My head of the department told us during a lecture that the main problem of the Arabs is their double personality

What do you understand from that phrase?

Later I'll share his explanation, in case no one gets it right

Is it like a double standard kind of thing?

He accused them of preaching on thing and practicing another? Or maybe, accused them of being gay :p?

Lots of non-Arabs who get to know Arabs from outside get one impression of them.

But when they go to their homes or their countries, they get a very different impression.

Maybe that has something to do with it...

Double personality reminds me of someone with a mental disorder. Maybe he means that they have their private face and public face? I know that saving face is a big deal in the orient and middle east. Like not wanting to say no to someone because well, it makes them look bad. So they say "maybe" or "God willing tomorrow." Bukara is Arabic for tomorrow right? Not sure. But I heard it quite often.

I would have this person clarify his comments because as a leader who has people looking up to him for a variety of reasons he has to.

Well, Omani guys has this problem more than the girls do. In short, they have 2 differnet personalitites/faces? in and outside home.

Example,
the way they act/behave infront of their families is totally different than how they're with their gang/friends. At home, they mostly act strict and innocently..and the opposite with their friends.

Another preciece example,
Omani guys who are living abroad, compare their life style with how they're living in Oman.

I can give more examples and clarifications..:p

I knew of an Omani guy who acted this way. He was pious around family and friends but when it came right down to it he was not. But this seems to be a human trait not an arab one.

He accused them of preaching on thing and practicing another? ?

i second that, and this is not an accusation but unfortunately a true fact for most of the Arabs.

Lots of non-Arabs who get to know Arabs from outside get one impression of them.

But when they go to their homes or their countries, they get a very different impression.

Maybe that has something to do with it...

I agree

When a foreign person meets and Arabian he first meets him as a normal modern person but if he gets to know him better and visit his house he will see him acting differently as in at home the guy will respect his wife and family but outside its another thing

There is no contrast between his traditional ways at home and out and about where he can be ruse and disrespectful

He generalized, because by that he only means Syrians, Jordanians, Palestenians and Iraqi's.

... this seems to be a human trait not an arab one.


There is the answer

for real, people like this head of department are like those who have absolutely no idea of the world and only look at one object with one eye. i can simply say that europeans have double personalities too, i can simply say i am not a double personality arab. this this one of the sickest generalizations i have ever heard!

the reason why i find his statement totally invalid because it lacks Evaluation and Comparison to other cultures.

He generalized, because by that he only means Syrians, Jordanians, Palestenians and Iraqi's.

Not really.

But yes, I think he meant it by what you think.

maybe Lebanese people most.

But hey.. do not limit them, half of arabs love gossiping and backstabbing and insulting guys behind their backs.


But wait... thats human nature, a nature that is so hard to control...not everyone can take it off his nature. so don't generalize by putting countries.
there are researches about how much people talk about other people behind their back.. you can look them up.

Not really.

But yes, I think he meant it by what you think.

maybe Lebanese people most.

But hey.. do not limit them, half of arabs love gossiping and backstabbing and insulting guys behind their backs.


But wait... thats human nature, a nature that is so hard to control...not everyone can take it off his nature. so don't generalize by putting countries.
there are researches about how much people talk about other people behind their back.. you can look them up.

And it's mostly the ones who live away from their country.

maybe he means Arabs who go abroad and act differently when they're in their countries.

I have seen it 1st hand. Going out partying etc...and then going home to their own country and acting in a more reserved manner. I attribute that to just different factors one of them feeling freer to act in certain ways and going home knowing if they acted that way their tribe (if they come from the Gulf) and their family will have issues with such behavior.

And it's mostly the ones who live away from their country.


What if they don't have a country? :)

^ Everyone has a country! lol

Some Don't Because They Were Forced Out Their Country.

[No, Not Only Palestinians]