Posted in Argentina forum
Hi all,
I was surprised to hear on the streets in Argentina how people address each other, somehow it seems to be normal to talk about people as "boludo", "loco", call fat people "gordo", blacks "negro" etc. Is it only me who finds this politically incorrect and offensive?
Sarah
Deleted user
Merry Xmas and happy new year to you !
posted by Khristian R in Argentina forum
When it comes to pollution, you're absolutely right, I didn't take into account some islands. (Thank God there places where mother nature is safe).
*Thanks for the conversation too!
Bye- bye Michelle.
Take care.
Chris.Thank you
posted by Michelle K. in Argentina forum
Hi Chris,
You misunderstood me, I never said you said anything was wrong with being gay. : )
I know pollution is a problem, but on many islands there is none. Plus in some countries there's a lot less.
Thank you for the conversation & Happy Holidays!
Michelle
Hello Michelle
posted by Khristian R in Argentina forum
First and foremost, it's been a pleasure to interchange some ideas with you! But I'd like to get something straight, of course, if possible.
1) Many people attribute us many negative deeds/actions or facts in spite of knowing we' re not involved. It's always been the same. (an example of this: mexican people who live in N. York suffer the same prejudice). It's commoner than you can ever imagine.
2) I've never said that being gay is wrong! for instance, my best friend Fernando is gay and he's one of the most incredible guys I' ve ever talked to.
*The only problem is that certain phrases are some times thoroughly misrepresented.
3) The choice of the country you're going to live in is up to you, although I'd like to tell u that there's pollution everywhere you go because it's a worlwide problem, unfortunately. (the same response for the issue of the criminality rate).
4) In Argentina, we bragged about having all kinds of food (not only red meat).
5) My canadian friends are really polite and lovely but in a country you can find many people with many different personalities, that's why I always say that generalizations are utterly counterproductive, from my standpoint.bye
Take care.
It's been a pleasure to write to you.
Chris.AR
posted by Michelle K. in Argentina forum
Hi Chris,
Actually I have no knowledge of what she said one way or another, so if Argentinians are nice people, that's wonderful to hear. I just didn't know why someone would say that if it wasn't true. It's hard to make something like that up.
As for men kissing on the check, that's European & there's obviously nothing wrong with that nor is it wrong to be gay.
I was thinking about moving there, but then a few things popped up that made me say it wasn't the country for me.
I think it was the pollution & that I wouldn't be able to find clean (no chemicals) or organic produce, chicken, meat (I don't eat much meat). Finding clean lentils, tofu, etc.
The amount of crime also concerned me.
I would love to visit one day. Right now I'm looking into Costa Rica & Panama.
I don't want to be around nasty people no matter where they come from or live. That's one of the reasons I want to move from Canada.
Thank you for joining the discussion : )
Michelle
Hi Michelle K.
posted by Khristian R in Argentina forum
There seems to be I wasn't clear enough but what I meant is that argentinian people are not inpolite whatsoever, the only problem is the bad reputation attributed to us.
For instance, I' ve never used a pejorative adjective to address someone; what happens is that not all people are the same just like in other countries ; people's customs vary from country to country, for instance, in Argentina friends (even men) kiss ourselves on the cheekbone, however it doesn't mean we are gay. (it's just a friendly custom).But, unfortunately some foreigners don't understand or don't want to understand that national custom.
-In Argentina, the shaking hands could be understood as a sign of "distrust".(But all depends on the case);that's why I say that generalizations are totally counterproductive from my point of view.*I' d like to make it clear once more that noone is going to be disrespectful to you as long as you live in Argentina. On the contrary, almost all people want to have a foreign friend; everytime we hear somebody speaking a different language we try to help him/ her.
*It's strange that an american citizen talks about bad words, in spite of knowing that
in northamerica the adjectival phrase "f...latino" is standard fare, it's weird, isn't it?
*Besides, if you don't like sth about us, why do foreigners never stop coming over?
The answer is that Argentina is the cheapest country in the region...For instance, if you brought 1.000 u$s you could live like a queen/king for almost 3 or 4 months...but abroad you only could live a couple of weeks...? I know that 'cause I lived abroad. (I'm an attorney at law).Chris.
I agree, but...
posted by Michelle K. in Argentina forum
Christian,
I agree with what you are saying, I prefer honest, non hypocritical people too, BUT, to call people fat & mean it in a derogatory way, that IMO, is mean spirited.
First I prefer the word "overweight" & I wouldn't go around talking about someone being fat near them so they can hear.
Not that I feel it's okay to gossip about people behind their backs either. Mean spirited is mean spirited no matter how you slice it.
Michelle
I totally disagree with you
posted by Khristian R in Argentina forum
Hello Sarah Portman,
It's completely true that "certain " argentinian people use the adjectives you mentioned but generalizations have never been good to me, because if you say that, somebody could possibly understand that every single argentinian is an ill-mannered person and that's far from the truth, from my standpoint.
*The only problem is only few foreigners are capable of understanding our people's idiosincracy; besides perhaps we say what we feel and that's much better than being hypocrite.
*In conclusion, you don't understand our national customs and for your information, people's idiosincracy has nothing to do with political correctness and it's not offensive whatsoever as long as we don't hurt somebody else's feelings.
RESPECT
posted by craken flux in Argentina forum
i dont understand what you mean. baires ' culture is hermetic to the outsider... once in somehow they are lovely ppl, they are hermetic to each other also, if an unknown...the boludo and so on, are terms of friendship, comaraderie, that sort of thing. and politically correct .... they are not correct to our issues...but to their own issues.
Respect
posted by Michelle K. in Argentina forum
I'm not into politically incorrect, but I do believe in respect.
I'm shocked to hear this. Are you new to AR?
Michelle