The Reader's Digest survey that ranks Bombay as the rudest City in the 35 countries where the magazine is published, rips off one of India's (and indeed Asia's) greatest claims to fame: that we are imbued with a certain set of values, much of it traceable to the religions we practice, that makes us kindler and gentler than the material West. Not only has urbs prima indus emerged the last in the three tests done by RD, but seven of the 10 lowest-scoring countries were Asian.
Questions: Are we a ruder nation than we would care to admit? Is this survey just a reflection of big, bad Bombay or is it a nationwide phenomenon? Is RD, an unashamed mouthpiece of the church, pitting Christian values against "Asian Values"? What is making us ruder than westerners? Poverty, failure, frustration, the desire to get ahead at all costs, what? Is being rude such a bad thing if it can channelise our energies to achieve our goals? What is the rudest thing you have done? What is the rudest thing you have seen, heard or done to you?
!! just read this info in Hindu this morning and predicted it would appear in favorite Churumuri!!
The survey has taken the rudeness barometre only to select cities. I have felt Delhi to be more ‘ruder’ than Mumbai. And Goa to be more ‘polite’ than Pondichery.
It has to be the fast life to be blamed and hospitality can’t be measured by number of Thank you’s.
No comments on Reader’s Digest’s ulterior motives. But they will necessarily carry a brighter side of Mumbai in issues to come!!
As for us, we can do our own measuring of Politeness factor in indian cities and towns! (like for example: The driver of KA-09 420 autorikshaw is more polite than the driver of KA-09 9211 KSRTC bus)
Also, there is frustration and intolerance at all levels that makes a mass effect of rudeness! Better days ahead?
Sure, we are the most insentive people on earth. I dont think this is limited to Mumbai. It is a very urban Indian phenomenon. The current generation of Indians have zilch civic sense. You just have to look at the traffic in cities to figure that out.
In 1980s Bangaloreans, with a few exceptions, actually used to follow traffic rules. Even enforcement kept pace as the traffic police kept pace by using bethalysers and doppler machines to check offenders. Mumbai used to be even better those days, with motorists displaying impeccable lane discipline. While Bangalore has gone totally chaotic, Mumbai today retains only a semblance of the discipline it was once known for. Other cities like Chennai and Hyderabad were always bad and they continue to be so.
I think Readers’ Digest is being fair. Check out San Francisco, Boston, New York, Singapore and even London. You’ll know what RD is talking about.
Yes we are… and I dont exclude myself. But I find people as rude in Singapore and Hong Kong as well. Maybe it is an Asian thing. Maybe its because we have this thing about “Being nice is a sign of weakness”.
Let me use an example:
When I am driving, and I give way to another vehicle by waving them across, people do not appreciate the fact that you are doing it out of courtesy. 99% of these guys dont even acknowledge the fact. They just motor on as if I let them go because I was weak… the same in a queue (although I must admit we are getting better), it seems like you are in constant competition with the guy next to you.
…and I was reading: Strategic Rudeness. “Better be Rude and Focused, than Polite and Scattered” it says.
There is no comment in “Can Pak live with an Indian UN Sec”. All r quick to comment on topics like movie and language. Someone post a comment there. Dont b RUDE. I dont want to b the first one. I ‘v decided.
Anthrax.
May be most of us does not have an idea about it. We haven’t got enought thought on the implications for Pak if Mr. Tharoor becomes teh UNSG.
I think people like you who have thoughts on that space should comment and educate junta.
Actually, we are still very courteous and polite to most people. But some people take advantage of this nature of ours and that is when we show how rude we can be. If someone asks for it, they get it. Simple. If somebody comes to your land and shows off despite you being polite, don’t you get annoyed and angry?
Namma ooralli iddhgondu namma jana, bhaashe ge avmana maadthare. Avrige ‘Rude’ allade yenu attada mele koorisbeka?
@Hampali, at your service boss. I have posted my comment there.
@rk, you mark your territory like dogs do. always lift your leg when you find a pole.
Rude? What Rude? We are never Rude. We never use Rude Language. What the f*** is Readers digest saying? B****ds, f***rs, B*** C***s. &%&^$%$%$^#()I(*%$#$#@
Anthrax,
Thank you.
Anthrax, tere ko tapka doonga. Shaana bantha hai kya?
Well we can find the best and the rudest (sic) everywhere. I wonder on what basis RD did the “rude survey”. I feel if we are in any land other than ours it is best to learn the language and always try and learn what the place has to offer. After all it is good to know more than less!!
depends on how rudeness is measured.
and perception of rudeness also depends on culture.
my neighbourhood vegetable vendor is very cordial but never says thank you either in english or dhanyavaada in kannada.
i have conveyed sense of gratitude a zillion times without ever using the word dhanyavaada.
what next, because asian people donot kiss in public they are the most love lorn people in the world?
If New York emerged as the politest, I seriously doubt the survey, I have been to both NY and Mumbai, and now way does it substantiate with the survey resutls.
I think Vadi has a very valid point. You cannot measure rudeness or politeness just by a certain set of values. If a person smiled or nodded in gratitude would that not count.
Can we just conclude that people are rude because they did not offer to open the door or say thank you when the choice could be that or missing out on your turn, say while boarding a bus or waiting in a bank.
Also the population & general poverty levels might also influence this behaviour. If the city being evaluated is a well developed one with less population and less poverty around, there would be much less competetion and people might appear as more considerate. In poorer cities survival of the fittest will certainly be a factor in all public services and hence not everyone might appear to be as friendly.
I would like to share a couple here .
In our city where there is a huge population of expat Indian Community
maybe settled since 25/30 years .
When ever we encounter Indians face to face , most of them have a grumpy and expressionless face . And If one wishes or acknowledge ,they would just turn away or give a ‘Seemingly Lost’ look and proceed .
But when the same fellas come across a ‘Gora’ they would put a smile
, wish or ackowledge with a Nod . Maybe this is my experience .
I always feel great at heart telling someone ‘Namaskara Sir’ or Namaste’
It also makes me feel better .
Namaskara Sir , yella araama …Bai thumba heladre yeno Kushi .
Namma meru nata Rajkumar nindha kali bekagiro modhala guNa andre yidhae . ‘ Yellargu namaskara heeLi hogovaaga gate thanka hogi beelkododhu’
DG anna nivu helodu sari I too have experienced this U S. When ever we met a gora while walking in park or in walking trail they definetly wished us and we reciprocated promptly.But this is resticted just a hallo or a smile thats it. They won’t come and help u in any other way. Yavudadaru oorinalli dari thappidare devarane yaru dari thorisodilla nimma kainalli map iralebeku. But in India” Bayi iddonu Baradalli gedda ” any body can help u and definetly they will try to help u.
Today CNNIBN also showed this and they also tried to find out the truth. The survey was right Mumbaikars definetly fail to say sorry or to hold a door, But sefinetly they have other courtesy of helping other human in crisis like flood or any other calamity.
Last year when mumbai and north carolina faced same problem of flood.It was mumbaikars who stood strongly with each other there was no report of robbery or riot in Mumbai on those days.But contrary to this north carolina faced worst kind of riots and i read in Hindu someone commenting that they never thought people would be so RUDE and inhumane in their behavoir.
Now tell me who are rude?
DP, I have also come across such behavior very often. But I have also seen many other Indians who greeted me or offered to help with something.
Sometimes the only people who smiled back or talked nicely happened to be the ones from Amway or some similar scheme and they wanted to sell me something. :)
I dont know if it is relevant to mention this but Khushwant Singh has categorized similar behaviour in an article as ‘third class mentality’. In earlier days when people used to travel by third class (without reservations), they used to be very nice to the people who already had a seat as they depended on their kindness to get a place. But once they got a seat to sit they would not show the same courtesy to other passengers who were standing or wanted to enter the compartment and would pretend not to notice them or turn their heads away. It is a case of “Naavu kashta padlillva, avaru swalpa anubhavisali.”
Sorry I meant to say DG .. haalaad keybordu.
Why should we care about Reader’s Digest? It is a silly magazine with “black and white” world view, and it often considers itself the guardian of traditional “American values”. This is a magazine that is predominently sold at the checkout counters in US grocery stores and is placed along with national tabloids like National Enquirer etc.
I just saw some bastard (yes I am being rude!!) from RD on CNN trying to defend the survey!! Comparing rudeness in American culture Vs rest of the world is apples to oranges comparison. Different cultures, socio-economic conditions, value systems etc.
Frankly, I don’t understand the slavish fascination english educated Indian middle class has with RD. It lacks depth and comes off as pro-america or pro-western all the time. How many times does RD try to analyze why America is so hated around the world now. Is it because of the arrogant and greedy policies of the American Govt or their culture? “Ugly Americans” are well known around the world.
Perhaps if Indians begin to unsubscribe in large numbers or write letters in protest, RD will come around and learn a valuable lesson.
I can’t believe the Indian newspapers and websites even cared to cover this trash……
Well it was New Orleons ( Not NC ) . New orleons was worse then a Riot/Civit war starved african nation.People starving for days dumped in a super dome .Looting shops for food and provisions . The federal army took almost a week to arrive at the scene to move the citizens from the superdome and residents stuck on roof tops .
It was a warzone and seen like a refugee camp .disgusting for all US boasts as a technical super power.
Indian Army is better equipped for calamities and have experience in dealing with them
ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆ:
೧. ಬಾಗಿಲು ಹಿಡಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯವಲ್ಲ.
೨. ಯಾರಾದರೂ ಕಾಗದ-ಪತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಬೀಳಿಸಿಕೊಂಡರೆ, ಇತರರು ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡುವುದನ್ನು ನಾನು ನೋಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಹಾಗೆ ಯಾರೂ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡದ ಘಟನೆಯನ್ನು ನಾನಂತೂ ಕಂಡಿಲ್ಲ. ಇವರು ಎರಡೇ ಎರಡು ಕಾಗದ ಬೀಳಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿರಬೇಕು! ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಯಾರೂ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಿಲ್ಲ!
೩. ಅಂಗಡಿಯವರು “ಥ್ಯಾಂಕ್ ಯೂ” ಎಂದು ಹೇಳುವುದು ಕೂಡ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯವಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ಉಪಕಾರ ಮಾಡಿದವರಿಗೆ ಅದನ್ನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತೇವೆ, ವ್ಯವಹಾರ ಮಾಡುವವರಿಗೆ ಅಲ್ಲ.
ಪಾಶ್ಚಾತ್ಯರಲ್ಲಿ ಇಲ್ಲದ ನಮ್ಮ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯಗಳು: (ತುಂಬಾ ಸಿಗಬಹುದು, ಒಂದೆರಡು ಉದಾ)
೧. ಪರಿಚಿತರಿರಲಿ, ಅಪರಿಚಿತರನ್ನು ಕೂಡ ಬಾಗಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ಮಾತಾಡಿಸುವ ಅಭ್ಯಾಸವಿಲ್ಲ, ಮನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಕರೆದು ಮಾತಾಡಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ.
೨. ಇತರರಿಗೆ ಕಾಲು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ತಗಲಿದರೂ ಪಶ್ಚಾತ್ತಾಪ ಪಡುತ್ತೇವೆ.
Thnak u very much for updating me DG anna . Nanu swlpa america boogoladalli peddi. Ee hesarugalu thumba confuse aaguthe. Anyway nanu enu helodakke horatidde antha artha ayithu ankothini. Ottinalli namma strength bagge namage gothiddare saku annisuthe alva?.
Sir Kobbanna avare papa RD ya adhe manushaya helida janakke thumba avashyakathe iddaga mumbai jana obbarige obbaru help maduthare antha avanige yakri byitheera first IBN avaradu alva thappu?
Innondu gotha Mumbai noro aagale ee vishayakke protest madutha iddaranthe NDTV nalli belligge thorisuthaiddar
Thnak u very much for updating me DG anna . Nanu swlpa america boogoladalli peddi. Ee hesarugalu thumba confuse aaguthe. Anyway nanu enu helodakke horatidde antha artha ayithu ankothini. Ottinalli namma strength bagge namage gothiddare saku annisuthe alva?.
Sir Kobbanna avare papa RD ya adhe manushaya helida janakke thumba avashyakathe iddaga mumbai jana obbarige obbaru help maduthare antha avanige yakri byitheera first IBN avaradu alva thappu?
Innondu gotha Mumbai noro aagale ee vishayakke protest madutha iddaranthe NDTV nalli belligge thorisutha iddaru
This assessment like the psepephsologist predicting opn scanty data the election results and most of the time they are wrong.