ban family days (city centre)

Wow...that's a shame :( Had no idea this happened and I've been here nearly 2years! Racism at it's worst.

Here is the video about the double standards Family Day at Villagio Mall

http://www.indyarocks.com/videos/UNDERCOVER-JIM-GOES-SHOPPING-IN-DOHA-QATAR-2996133

Thanks Genesis! I think NIC is one of them... And he has a computer...hihi!

@NIC

If they can buy a computer to write this post... Than they are not poor... If your wife becomes a piece of meat in the middle of a pack of wolfs when you walk at the mall... Behavior is the problem. In Canada these guys will receive a punch in the face.After a couple of black eyes may be they will learn to recpect the others. And all those people that are just window shopping and take all the parking. Family day is GREAT... To me it should Be FAMILY WEEK. Lulu or Familyfood are always open to them.

OH

Bleu,

No, it’s not hidden from the eyes that are here to see and experience it!

But your country is a great example of a country that never walks their talk and never talks their walk ;)

How could anyone be proud of such lack of integrity is beyond my comprehension.

M.E,

In certain ways, your country ranks higher than certain rich hypocrite nations ;)

beaulieuluc,

One day, if you see your kids in the same situation as those poor laborers, you’ll probably then realize that it’s not fare to be selfish, even when we are the privileged ones!

I admire your honesty :)

Nic, nothing is hidden...

I love family day! It's the only time we go shopping me and my wife and the parking lot is not full of Tida,Corolla,Civic... And the inside of people that are there just to kill time and don't buy notting, or look at my wife... Just go at Lulu or Family food center if your not happy...

Oh Nic checked my profile. :)

Such a misery Nic, I know.

Shall I say too bad I am egyptian or thank god I am???

At least we don't have family days in our malls, back in egypt. ;)

I guees you would like that.

Blue,

Wouldn't it be great for all workers, that Qatar had the same social and labor laws as the countries you attempt to compare with Qatar!

The social injustice, abuse and negligence of human rights of Qatar in the XXI can be compared with the west when the west was living in the XVI century!

I admire those who help humanity, I despise those who hypocritically hide their abuses, and thus my anger tone when refereeing to what takes place in today’s Qatar!

M.E,

I am not surprised that this is not a big deal for you...

O.K.

M.E.

Nic is always like that, sharp like a knife. :P

I do agree with "Qatar will no longer see the cheap labor at their disposal and they will have no one to fill in all the empty buildings, no one to maintain them and none to operate their facilities...", ... I'll add a maybe.

There will always be poor countries for rich countries to exploit. If there weren't, then the economies of the west that depend on it could collapse.

Nic is angry...

Ease down man

I can't believe you were bothered to post this info, which we already know.

You deserve it anyways. ;)

Peace

Qatar is shooting them in the foot big time. Instead of promoting immigration to occupy all the development, they use labor to build and kick them out after.

one day, when the resources of this country will be less needed by the world, and at the same time real economies like India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, will further progress, Qatar will no longer see the cheap labor at their disposal and they will have no one to fill in all the empty buildings, no one to maintain them and none to operate their facilities...

Wait and see... it’s a matter of time, this sad situation is not sustainable and they will pay dearly for it!

so maybe if u dont liek to be starred, then just hide in your room all through your life....and besides, what makes u think that you were being stared, that youre so beautiful,,OMG, youre all very conceited then...wake up...only your mother tells you that your beautiful....hahahah...peace

I am an Australian citizen of Syrian heritage. I have lived in Qatar for 2 years and can say openly that racism is rife in Qatar.

2 examples shall highlight my point. How often have I been to Souq Waqif only to see the police make working Asians leave the premises ASAP. These men who work so hard to build and maintain Qatar are prohibited from entering Souq Waqif because, one, they are not of Arabic extraction and, two, they are not working/visiting expats.

These very same Asians are discriminated against in Souq Najada. I went there on Friday and it was cordoned off to Asians until 4pm. Anyone else was allowed to enter as they pleased. A police officer even shepherded Asians into a Foreign Exchange Office at exactly 4pm.

The Qatari government wants to control the image of Doha projected to the expat world. They would rather the "infrastructure builders" of this nation work and stay in the Industrial Area rather than show their face in central Doha. Just go out yourself on Friday in and around Souq Waqif around 3.30pm to see what I am saying.

Good luck

selective implementation of the Family Day Policy is plain and simple.......RACISM do exist! If the policy is implemented strictly, It's still racism, but WORSE, selective implementation!

***********************************************

"Why is my PM access blocked?"

Nic summoned it up indeed...in this situation asian men don't have fun being treated like this but don't have fun staring at women knowing this doesn't get them a relationship either

My husband is Egyptian but his skin is whiter than mine .... thank god !!! he won't be turned away !

''HOKA HEY!!!''

a very rare but you are spot on.

____________________________________________________

I don't believe in taking right decisions;

I take decisions and make them right.

Well said Nic. That really sums it up.

Medan,

I just hope that one day you will not see your own kids being stopped from entry a mall because of their Asian heritage and bachelor status and at that same time you will see a western bachelor entering the same mall.

I hope you will never see your kids experiencing that humiliating rejection because they are Asians, because if you do witness that, I am sure then you will understand why I call this act a racist policy.

Do you think that these workers would not prefer to be here with their families? Do you think its their choice making so small salaries that they cant afford having their families with them?

I know you know all this, but I think you should not forget that what separates you and me from them is luck, and we should not disrespect them because of their misfortune.

Just bcoz the bachelors can not wandered around the city center on Friday, that's not fair if some one can call it RACIST.

Oh cmon, I am a mother of 2, we live a very busy life, school, tuition, bla bla and my husband also has to work around the clock, and my husband the only one who can drive the car. Means we can only take the kids out on Friday. To where? to the safe places like city center.

Why dont those strong gentlemen, give way to a women and children, so we also able to enjoy our Fridays?? in peace?? We dont have time during the school days. I think young men can find other way to enjoy, but young children?? We cant take them out play in the extreme weather right? an our house having a limited place where the kids can play happily and in Qatar malls are the only option.

Government should fine the solution for this, if they really care.

jackmaeni,

obviously you are not one of those unfortunate men and you are unable to put yourself in their unfortunate shoes!

i think family day is only every friday, its better there should be no much number of men to let kids specially enjoy their weekends

let's face it, Qatar allows racist policies!

so suppressing phisiological male behaviour is the solution?

Not to me whyteknight. We all share the same human gene, breathe the same air and drink the same water.

BTW, I'm Asian too.

Cheers

SK

What's this specially Asians in all your posts.. Are we different in any way?

"Live with passion, Die with style"

Whyteknight: No one, my own corrolary (sp).

I would think that a father with his wife and kids in tow will be less likely to stare than a 'bachelor'.

Bear in mind that I applied the term 'bachelor' here somewhat loosely. It apply to single men (esp Asian as they seem to be on the pointed end of this situation) coming to the mall regardless of whether they have families in Doha or home countries.

Cheers

SK

sabrang kidul who told you that "specially" bachelors stare and married men don't????

"Live with passion, Die with style"

Maurochiado, you said:

-If you think men inside the mall should NOT stare at women probably you are asking a fish not to swim.-

That's exactly the point...

Some man (especially bachelors) will stare at woman in the mall.

Bachelors around here is mostly associated with Asian laborers

Some women feel 'unconfortable' to be around bachelors who stares.

Many of the women are locals, which either represent the group with bigger purchasing power or make law in this country or both. In any case theirs are the voice that the mall operator and other powers listen to most.

For whatever reason, they like to shop with the whole family on Friday afternoon.

Solution for the mall operator: Ban bachelors on Friday afternoon.

Here we go back to square one......

LOL

Keeping out bachelors is not the solution for this social issue.

If you go to a mall and 80% of people are men, there is a problem that should be addressed, keeping out men won't solve this. This country lacks women.

If you think men inside the mall should NOT stare at women probably you are asking a fish not to swim.

They have sufficient business there and have lot of customerss, if no one goes there they will allow even beggers to go inside.

is the thinking that only those mentioned above shops and what we do inside is just loitering and ogling the beautiful women.

and has no family here cant enter the mall on fridays; however, the fair skinned bachelors can.

First, try to understand. That's what I was trying to say at my previous post, and I'm content with it since I understand the circumstances. But if it is still difficult to digest, then the second thumb rule apply: their country, their rules. We should respect this whether we're in Qatar or in France or anywhere on earth. There's a saying from the place where I came from: "Wherever the earth is stepped on, the sky should always be upheld high...". And yes, it is also perfectly correct to say that if we don't like it and we cannot live with it, then we can leave anytime. It's our choice.

higher education of business consultants here they were not able to anticipate the surge of low income workers and it is not as if these scenerios were not experience by other "booming" countries. this is just a blatant racism and nothing else.

And by the way, another reason we flock to city center is that from where we are located it is the shortest distance and the fare is cheaper compare if we decide to go to other malls. it is located near souq where the bus terminal is located so we can be able to go back to our camp afterwards. We are allowed to have 1 day of rest and that is only on Fridays. If you really want to have an exclusive family day at mall then let it be on other days but Fridays. Anyhow, most family here have their own car so traveling is not as much as a problem than we bachelors from camp has.

This is not applicable to Qatari's and Westerners please?! if Security see any of these nationality going to enter Security person normally turn his face and will pretent that he is taking to someone. If you are other nationalities you will kickout from parking place even. Take care. go and get marry bring your wife or girl friend then go and enjoy.

And don't forget "if you don't like it, leave"

"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce

Lol wk you forgot the other option. Act as if it doesn't exist :P

Be patient and accept racism for now.. That seems fair enough.

**** Aal Izz Well****

We have to understand that Qatar is developing very, very fast. And because of that, some of the social problems which were not seen in the last decade, coming to surface unanticipated today. One of them is the surge on the number of low income workers, of which the majority come from South Asian countries. This in turn makes the number or available places where people come to spend their weekend become congested, and the "upper society", including Qataris and expatriates with families, also feels the pinch of loosing the comfortable shopping experience they used to get (like shopping without being starred by so many bachelors). Unsurprisingly, they complain.

Family day is one of the workaround solution for this, but this is not the only one. And I think it is not a permanent one. Another step that has been taken and often overlooked, is the development of what will be the longest shopping mall on earth (nearly 8 km, CMIIW) near the industrial area. Once the development is finished, I'm sure the family day policy by shopping malls will no longer necessary, since I think the new mall can accommodate even if Qatar has twice the number of today's low income workers. So for bachelors, be patient. I've been in Qatar only for couple of years and I've seen a hell lot of changes and development here.

QatariSun hehehe his blow it up in his last comment :D

straight_arrow how old are you my friend?

would be good in my opinion to have other days of the week for family and not Friday and Thursday.

don't be submisive make a big noise ask to see the security manager and also do some research into qatar law i am sure they put something in there about no discrimination. i hate family days to, the fact i can walk straight pass security guards because i'm white and the indians and nepali people i work with would get stopped. i once called a friend to meet me in the park at the corniche and he was refused entry until i went out and walked him passed the guard. good luck

lol LeBaNeSeMaN..

i am not sure what good things you try to get of Straight_arrow's comments.. as for me, he always talk nonesense..:)

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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small compared to what lies within us."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

In your example you stated arabic guys troubling women. These same Arabic guys are still allowed in on family days. And why can't the family day be some day other than Friday in the first place?

ban family days...malls are for all people on any given day.

It is a matter of some bad Arabic guys who do not respect a family, for example some Qataris teenagers and youth when they see a single woman they will try to talk to her and give her their number and Imagine that if these teenagers do this when some is with his wife.

So Qatar did something to stop this act by putting a family day, this family day is a step and it is not a full protection.

Before 2 or 3 years there were police in local dress who are there in the malls to watch any of these bad guys who try to speak to Qatari girl, and this has been stopped probably because the number of these bad guys decreased or because they became many and police is tired from following them.

Here the culture is different where in the west it is considered normal when a guy throw some words on girls in the malls to get the girls intesions.

This act is not matching with the Qatari culture,

and you have to know that there are good western bachlors who do not dare to do such an act.

The origin of this act could be linked to many reasons which I do not have time to speak about.

Welcome to the western bachlors who respect and understand the Qatari culture and religion of Qatar, and a big no and go away to the western bachlors who want to delete the Qatari culture and Qatars religion.

i do respect in qatar law, but it doesnt mean that this family day can change or can show respect to all qataris, if they are really well educated they should consider that their country is growing up and more expatriate will come.

In city center they allow bachlor Europeans and Arabs and Qataris but no Asians on Friday and Thursday.

The rule should be applied on all.

Law on all is Fair.

Straight_arrow i always try to get the good things of your comments (although they are very few) but this time you talk nonesense!

value families but they more opened and you can take the example of Dubai and Kwait and I do not know about other GCC.

Please if you want your suggestion

Qatar values "family privacy" so much,then go & build an alternative R&R venue for these low-income workers & then see if they "bother" any families or "violate" their precious privacy.

to be implemented rais it to responsible people and If I was able to do so I will do so.

See gadarene here the nature of the Arabic man is different from some wastern man for example some western man do not care to take his wife to a party where there is a mixture of men and women and some Qatari men will never ever take their wives to such a party.

I never faced a problem with entering to CC on family day. Nevertheless, i believe that i lose my "humanity" when i stop thinking about less "lucky" people.

I feel deeply sorry for these construction workers that built City Center yet they are not allowed to get in. Hypocracy at its best !

and what has "family privacy" to do with dicriminating and racism against some asian bachelors at city center entrance?

Straight arrow. Most of the Bachelors only have one day off that is Friday. The rest 6 days of the week they are probably working 14 hours a day and when will find the time to visit the malls then especially travelling to and fro from the Industrail Area.

Except in the Case of Whiteknight..lol

-----------------

Can We Fix It?

Yes We Can!

Why don't the malls have a day when families are banned?

Then I can do my shopping in peace without howling brats?

It could be alternated then those who want to shop in a cacophony of screams and howls can and those who don't can have a peaceful shopping experience.

@ straight arrow,address the problem mate,are you saying the other GCC nationals don't value their "family privacy"???...or that it's not "culture" elsewhere in the GCC???...i think not,so how come those places don't have this nonsense "family day"?...read my earlier post,the answer lies in creating an alternative NOT supporting this idiotic move in the name of "family privacy"...the bachelors that you mentioned work hard in the heat SIX days a week building these same malls,the ONLY day they get off is FRIDAY,they don't have a choice,either with a place to go or their weekly off day...Qatar values "family privacy" so much,then go & build an alternative R&R venue for these low-income workers & then see if they "bother" any families or "violate" their precious privacy...your argument is one-sided & skewered,as if these low-income workers are not human or maybe less so than you are...

Straight Arrow I wouldn't have any problem if ALL the bachelors are denied entry.

**** Aal Izz Well****

This shows an additional value about family privacey in Qatar.

It is the culture here in Qatar and by the way when the city center first time opened is opened there was nothing called family day.

The family day came after many Qatari locals request.

Here in Qatar as some of Westerns like to have family privacey.

Ok again Thursday and Friday are family days what about the other 5 days.

Bachlors have 70 % of the week approximately to go to the mall.

What about Souq Waqif then?

The only time I went to a mall on weekend and was promptly denied entry, I was wearing Armani and Moschino clothes with Lacoste shoes.. I was still considered not affluent enough with enough purchasing power to enter or maybe the security guard didn't know those brands or he just noticed my brown skin..

**** Aal Izz Well****

Agree with Olive.. That the family day policy is really intended at the poor unfortunate souls who do not have the buying power to shop in most of the shops in these malls and they are only there for a liesurely walk and as the ladies above mentioned staring (free attraction) for them.

So both from the business point of view and convenience of the lighty dressed ladies not being stared at. It is is good to ban the selective individuals from the malls.

Plus like Novi idea. If the single people have certain amount of money their wallet they should be let in..lol

-----------------

Can We Fix It?

Yes We Can!

I have also seen so many shops and other businesses here that can't have been making much of a profit for THAT to be the sole impetus behind them barring certain people from the malls.

I think it's also the issue of the image it presents to others. The same way that they don't publish negative stories about Qatar in the local dailies, I think they don't want the malls to be overrun with laborers because then it will give the impression of that place being lower class, and that's not the image they want to project (despite the fact that over 50% of the population in Qatar survives on less than QR 750/mo probably).

Qatar fancies itself a sophisticated, high class society. They want the Dolce&Gabbana boutiques and fancy-shmancy chocolate shops to be representative of their shopping malls.

Several of you have raised excellent points, though. Here in Qatar they always lump the shops together -- so there are few free-standing places where other less affluent folks can go. I find this annoying especially for the movie theaters myself. I can't stand crowds, and hate the fact that they have put all the cinemas inside shopping malls, so my only choice is to brave the crowds or not to go. If they had a cinema complex that was just by itself, out somewhere, I would be much more likely to head there so I could avoid the throngs of hormonal teens.

I also like the idea of requiring companies to have a certain amount of recreational facilities for every X number of workers they employ. Sporting facilities and equipment, cinemas, etc. That would go a long way towards alleviating this problem.

But as always, I won't hold my breath.

Addressing this problem is not a priority for Qatar.

"I wish I could drink like a lady. I can take one or two at the most. Three and I'm under the table. Four and I'm under the host"

-- Dorothy Parker

Sadly the malls are privately owned and there's not much you can do to change their policies, no matter how racist you think they are. Malls everywhere in the world are about the bottom dollar and in most countries malls have no loitering policies that are enforced. Hoards of single men who don't have any money to spend filling up their venue are not in their best interests.

However I think the ban on the Corniche on Fridays is ridiculous and you only need to be down there for about 3 secs before you realize that they only turn labourers away. Completely racist and ridiculous.

"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce

I agree 100% with Amanda.

"You are never alone or helpless. The force that guides the stars guides you too.”

~ Amrta Shrii Shrii Anandamurti(Indian born Guru, 1921-1990)

I'd say the older balding, silvery haired, paunchy white blokes are the worst actually, but they aren't staring at your face, they are staring at your boobs. At least with them a *cough* to make them look at you and a 'do you want a photo?' is understood.

Gadarene's post is spot on. You can't expect to have so many expats (that includes EVERYONE)and not provide them with places to go or things to do. Shopping and malls is low on my list, there's only so many pairs of shoes I want or low fat mocha lattes I want to drink surrounded by vaccuous bubbleheaded blondes thanks.

They won't get rid of Family Days, but they should at the very least stagger them through the week. But they won't.

I have noticed that too, there is a crap load of Western old men that play stare down these days, and of course Arab men top the list.

It's unfortunate that the South East Asians get the short end of the stick.

Vulgarity is the conduct of other people, just as falsehoods are the truths of other people.

Also in Dubai "Carrefour" is not just in Malls but there is a separate Carrefour near Al Ghubaiba Bus station. Most labourers go there for buying their supplies. You don't see any of them in the malls. Like gadarene said, they have more things to do to relax and they have an alternative place to shop as well.

**** Aal Izz Well****

better add more Malls so that everybody is not congested on a particular area. This country have few spots that can entertain people. It is only the malls that these person can unwind themselves since it is where you can find all from shopping,restaurant,movies,etc....no need to hop from one place into another.By building more malls or tourist spot,city center or any particular mall will not be congested anymore.

Wellsaid gardarene.

Discussed zillion times AND Its pure racism.

Those ladies up there who thinks its only the brownskinned who stare ,eat better sweethearts, u gota grow up

I live here with ma family. I have witnessd the stares, though I dont care a rats AA. They all do, white or coloured, arab or western..if u deny , i will have to convince myself that u enjoy the rest.

Novita. not all are born rich or married to a rich,and those malls has many stuff which is cheaper than 5000.

surprisingly,no one's mentioned an alternative here???...why do these low-income single guys try & get into the malls? 'cos they want to check out a suit @ zara?...i think not,it's 'cos there's no where else in this sad town that they can go to...

let me ask all of you one question,Dubai has FAR more people in this segment than Qatar,they also have far more malls than this town,yet they don't seem to have a problem with it,there's none of this "family day" nonsense there,why is that? i'll tell you why,because those guys aren't thronging to get into the malls in the 1st place,that's why...instead they go hang out in Karama,take a ride on the abra,eat a nice meal @ a place that serves cheap & decent cuisine from their home countries or even specific regions of their home countries,they can go to a low-star rated hotel & have a few drinks & get laid without busting their whole paycheck,who needs a mall?...now,before all you morally uprighteous "oh Qatar hasn't thrown away it's values like Dubai" brigade start jumping on my head here,i'm not saying they turn a blind eye & allow prostitution or give liquor lisences to every hole in the wall hotel but make SOME concession,i mean seriously,i ask all you people again,where are these people supposed to go & what are they supposed to do so for some R&R???...they work harder than ALL of us here & live in worse conditions than ALL of us here,should they not be allowed some R&R???...fine,don't let them in the malls but does this town provide them an option??? IT DOES NOT,plain & simple so until something can be provided as an alternative it's downright unfair to impose these bans/family days on them & anyways,provide them a real alternative & then see if a "family day" is even required to be implemented in the malls...i guarantee you,it won't 'cos these guys won't be flocking there in the 1st place...it's called vision,in case you're looking for the word & a lack of it is what we see in this town...

In fact, this mall comes on screen sometimes and media dont want to show crushed,poor,helpless people in their country. they just want to show shining Qatar. I think this is a reason. Wallah o aalam.

awkhan

The problem is Racist policies.. If it doesn't affect us directly, it doesn't mean there is not a problem..

**** Aal Izz Well****

My all requirements were fulfilled before city mall even exist and even today I can run my life easily in Qatar without going there. than what's a problem?

awkhan

I guess I've never understood the "staring thing". I honestly don't know if I've ever been stared at, since I don't stare back! If I don't look, it doesn't happen, right?. (Now, if you start hissing "chickie, chickie" or "rubia, rubia" at me I WILL deck you!)

Mandi

***********************************************

"Why is my PM access blocked?"

they should cancel the family day on all the malls cause its useless you dont like bein stared at send ur driver or ur maid with ur shopping list am always sendin my little brother shopping for me some times my driver not cause i hate bein stared at its because i cant stand close crowded places like malls....off topic they should allow weapons and ammo buy and sell n some kind of special store like some states n the US do

Not just the locals but all nationalities except South Asians are allowed. But of course you never notice men from other countries because they don't stare and we do..

**** Aal Izz Well****

I have a family here but i am totally against banning bachelors on Fridays.

VIKAS KAUSHIK

Healies/Wheelie shoe free days??? I think you have come up with a winning idea there UmmJake.

I think UmmJake put the point far more eloquently than I did, everyone looks/watches, it's just that some are not so blatant about it. As for staring at men, I'm not averse to noticing a handsome man. I'm a fan of eye candy as much as the next person. I don't walk along with my tongue hanging out and a blank expression on my face however.

These rules aren't being brought into being because of us delicate little expats...the locals are the ones that have the sway to change things. I don't agree that certain people are allowed to break the rules on 'family days' but to be honest, how many security guards are going to tell a local that they are not allowed in????? Not one..........

As for the comments about ugly women, my my but I thought only women could be bitchy, you men put us to shame....

Ha, QS, the next time you'll stare at me.

seth, you mean just a glimpse at the guy, when he accidentally got into zone of my view?

or your mean "STARE", like "to gaze fixedly and intently, with the eyes wide open"?

definitely i would never do the second one while i am in my mind... unless it's Johnny Depp...

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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small compared to what lies within us."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

loool ummjake :D thats funny especially this one :"..... The wankers smoking under the "no smoking" sign"

lol ummjake you are very observant :P

P.S.- Just like me :P

**** Aal Izz Well****

People watching is one of my favorite pastimes. The frumpy Americans who always wear jeans and sneakers. The Qatari chick in the fitted abaya lined in red satin (like THAT'S supposed to not make people look at her!). The Lebanese woman sporting camel toe. The pack of young local boys who mistakenly think that long hair on men is attractive. The family walking around with three young children, all wearing those damn wheelies shoes, driving me an everyone else around them insane. The wankers smoking under the "no smoking" sign. Those three guys walking around together...that one looks gay but that other one is hot...

C'mon....we all do it.

Some people stare, other are better about casually checking people out. But everyone does it. It's normal and natural. You can't legislate who people can and can't look at.

"I wish I could drink like a lady. I can take one or two at the most. Three and I'm under the table. Four and I'm under the host"

-- Dorothy Parker

yes seth9900 , she had never stared at a man. All women dont stare at men . All women are perfect !

Family Days - Best Invention Ever !!! Wish it was done in more countries !!!

You honestly want me to believe you have never stared at a guy at the mall? Are you serious?

seth9900, I never stare at guys... i never stare at anybody... I think only idiots with empty mind stare at other people...

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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small compared to what lies within us."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

I don't go to the City Center, but the woman stare at me in every grocery.

I don't go to city centre.. no friday, no any other day of the week... so I guess, i won't have this problem of not letting me in?

DaRu, I know some guys don't go the malls on Friday, because they don't want to be stared at and stalked by the gals...

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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small compared to what lies within us."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

if women were being stared by bachelors it does not mean that that they are beautiful...

And any woman here who says that she has never stared at a guy, is a liar.

Hell,I was at the city center yesterday. Saw a group of three local guys, cell phones in hand, walking about 2 feet behind a group of local ladies who were desperately trying to shake them off without making a scene.

Would love to hear the clowns at city center management comment on that.

eaglemmanuel that is the kind of attitude I have problem with.. Even if there are a million other places to go to, it doesn't justify the bias on the basis of skin colour in the mall or does it?? If they want a family day, it's fine but make it "Family Day" not Whites, Arabs and Families day... But obviously since this rule doesn't affect you it is a good ruling...

I remember people talking about Apartheid here on QL in a thread when there was talk about setting up "Qataris only" areas in Qatar. Isn't this something similar when some nationalities are allowed in the mall on a weekend and others not...

I don't give a damn about the malls, they don't have much to offer me anyway.. I am just amused by the attitude of some people on this thread..

**** Aal Izz Well****

It all depends on the color of your skin. Guards in the malls basically bow down to me once they see white skin. Never been stopped on any family day, anywhere. People right behind me have been stopped

Only supporters of this garbage are ugly women who are flattered when a few ugly guys look at them and try to make a big deal out of it.

nadt said "I think this ban is very dehumanising, ive witnessed the looks on thos poor blokes who are refused entry and its not pleasant..."

What about the ban on families at the zoo on weekends - bachelors only? I read this some time back when skimming thru QL. Why specifically is everyone jumping on the bandwagon to claim racism with respect to city centre only? Aren't there other places they go to? Loads of them in the Souq, no?

It's as if they don't have any options for fun. What about the Industrial Area supermarkets? Etc. Come on. You people are just taking things out of context and supporting your arguments with selective examples.

In a nutshell, you are also exhibiting your own bias - very clearly. Whatever floats your boat, float off.

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Beauty lies in the eyes of the beerholder.

marycatherine said While I agree with whyteknight in theory, in principal, the Arabs and white bachelors don't usually stare."

Precisely.

Well said, sabrang kidul

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Beauty lies in the eyes of the beerholder.

two years after this rule have been implemented in malls across doha. Yet, no officials or mall executives have announce any comments on that!!!Was there an financial losses from the ban? Was it an initiative from the malls management or official instruction from the ministry of interior?

Sometime back , A Qatari writer have wondered in his article is it a law, why isn't implemented properly .why is the ban limited to certain nationality and not the others?

This came after enormous complains by locals in the media. In addition to official requests by municipality council members . Anyone recalls how crowded the malls used to get in Fridays/national holidays.

Good thing that the local public opinion is still heard...somehow

...but at least we know that the 'if you don't like it, leave' attitude looks somewhat arrogant for a country that endorses tourism and major event attractions.

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

So many people here jump up and down and cry foul when a Qatari tells them, if you don't like it, leave. You can't change anything in Qatar..

And now I read from some "Wise" heads that we just don't get it and if you don't like it leave and you can't change anything in Qatar.. Amazing.. After a long time a thread on QL actually made me laugh..

**** Aal Izz Well****

TruthNPeace you will find that most of the women complaining from staring are the most ugly :P

"Joke of the Year"...someone above in thread said, "arab & whites don't stare"......hahahaha..I can't stop laughing...!!! They do what any other non-arab & non-white would do and it's natural.

Now, if someone says she (or he) likes being stared only by arabs & whites- i'd call it Truth.

"Let the truth Prevail"

Those who are on the wrong end of it will keep saying it is racist and wrong and shouldn't be there. Those who are not affected with it will keep saying things like, Get used to it, It is good because All bachelors stare at us.. Oh give me a freaking break you beauties...

Don't flatter yourself so much, people HAVE other things to do as well contrary to what you want to believe..

Some people may stare but to say that you can't step out of the house without being mentally undressed by 100 men????

Now I know what the saying "Making mountain out of a molehill" actually means..

* I will stand by THAT statement and am ready for all kinds of reactions :P

**** Aal Izz Well****

I quote : novita77 said "malls in doha should have a ...

malls in doha should have a rule : only bachelors with min QR 5000 and visa card inside his wallet are allow to come in"

And to add : walls should be built to surround the camps of construction workers , "inferior people" with salary less than 5000 and with no Credit Card (we should ask novita about the color of the color and its limit?)should be separated from the rest of the population. oh come on, there are too much construction workers and they smell bad and miss novita cannot withstand that ! by the way, did novita calculate the ammount of oxygen these workers spend for breathing everyday?

Now some of the women commenting here are "Beauties" and men stare at them all the time?

We all know that "Family Day" at city center means : indian,filipino,bangali,etc single men are NOT allowed in. This is pure racism.

I feel pity for those who are building this country by their own hands yet are not allowed to go on shopping to any mall on friday.

niqobmom you say "but if you come to the malls with decent clothing, they will allow you to come inside..."

Oh really???? What is decent clothing for men??

**** Aal Izz Well****

are there signs there saying they are not allowed?

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"Why is my PM access blocked?"

Bachelors are not even allowed into corniche on Friday evenings. How come no comments on that.

being stared at. Whether it's one person or a hundred laborers, it's still the same!

Celebrities are notorious for being stared at by men and women alike. Will it be justified to have a "celebrities day" only?

I have my wife and daughter here and experiences those stares even if they are with me. But what to do, they have eyes to use for staring and we are in a public place. And not to say that my ladies are both so beautiful and worth staring at! Treat it as a compliment rather than .......whatever!

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"Why is my PM access blocked?"

actually it's 'discrimination day' not 'family day'.

it's because many Qatari ladies complain that these single workers are always staring at them just to enjoy themselves by looking at these ladies...that's why they make this family day....but if you come to the malls with decent clothing, they will allow you to come inside...

are they going to make a malls for filipino only, for indian only, for pakistan only, for japanese only,for american only etc.etc. so all people from different places have a chance to go to their malls anytime even on Fridays.

malls in doha should have a rule : only bachelors with min QR 5000 and visa card inside his wallet are allow to come in.

... I totally agree with every word you posted. I feel it as being discrimination disguised as 'Family Day' in the Malls. Where else shall they go? Why not be able to enjoy the same kind of environment that everybody else does? White and local people are only allowed in the Malls on their own on Family Days because they are seen as having more 'Purchase Power' - if that is not discrimination I don't know what is.

Being 'looked' at... after a while it stopped bothering me. I do tend to outstare anybody who does the same to me. And yes, if you don't want to be 'looked' at, ummjake has the right solution for that.

My honest opinion.

I think this ban is very dehumanising, ive witnessed the looks on thos poor blokes who are refused entry and its not pleasant.

I also think that management dont give a rats **tse whether these men stare at the ladies or not. This descision is simple based on economics. The "bachelors" have a limited amount of money to spend as opposed to families or "white bachelors". They would rather have the placed filled with spenders than people who are browsing. If the malls become busy with with bachelors and theres a lot of them, ladies and families wouldnt bother shopping there, and these two groups are the ones with disposable incomes.

I dont agree with this decision at all but in the end to them its all about money.

So you think you shouldn't have to be "looked at" by other people who make you feel uncomfortable? Then don't go out if it bothers you that much.

Pretty soon you'll start arguing that you have a "right" to not be offended by what other people say or the way that they're dressed.

Honestly...

DMS had it right: racism, pure and simple.

And if you think that Arab men don't stare, you must be hiding someplace. They're some of the most egregious starers around...

And many of us are not simply visitors and guests. We're residents. We may not have that maroon passport, but some of us have lived here for decades, raised our families here, contributed to the community in a variety of ways. So I kind of DO think we have a right to voice our opinions and try to change those things we find unfair -- especially when they concern issues like the way migrant laborers are mistreated here.

"I wish I could drink like a lady. I can take one or two at the most. Three and I'm under the table. Four and I'm under the host"

-- Dorothy Parker

Wouldn't the mall and shop owners object if even only ten percent of the people gathering around al-ghanem bus station on any given Friday afternoon enter the City Center or Villagio as most probably it will 'scare' the family off and like it or not they are the ones that spend the money shopping.

I think this issue is a side effect of the build-with-cheap-expatriate-labor policy prevalent in the gulf countries. Once the genie is out, it become a viscious cycle : male labor can not bring their family (for fear that it will create housing ghettos)--> gender imbalance among population --> scare off those lucky enough to have their families here -->etc.

What should be done? One possibility is limiting the intake of 'cheap expatriate' and only allow those really skilled tradesmen. I mean like those bricklayers that can build a 3 br house in less than a week in western countries. Of course they will expect to be paid 300 riyals PER HOUR instead of 600 per month. Over time, this will lessen the stratified nature of the society as we see it today.

On the other hand, of course it will raise the cost of service for the lucky ones including some of us. Do you really want to pay the western standard minimum wage for your maids and drivers? Certainly it will create less demand for low-paid workers and what will happen to them and million of their families if they are all sent home ???

The world is a complicated place and I can only rumble about it.....

SK

While I agree with whyteknight in theory, in principal, the Arabs and white bachelors don't usually stare. What I do disagree with is making it impossible for any Asian bachelors to carry out their weekly shopping or to have a place to gather and socialize (parks/corniche, etc) - if an employer or sponsor brings in more than say 10 employees, they should have to provide adequate recreational facilities (park/shopping, etc.) IF the Qatari authorities allow "family only" days.

Family day is a euphamism for racism IMHO - but I don't think that the authorities will ban them soon (not right, not fair, not moral or ethical but that's what the truth is here). At least give these guys an option rather than just banning them outright.

Or, you could do what I do, not go to these places on Fridays/Family days. Money talks, and if we don't shop on family days, then the policy will change very quickly

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"

Didn't bother reading after the first few comments.. For the Ladies who are so sickened by being stared at by "Bachelors", they do allow Arabs and White bachelors so as someone said before, is it ok for you to be stared at by those nationalities and not by people from Asia.. Great, I mean your life, your choices. If those stares make you happy then what can we say..

As for Family days in the malls, who cares. The malls are so sleepy here anyway....

**** Aal Izz Well****

DMS has said it all. Level the playing field and out with the hypocrisy.

DMS has said it all. Level the playing field and out with the hypocrisy.

They won't properly fix it. Not in a million years. Let it be.

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

just tick the "flag" and give your reason to the administrators!

Or just kill the thread, that's your job! Lol!!!!

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"Why is my PM access blocked?"

And by the way, I think there should be a policy on this site to ban anyone who uses the word 'lol' in their posts.

You could always go to Landmark, their family day is on Thursday...and parking is way easier over there, even on a Friday.

if they just say it straight, less or no argument at all because it's definite and clear. Unlike what's happening now, it's selective banning of singles! What a hypocrisy! If they want to implement policy, implement it fairly! and not selectively! Prove me wrong again, beautiful ladies! Lol!!

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"Why is my PM access blocked?"

I love to stare at beautiful ladies in malls! I also have X-Ray vision. And If someone disapproves of my stare I can sense it and turn them into stone or crumble them to powder just by glaring at them!

Now who dare gough my eyes?

DMS..lol... seems the stare is soothing when it comes from whites....:)

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One life to live, live it to the fullest.

about truth. The family day is just a disguise. Why don't they just say "No Nepalese, No Indians, No Pakistanis, No so and so....etc, etc, etc." As everybody knows, the "white" singles still comes in and never stopped. Plain and simple RACIST policy!

Prove me wrong defenders!!!!!!!! Level the playing field. Just state the policy straight and you'll see, no more arguments! Don't hide on such hypocrisy that a 100 men are undressing you in public. Please, don't patronize yourselves, beautiful ladies! Just be truthful!

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"Why is my PM access blocked?"

I totally understand the views shared, and to some extent, I do agree, but when you become a victim of the "segregation", your views change completely. I am not trying to change how they live. We are here and we basically have to live by their rules. I know and totally understand how ladies feel on the "oggling" aspect, because I have witnessed it first hand with some of my female friends. As one suggested, a rotation on these days would probably go a long way.

lol Amanda ... no you cant make a change in Qatar. Live with it ... suck it up ... when you get tired of it you can LEAVE.

lol Novi, I just think it's funny that people believe they can make changes in places like Qatar, they just don't get it.

:) hope life is good, and not too cold for your liking

I agree with the poster that family days should be rotated. So many people here get only one day off, Friday, to take care of their shopping for the week. Why not rotate the days so that most people can get out sometime during the week.

There are so many people here who do not have the financial resources to "go someplace else" and are banned from the few attractive places to visit on Fridays - like parks and the corniche where they can rest and relax in pleasant surroundings. Perhaps their employers should be forced to provide their employees with surroundings where they can enjoy their one day off.

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"

go back to your recipes Amanda ... there will be always people complain about family day ;) not now not another 10 yrs ...

The lol was at the line 'no gays in Qatar' I was being my normal sarcastic self.

Ah I had forgot all about QL, but was reminded of it when I was pointed to this thread by a tweet from @dohanews :) I shall probably crawl back to my darkened computer room and reaquaint myself with World of Warcraft or some other nerdy addiction after this :)

i am with amanda 100 percents. How conservative you dress up they STILL stare at you blatantly ... I just wish i can poke their eyes one bye one ....

It would be good if the Malls all had different days for their family days. I'm not saying that the way people are treated here because of their nationality etc is good, but neither do I think that 'Family Days' are racially motivated. As visitors and guests, which is what we are, we can't expect to change their views or laws.

DaRude, there are no gays in Qatar........LOL

ok now i am sure you are still asleep.

one getting on QL after such a looooooooong time

and now saying that there are no gays here. hell there are alot of them guess you never saw or got in contact with any one. plus how will you know you are a FEMALE not MALE.

WELL nice to see you online after such a long time.

nice opinion of yours..im also single, but you should think single have 6days in a week to go to the mall.

Rules is rules..

like us are always stared at and stalked by gays :(

good am with family day rules in every mall :?

:P

Well said Amanda.

I understand the frustration the family day may cause for some people, however, I really appreciate that I can actually go somewhere here and do my shopping without the staring, and the feeling that I am being mentally undressed by 100 men at once. On Fridays I only have to put up with a dozen or so - and like Amanda I may even be wearing jeans, a jumper and a scarf.

Winter is still ok, those poor labors can go to other places. but hot summer,the few places they can go ban them from entering...when I see those people in gate of city center, I always take them with me to enter..They have the right to enter!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes comparing to Saudi Arabia,here is still so much better,

i'm still new to Doha, but i've sepnt ages in KSA,

there some malls only for families, not only mals, but also restaurants, amusement parks, coffe shops,

still Qatar better,

is city center for families on Fridays? good you said so... lol

A friend in need, is A friend indeed!

You won't starve, the Malls aren't the only place to eat!

I never shop on a Friday, it's bloody mayhem & as for family days, I think this is a good thing. Don't forget you are in a Muslim country. Yes, Qatar is fairly liberal compared to Saudi Arabia for example but they haven't let all their values slip like Dubai, for example. It's their country, they make the rules, we agree to abide by those rules when we come here.

If the family days weren't so manic I'd go shopping. It's rather refreshing not to get stared and leered at by gaggles of men. No, I'm not a short skirt wearing kind of gal, I'm in my 40s and dress very modestly when shopping. I miss the abaya from my time in Saudi to be honest. I hate the skin crawling feeling when I'm letched at.

*edited to say, ANY female from 12 to 100 gets stared at...so no I don't think I'm 'all that'.......

I'll stand by for lots of reaction to THAT statement.

Somebody has a high opinion of themself!