It's prolly more of an urban/rural thing worldwide than a Dominican thing. My experience is that rural folks are almost always more kind, giving and polite than city folk.
- Thread starter George Holmes
- Start date
Dominicans: Are they pathologically inconsiderate?
Mr C always complains about Santiagueros being 'comparones' (~snooty), and he's a capitale?o with roots in Moca.
But yes - capitale?os can be brash and arrogant, and this fits in with the sierra/coast divide in most other Latin American countries I'm familiar with, where people in the interior, highland areas are considered more reserved and polite than their coastal-dwelling compatriots.
But yes - capitale?os can be brash and arrogant, and this fits in with the sierra/coast divide in most other Latin American countries I'm familiar with, where people in the interior, highland areas are considered more reserved and polite than their coastal-dwelling compatriots.
After over 100 post and some great insights into the Dominican psyche I can't see how you still think there is any pathology involved here!!!!!!
aranoid:spelling challenged Riter.........
the above quote was by chip00 i believe.sure my spelling is shot to s$$t here talking with the trailer people from all over the world who flock here.my guess is you have a "position" here and dough,hence you are proving my point that "you gotta the money you getta the smiles and holas and "friendly"waves.tell me im wrong???????also are the forums "only"for great spellers like yerself?very childish brat type line.or are you still a high school jock or adolesent mr witty?NOT.................bi 4 know....
the above quote was by chip00 i believe.sure my spelling is shot to s$$t here talking with the trailer people from all over the world who flock here.my guess is you have a "position" here and dough,hence you are proving my point that "you gotta the money you getta the smiles and holas and "friendly"waves.tell me im wrong???????also are the forums "only"for great spellers like yerself?very childish brat type line.or are you still a high school jock or adolesent mr witty?NOT.................bi 4 know....
Ok, so the title was supposed to be a bit tongue in cheek, but what I think I meant by it is this:
There is something in the society that I meet when in the capital that generally accepts behaviour that in many other places would be considered staggeringly rude, such as complete disregard for queues (e.g. pushing and shoving to get on a bus despite the very pregnant lady who has clearly been waiting for far longer in the heat), speaking to companions and on phones in cinemas, theatres, lectures etc, arriving 2 hours late for a meeting despite knowing that the other person has a very busy schedule, and so on. Of course, there are people who do not do this, but these are a minority swimming against the general current. I have attended too many anthropology lectures to say 'pathology' in anything other than in jest, but the lack of sensitivity in many circumstances to the feelings of those around is a widespread trend in Santo Domingo.
I am told that around 2000 years ago, someone was nailed to a tree for saying how nice it would be if everyone was just a bit kinder to everyone around them. My point is that being in Santo Domingo would be a lot more pleasant for everyone if people respected queues, the right of people around them to enjoy an event, and so on. A Hobbesian lesson.
My consternation was provoked by the contrast between this anti-social behaviour and a trend observed in this thread, such as the willingness to help strangers, even though you may have just jumped in front of them in the queue. I am slightly nearer, though still a long way away, from understanding what I see as a contradiction here.
My <a href="http://dofieldwork.blogspot.com/2006/11/being-academic-temporarily-separated.html">experiences in a lecture</a> a few months ago is what prompted these thoughts.
There is something in the society that I meet when in the capital that generally accepts behaviour that in many other places would be considered staggeringly rude, such as complete disregard for queues (e.g. pushing and shoving to get on a bus despite the very pregnant lady who has clearly been waiting for far longer in the heat), speaking to companions and on phones in cinemas, theatres, lectures etc, arriving 2 hours late for a meeting despite knowing that the other person has a very busy schedule, and so on. Of course, there are people who do not do this, but these are a minority swimming against the general current. I have attended too many anthropology lectures to say 'pathology' in anything other than in jest, but the lack of sensitivity in many circumstances to the feelings of those around is a widespread trend in Santo Domingo.
I am told that around 2000 years ago, someone was nailed to a tree for saying how nice it would be if everyone was just a bit kinder to everyone around them. My point is that being in Santo Domingo would be a lot more pleasant for everyone if people respected queues, the right of people around them to enjoy an event, and so on. A Hobbesian lesson.
My consternation was provoked by the contrast between this anti-social behaviour and a trend observed in this thread, such as the willingness to help strangers, even though you may have just jumped in front of them in the queue. I am slightly nearer, though still a long way away, from understanding what I see as a contradiction here.
My <a href="http://dofieldwork.blogspot.com/2006/11/being-academic-temporarily-separated.html">experiences in a lecture</a> a few months ago is what prompted these thoughts.
The thing is, there is no anti social behaviour, per se. It's the child-like thing, thus, there is no contrast.
If you choose to accept it as fact, then life in the DR becomes a lot more rosy, and a lot less frustrating.
George as an academic working on some sort of PhD thesis, I am surprised that you are not treating your field laboratory with more detachment, which is a hallmark of any scientist (Geographer). Take the advise from Rocky and things will get rosy, and a lot less frustrating.
C
Chip00
Guest
Lighten up "Francis". I think there's plenty of room on these other forums for a little humour. As far as the other inferences ... it appears I've hit a nerve - but you'll be glad to know I'm nobody important.
Heck when I lived here before with my wife's family I didn't have a job, wife was pregnant, we drank rainwater, crapped in an outhouse, went to bed at night by candle and to pass my time I played pelota with the kids in the pueblito - they smiled at me then too - and I would hardly say it was my good looks. My only luxuries were a cold coke with dinner as beer was a no no in a house full of evangelicals. I lived 7 months in that situation and still have fond memories.
I'll give you a little insight - most Dominicans see gringos as being unfriendly and many are actually somewhat intimidated by us - not in a physical way though. If you go out of your way to be friendly and gregarious I'm sure you'll get a different reaction.
George as an academic working on some sort of PhD thesis, I am surprised that you are not treating your field laboratory with more detachment, which is a hallmark of any scientist (Geographer). Take the advise from Rocky and things will get rosy, and a lot less frustrating.
Ah, that is why I am not a scientist. Us fuzzy lot who look at social trends actively seek to get involved in the field. It's a lot more fun. Plus it puts you in a position to make judgements about social behaviour.
Can I assume George that if you're doing an anthropological doctorate that this thread too will become part of your field evidence.............?
Afraid not. I have more interesting things to look at than behaviour in queues for the bakery. Once everything is finished though, I am sure I will post something up here.
Like fires in National Parks as an example of resistance to Government.......?
Maybe bakery queues could offer insights...............?
I Describe The "DR",As; "Just Like Everywhere Else,..ONLY MORESO!!!"
All the "BAD" things that happen elsewhere also happen here, but they seem to be more concentrated.
The Dominicans are a very "like Thinking" society! The all eat alike,and at the same times! Every Dominican on the island "MUST" have "Pan con Chocolate" for breakfast! "La Bandera",(meat,rice,and beans) for lunch,and some fried bananas/plantains and salami for dinner! For "variety" add some "Fried Cheese",or a "Jonny Cake" in the mix! Want some juice? Get ready for the "Sugar Rush" of a lifetime! They must cosume 50 lbs. of sugar each a year!
Now for the really "Bad" stuff! Dominicans have little or no "Self-respect",so how can they have ANY respect for "Others"????
The ,do not,can not,will not,and have no respect for anyone or anything!!
They lie,cheat,steal,do anything as they damn well please,then give you "The Look" if you do the same thing! They can block the street,sidewalk,shopping isle,anything as it suits them,for as loooooooooooooooooog as it suits them.Yet if you stop to take a can of peas off the shelf they can't wait to push by you!If you stop to let a child cross the street,they start blasting their horn as you begin to slow down,and then pull around you as you come to a stop! The light changes at an intersection,and they sit talking on their cell phone.Yet they start to honk from behind you the second the light changes to green! Maybe THAT'S why they can hit a 95 MPH fastball!
Why do I continue to live in a place I find so deplorable? Because in the "Land Of The Ignorant", A STUPID GUY Like Me Can Really Get Over"!!!!
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCcccccc
NOw you will also notice that Dominicans Can NOT Accept ANY form of Criticism! Good,Constructive,Bad,or Indifferent!!!:ermm:
All the "BAD" things that happen elsewhere also happen here, but they seem to be more concentrated.
The Dominicans are a very "like Thinking" society! The all eat alike,and at the same times! Every Dominican on the island "MUST" have "Pan con Chocolate" for breakfast! "La Bandera",(meat,rice,and beans) for lunch,and some fried bananas/plantains and salami for dinner! For "variety" add some "Fried Cheese",or a "Jonny Cake" in the mix! Want some juice? Get ready for the "Sugar Rush" of a lifetime! They must cosume 50 lbs. of sugar each a year!
Now for the really "Bad" stuff! Dominicans have little or no "Self-respect",so how can they have ANY respect for "Others"????
The ,do not,can not,will not,and have no respect for anyone or anything!!
They lie,cheat,steal,do anything as they damn well please,then give you "The Look" if you do the same thing! They can block the street,sidewalk,shopping isle,anything as it suits them,for as loooooooooooooooooog as it suits them.Yet if you stop to take a can of peas off the shelf they can't wait to push by you!If you stop to let a child cross the street,they start blasting their horn as you begin to slow down,and then pull around you as you come to a stop! The light changes at an intersection,and they sit talking on their cell phone.Yet they start to honk from behind you the second the light changes to green! Maybe THAT'S why they can hit a 95 MPH fastball!
Why do I continue to live in a place I find so deplorable? Because in the "Land Of The Ignorant", A STUPID GUY Like Me Can Really Get Over"!!!!
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCcccccc
NOw you will also notice that Dominicans Can NOT Accept ANY form of Criticism! Good,Constructive,Bad,or Indifferent!!!:ermm:
Ha, Ha I'll have to agree with you on most of your " observations " After living here in Canada for the past 8 years, and leaving others to run her business in the dr, Yris is starting to observe the same in her gente. Never had Pan con Chocolate in the DR and salami and pork aren't eaten my my wife's family. 5-6 Teespoons of sugar in each cup of coffee. I don't use sugar and we go through 5 lbs every 2 weeks.
I knew it would happen. Hehehehe
I was just making reference to some of the things Criss had to say. If it had been me that said what he said there would have been about 38,000 DR1 members all down around my head. As it was him that said it nobody blinked an eye but when I posted ?thank you? you are the first, but I don?t think last, that will use ?my? post as a point to attack that which ccccccccc had to say.
The workings here on DR1 never cease to amuse me.
Rick
I was just making reference to some of the things Criss had to say. If it had been me that said what he said there would have been about 38,000 DR1 members all down around my head. As it was him that said it nobody blinked an eye but when I posted ?thank you? you are the first, but I don?t think last, that will use ?my? post as a point to attack that which ccccccccc had to say.
The workings here on DR1 never cease to amuse me.
Rick