was just reading this article What the f...? Ex-trooper's desert dilemma
Mr MacKay should learn some manners and learn to respect the local culture. I hope he gets jail time and a few lashes.
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13-11-2009, 03:16 PM #1
arrogant prick
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13-11-2009, 03:25 PM #2
You're kidding right? The guy gets thrown in jail for using an expletive when grabbed from behind without knowing who it was?
I've encountered this before myself. I swear. Didn't used to, but 5 years in Australia (including becoming a citizen) do that to you. It's part of the language and not considered offensive. then you get on a plane and go somewhere else (in my case it was New Zealand of all places!) and discover that talking your "normal language" causes offense.
Personally I subscribe to the "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" view of the world. I cannot insult anyone with words. They have to choose to be insulted - as this policeman clearly was (or at least has seen fit to claim that he was).
Pathetic.
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13-11-2009, 03:29 PM #3
If a stranger did that to me, I would probably instinctively do something similar, or worse.The Adelaide man said he was grabbed on the wrist and yanked by a stranger at Dubai International Airport, and instinctively said: "What the f---?".
But the man was a plainclothes airport policeman, and Mr McKay was charged with insulting him and his passport was confiscated.
The policeman had not identified himself, was not wearing any uniform and came at him from behind. The Dubai Police are not disputing these claims.
Unfortunately, this is just one case the Dubai Airport Police doing things that seem a little strange to some
BBC NEWS | UK | Tourists warned of UAE drug laws
British tourist Keith Brown was sentenced to four years in prison after Dubai customs officers found a 0.003g trace of cannabis stuck to his shoe.
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13-11-2009, 03:33 PM #4
Share the same view as Crocodile - why was he grabbed from behind? Was he doing anything wrong? What he said was an instinctive human reaction. Yes, it may be against the law, but in many countries intent is taken into consideration - for example if you injure someone in self defence.
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13-11-2009, 03:35 PM #5
Jail for swearing at a plain clothes police officer... rediculous!!
How can you possibly say he needs "respect the local culture"... what letting some strange man grab you from behind and not reacting...
I'm not sure what planet you live on but most people I know would have given a similar response!
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13-11-2009, 03:38 PM #6
It's just a word, and with using all language it is the context with which words are used which is important.
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13-11-2009, 03:38 PM #7
I would almost certainly have reacted in the same way. The thing is though,it is another country and a different set of cultural norms at play. Its a bit naieve to go into that country of all places and not expect to get into trouble without a heightened awareness of the cultural sensitivities of the locals. For a guy who presumably has travelled there in the past you would think he would know this. Whilst its of course instinctive behaviour swallow your pride and do what you are told or expect to end up in the slammer.
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13-11-2009, 03:41 PM #8
Instinctive behaviour is exactly that, instinctive. It's not possible to think before you act instinctively. For example - you touch a hot stove and it burns, so you quickly pull your hand back. You didn't think about it first, it was instinctive.
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13-11-2009, 03:43 PM #9
When I was fresh off the boat many years ago one of my first trips was to Manila, in a sleazy club I went to the bog and as I was taking a pish some geezer grabbed my shoulders from behind. Reverting to 'Stoke' mentality I rounded on him in a state of 'unzipped' ready to hit him or run like hell...he was the bathroom superintendent and merely trying to provide a massage for a dollar or two. Oh how we laughed.
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13-11-2009, 03:45 PM #10
I thought these things went away with a "payment".
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Originally Posted by thundacatchergo:
