aren't right in the first place. These are frustrated people, looking for an avenue to vent their frustrations. Of the other expats I've met personally, NOBODY complains about Dubai - they are satisfied with what they have acheived, and are of the 'normal' mentality that every place and situation in life has its ups and downs - and they make the best of it, and enjoy what life has to offer, like any other 'normal' being would in any other place. I can assure you that they have better things to do than to spread hatred and indulge in endless, pointless and irrational criticism of day-to-day life in Dubai - that said, well-intentioned individuals know where to go and what to do if they really have a problem which they want resolved.
It's only anonymous people who write into newspapers and on blogs who don't like the statement "If you don't like it, leave" - I wonder if they have ever thought of, or admitted, or responded to the question WHY don't you leave? With my humble education in mathematics, any response in favour of living in Dubai would logically indicate that they are happier/better off, whether temporarily or not, in Dubai than in their hometowns.
Given this logic, I wonder what there is to debate...
22 comments:
Complaining about things which should be improved is not wrong, whether it relates to the country you live in (of your birth or where you live by choice),the company you work for, the store you shop in, the restaurant you eat in...or anywhere else.
We all, at some time or other, complain about something. If we didn't care we wouldn't complain.
It does not imply that you don't like the place, only that there is something you think should be improved.
Many of us don't like the 'you can leave' statement because of its naive stupidity. It says that no-one should complain about anything, they should ignore anything that is not up to par and walk away.
Nothing would ever be improved, anywhere, if we all took that position.
Seabee, thanks for visiting, and for your comment, which I fully agree with.
Of course people should complain - within the law. From my post, I'm drawing the comparison between people who complain without actually doing anything about it, i.e. anonymously etc., and those who do something about it. Doors are open for 'complaints' here.
I strongly doubt that the kind of people who complain 'underground' about topics that they seem to care so deeply about would actually go to the relevant authority to take up their complaint with? That's the difference between malice and action.
Dear Imag..many of these problems are directly realted to govt. policies and many of us are afraid of pointing fingers to govt..reason u know better.so tell us what alternative do we have?
and sorry for posting this as anon..
Dear Anon, I appreciate your comment. Yours is another frustration though, from your comment, you seem to have frustrations which you're not able to vent out (to the right people). There are many like you who are "afraid" - but why, I ask. The right people have open doors, there is nothing stopping people from going to talk to them. If it's "fear" for losing one's job because of speaking one's mind, as long as it's in line with the law, then that is an irrational and baseless fear, because the labour law protects people from unfair dismissal.
Every country has their own laws, systems and procedures: if you genuinely have constructive ideas, make them known to the right people! What's the reason to be afraid in that? - This is my suggested alternative.
What about local people that are unhappy with the status quo? Where are they supposed to leave to?
Also just because someone complains about something doesn't necessarily mean they hate the country 100%. Do you yourself honestly like the current traffic situation? The construction? The high rents?
We all hate these things, and we moan about them because we want them to change because we want to keep living here.
If people really didn't like the UAE, then they would leave. I know several people that have. I just find "if you don't like it, leave" a stupid and rather childish statement. It doesn't add anything to the debate or help resolve the issue. It's rude and defiant.
And I am glad for you but also surprised that you have never met anyone who complains about Dubai. Because that is certainly not my experience here. And for the record, a couple of the most bitter people have been Emiratis, who were extremely distressed at the direction of change here. Not everyone thinks malls/mass tourism/luxury apartment developments are a great thing. Many people - I included - prefer a somewhat quieter, steadier pace of life. More like Al Ain. Lower density developments, more green areas/landscaping, less people, less traffic. I liked the more laid back atmosphere of six years ago. I don't need or want Gucci and Chanel, I actually prefer simpler, local shops and high street brands. I liked the way one could drive into the city at night and not have to plan the entire day around the Sharjah commuting traffic. The way one was spoilt for choice when it came to beaches (public/wild beaches, not hotel ones).
I truly think Dubai was a nicer city six years ago when I arrived. It was more peaceful, it was still progressive and exciting, but the progress felt as though it was happening at a sensible, harmonious pace. The last five years have been a mad, unpleasant rush. There may be political and economic reasons for it, but that doesn't make it any less painful for people here.
In five years time I think Dubai will get better again. Things will settle down a bit, the transport and accommodation situation should improve, and some kind of soul or character may start to evolved.
But the former nature of the city is gone forever, as those Emiratis lament. Nothing will get them their villas back that were torn down to build roads, nothing will get them their quiet, peaceful communities back.
Progress is coming at an enormous price for many people.
I guess it's all about averages.. Given that Dubai had (was it?) 10,000 souls in the 1970s, and about 400,000 by y2k, and now nearing 1.4m.. I think.. and it's just a hunch.. that more people are coming than leaving.
However this comes from an Emirati in Exile.. so you gotta take my words with a pinch or two of salt.
Indeed, there is not much left to debate.
To i* and a follow up to SD's words:
http://uaecommunity.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-hopeless-vision.html
22 March 2007
Never been to Dubai but have friends there. Heard a lot especially hype that shadows the meager good. One of em is sticky weather all year round, that true?
Heard also about some artificial ski slope in a mall. Now that I gotta see! It's kinda absurd, ain't it?
i*maginate, you said: I strongly doubt that the kind of people who complain 'underground' about topics that they seem to care so deeply about would actually go to the relevant authority to take up their complaint with?
That's fine in theory, but in practice there isn't actually a specific place to go to lodge a complaint about many things.
Examples, the terrible road planning. Who do we go to, the RTA? They're responsible for the mess in the first place and aren't going to admit to it.
The inconsistent sentences handed out by the courts - we can't go to the judges to complain can we.
Sh. Mohommad has told both of these to get their acts together and improve their performance. All we can do is highlight the problems as and where we can - in blogs, by writing to the media, in discussion with people.
i*maginate:
I suggest you change the background color of your blog. A dark background really challenges the eyes when we come to the "comments" section. Hmm, maybe I can leave if I dont like it here :P But, I think you make valid points here. I also agree whole-heartedly with SD about the pace of Dubai's growth.
Firstly, I am frankly OK with criticism as long as it is constructive. I hope SD and the others can agree that it is pretty irritating to hear people quite literally whine and trash UAE for the lamest reasons. I doubt that such people have the intention of improving UAE. They are actually looking to hurt the sensitivities of local Arabs.
Secondly, I think a lot of people who criticise the UAE have no respect for local traditions and beliefs. For example, I fail to understand the ad infinitum attacks on the Judiciary in the UAE. Listen, the Judiciary of every society will differ according to their priorities and ideological beliefs. So I don't understand why "others" (if I may use the term) should enforce their ideological views on how the Judiciary should run in Arabia. It's the classical case of comparing oranges to apples.
Some people take it to another level by bad-mouthing how women and men dress up in Arabia. Somehow, women in veils are supposed to be "oppressed". We all know how America played the whole "Afghani women are oppressed by Taliban" card. I dont know if this might come as a shock, but most women in Afghanistan would rather be dressed up that way. These are domains where I feel "criticism" is actually blatant hate and ignorance. I feel such criticism is unwarranted and in fact counter-productive.
I find myself agreeing with both I*maginate and SD, in parts.
I first came to Dubai in ’97 and left in 2000, and then came back in 2005.
I don’t actually find it a lot different. It was pretty clear then that all these empty plots were going to be built over and that progress was key and free zone / freehold development was on the cards.
Some natives were arrogant twits then and some are still. More of them were friendly and open minded and easygoing and more are still.
The number of expats however has dramatically increased and is probably more varied now than then. Different expats come now for different reasons.
Many expats I know have come with completely wrong expectations, or no knowledge of what they were getting themselves into and who had fallen for the worldwide Dubai marketing hype - sure enough they are peeved. So, cut them some slack and let them grumble - they'll leave anyway.
Others simply get frustrated on their own account, with the lack of transparency and accountability of the government, or simply the summer weather. If one is disenfranchised and not able to influence policy then frustration and grumbling is just a natural vent.
I*magnate, I suppose you are right and one actually has the right to go to the Diwan and see Sheikh Mohammed. But that’s maybe not always appropriate.
(I would like to go tomorrow if I could. “Excuse me Your Highness, there is this local moron on his quad bike who wakes up my kids at night. Can I shoot him?”)
What is lacking is a ‘political’ platform for expats to associate and engage with authorities and to put forward grievances AND suggestions at various levels.
(I personally hate summers, Etisalat censorship, lack of recycling and not being able to vote – in this order. And I love my work and the buzz and the salary and walking on the beach any day I want.
This may make me sound like a materialistic airhead, but I knew that I would be only a guest worker and didn’t come here with the intention of ‘rocking the boat’.)
I mean 'political' platforms similar to Trade unions, which you could join.
We could have one left wing and one right wing for each population group.
India right / India left
Pak right / ....Europe left etc.etc...
And then 57 for the Arabs.
I agree with i*maginate. It drives me absolutely nuts when have discussions with co-workers here on work visas who always want to talk about everything that's wrong with America. I don't seek these discussions out - honestly, the opinion of a foreigner about the US is unimportant to me - but it seems some people feel that any American should have to listen to lectures about how their country can be improved.
To the 10% of foreign guest workers I've met who have this kind of attitude, I genuinely would like to ask them to leave. But I don't. Still, the question remains... if you hate your host country that much what are you doing there? And I don't buy the notion that people criticize in order to try and make things "better" - a foreigner doesn't have any clue what would make MY country better. Do they? What would the base such an opinion on?
I'm guessing that what compels people to stay in Dubai when they don't like it is the same thing that compels people to stay in Los Angeles, when they don't like it. Greed. Pure and simple.
I just wish they would make more parking spaces!!!!!!!
Craig,
Not so simple:
Many foreigners with work visas in the US today are US citizens of tomorrow.
I seem to remember that your family were foreigners in the US once upon a time.
Not the same here in the UAE. Very very few foreigners are given citizenship, and even there are distinctions between the rigths they aqcuire upon getting a passport. One might get around the residence visa issue by buying freehold property here, but even that can be revoked in case of misconduct, such as drink-driving which leads to expulsion.
Let's not forget that criticism is a very important feedback to the powers that be. It may be voiced in primitive ways, but there are grievances that should be heard and addressed by policy makers, regardless of where the criticism comes from.
And yes, I believe I know a few things that could make this country a better one, because I have experienced it elsewhere and I would like to be able to contribute to improving my environment whereever I am, even as an expat.
You may be right with your last paragraph, though :)
...I meant of course drink-driving only if you are caught and convicted.
So far I have slipped through the net :)
I seem to remember that your family were foreigners in the US once upon a time.
That's not *precisely* true! Prior to the revolution in 1776, the 13 English colonies in America were under British sovereignty, and the colonists were British subjects.
I do acknowledge you point, though :)
*secretdubai, I don’t disagree at all with people voicing day-to-day complaints. What I disagree with is the manner in which this is done, i.e. “anonymously via newspapers and blogs”. People who don’t like the “if you don’t like it don’t leave” statement want to do everything but leave, but while they stay, they complain in a very clever fashion, i.e., as you do via your own ‘secret’ blog, as do the commenters on it, who mostly do nothing but have a laugh and stir unnecessary hatred on it. Some may disagree, such as cg and buj. But sd, the beautiful words you write in favour of the UAE here in your comment are never/rarely to be seen in any of your posts...how is one supposed to interpet your intentions then, if I am wrong in my interpretation?
”What about local people that are unhappy with the status quo" What about them, are you their voice? Is that your secret agenda? The country belongs to locals, and not to you. Where they go to is upto them.
No, I don’t like a lot of things, especially traffic: which, luckily, I am able to avoid, and I count myself lucky for that. On the other hand, I can tell you I’d rather be stuck in my car listening to TECHNO or whatever takes my fancy than be on the tube/subway being crushed in less-than-pleasant after-work aromas. High rents: you know sd, I love the view, I love the pool, and I love the area. The high rent is better than being stuck in some gangster area anywhere else in the world! And you know that is a rational argument ;)
What I am really saying is the people who don’t like the statement “if you don’t like it” invite these statements through their propaganda/clear hatred of all things Arab. And because of this hatred, they really wouldn’t be here…unless they had some other cause to fulfil…perhaps the spread of democracy and freedom?
SD I appreciate your views here but all ‘developing’ cities ‘develop’ and naturally society and culture would too. You and me may prefer the green, quiet lifestyle – but would you have a Dubai to blog about if it were still “green and quiet?”
*J-T Sullivan, your comment was so refreshing! My goodness, do you have any idea what we’re talking about here? You have to be in Dubai to understand ;) What’s the weather to do with anything? It’s only sticky when it’s humid, which is about 3 months of the year. I like steam rooms so I’m not complaining.
What’s absurd about an indoor ski slope in Dubai – would it be any more absurd if it were in Paris?
*Seabee – there are places to complain for most things. In fact, if I have ever complained anywhere, it has been MUCH more effective than anywhere else on the planet I've ever complained! I do agree with what you’re saying, though, and communication via the media/blogs is all fine but not with the malicious undertones so prevalent in many blogs/articles. That’s what I don’t agree with.
*al-republican, Oh well, white actually has the reverse effect on my eyes but I might experiment following your polite request! And after that, if you don’t like it……don’t leave! ;)
I totally agree also “with criticism as long as it is constructive. and that many blogs are looking to hurt the sensitivities of local Arabs. Umm….I find I agree with every single thing you say here so I won’t bother quoting you!
”the Judiciary of every society will differ according to their priorities and ideological beliefs. Yes, and a lot of other things differ. Arabs don’t favour peanuts. Does this make Americans monkeys just because Americans do like peanuts?
It’s hilarious reading such poor rationale from “others” who have clearly been sucked in by their local press, with no intention to open their minds a little. It’s so ignorant in our time, and racist, and and and, to totally hate any culture as much as I see people doing on blogs. I’ve seen it myself from visitors I’ve met to the UAE who have a totally different idea of this region and go home with a new perspective!
*nick, Again, I’m not against ppl voicing their opinions but to slag things off and still stay here shows malicious intent.
It’s interesting to learn what other ppl think of this region/city after moving here. But before coming here, shouldn’t they know that they cannot directly influence government policies? Or did they pack their bags with freedom and democracy and forget to unpack it when they arrived?
“but I knew that I would be only a guest worker and didn’t come here with the intention of ‘rocking the boat’” – everybody knows this when they come here…! Some just pretend they don’t and push it as far as they can. They won't get away with it in public ;)
*programmer craig, Hi, interesting you hold this opinion coz it sure doesn’t look like you mind talking about “everything that's wrong” with this region? Please clarify whether or not I’m accurate in my judgement but you have slagged off Islam and the judiciary system in this region on sd’s blog.
I do agree that those who are not residents of a country shouldn’t be slagging off their host country. Also agree “if you hate your host country that much what are you doing there?
As for who’s the best judge of how things should be run in a country: the government and its citizens. “We are the United States of America - the rest are just visitors” as Matt Damon said in “A Good Shepherd”
*clayfuture, Hehe park your car by the poolside, are there any restrictions in your contract regarding that? ;)
So for the 3 months that you say is sticky, you stick-out & the rest of the time you stick-in a steam room? I just made that duo- (stick)-syllable up!
You're damn straight it's absurd to have an indoor ski slope with artificial snow. And that friggin absurdity applies to Paris or Switzerland too. For one, it beats the thrill out of skiing with blue or gray sky above ya with clean & crispy air or wind around ya!
j-t, you're stick-on not totally right there!
In terms of the weather, I guess some people, especially those who love the cold, would certainly not be a fan of the sunshine. Yes, Dubai does offer year-round sunshine but some months are hotter than the rest. I would say mid-June to early Sept are very hot indeed and quite humid. But in any case, you would only be exposed to that for about 5 minutes if you have a car. If you don't well it would be pretty unbearable indeed.
Darlin, if indoor ski slopes are absurd, what are ice rinks then? Some people don't have access to the mountains so how would they go skiiing? I think it's also a great way to learn how to ski...nothing beats true nature though!
'nothing beats true nature though!'
Well said even if you were a bit circumlocutory.
And now it's time for me to rest my case!
P.S.: You still owe me a drink though for showing you the light.
*programmer craig, Hi, interesting you hold this opinion coz it sure doesn’t look like you mind talking about “everything that's wrong” with this region? Please clarify whether or not I’m accurate in my judgement but you have slagged off Islam and the judiciary system in this region on sd’s blog.
No, I slagged off Islam's "morality" when you and several other people started comparing UAE to the west. I don't give a shit about the justice system in UAE, I'll never set foot there. But I do give a shit when immoral people start acting as if they are better than everyone else.
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