"The Sandpit" ?

Old Aug 8th 2020, 1:55 pm
  #1  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
scot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond repute
Default "The Sandpit" ?

I may be alone in finding this ;label rather offensive, I spent 17 years working in Saudi Arabia. I first went there in 1970 with the Ministry of Education. Then had contracts in 1990-1991 with Petromin ; 1996-2002 with Saudi Arabian Airlines ; 2003-2011 with KFUPM in Dhahran and then in Hafr-Al-Battin.

My experiences in the classroom and in daily life were generally positive. Some "expats" ( i.e. migrant workers from the UK) did not like Saudi and had a negative attitude to everything in KSA. They relished the idea that one day the oil would run out and that would be the end of the local economy. They delighted in the fact that they used alcohol and ate pork, seeing this as what differentiated them from the locals. they despised Saudis and Muslims generally for gender-segregation and for the routine of 5 prayers a day.

It seems to me that the use of "The Sandpit" as a negative name for the region reflects that hostility shared by some foreigners who depended on KSA for an income and a lifestyle that they could never have back home.

Am I alone in seeing things this way ?

Last edited by scot47; Aug 8th 2020 at 2:59 pm.
scot47 is offline  
Old Aug 8th 2020, 6:14 pm
  #2  
Just Joined
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 2
Dizaster is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

I think the label is more on the descriptive side which is fine, if India section is called "the curry pot" i'd find it offensive but this one meh its fair
Dizaster is offline  
Old Aug 8th 2020, 7:02 pm
  #3  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Millhouse's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Millhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

I had interpreted it as a play area, like a children’s sandpit. Some people just want to be offended.

Millhouse is offline  
Old Aug 8th 2020, 8:35 pm
  #4  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
scot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

For the UK section I suggest "Decaying Post-imperial Dump" But that might offend some Empire Loyalists ! They too, enjoy being offended !

Now back to my memoirs !

Last edited by scot47; Aug 8th 2020 at 8:39 pm.
scot47 is offline  
Old Aug 9th 2020, 7:56 am
  #5  
Account Closed
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

Originally Posted by Millhouse
I had interpreted it as a play area, like a children’s sandpit. Some people just want to be offended.
I read it the same way.

Originally Posted by scot47
For the UK section I suggest "Decaying Post-imperial Dump" But that might offend some Empire Loyalists ! They too, enjoy being offended !

Now back to my memoirs !
I think that's probably spot on and has been since about 1950.
scrubbedexpat141 is offline  
Old Aug 9th 2020, 4:22 pm
  #6  
BE Forum Addict
 
flares's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,096
flares has a reputation beyond reputeflares has a reputation beyond reputeflares has a reputation beyond reputeflares has a reputation beyond reputeflares has a reputation beyond reputeflares has a reputation beyond reputeflares has a reputation beyond reputeflares has a reputation beyond reputeflares has a reputation beyond reputeflares has a reputation beyond reputeflares has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

You youngsters are so woke scot47
flares is offline  
Old Aug 10th 2020, 8:31 am
  #7  
Just Joined
 
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 6
niggardly is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

I guess anyone can get offended by anything these days. I don't really use sandpit as a term. I actually just called UAE - Home. But i wouldn't be using sandpit in a derogatory way.
niggardly is offline  
Old Aug 10th 2020, 2:01 pm
  #8  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,520
DXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

Originally Posted by niggardly
I guess anyone can get offended by anything these days. I don't really use sandpit as a term. I actually just called UAE - Home. But i wouldn't be using sandpit in a derogatory way.
Scotty boy is an arch nationalist who likes to think of Scotland as groaning under the tyranny of England. I'm pretty sure he has an active online life as a cybernat. I doubt he's woke insomuch as using wokeism to sneer at the things he doesn't like, probably from an inferiority complex.

Last edited by DXBtoDOH; Aug 10th 2020 at 2:11 pm.
DXBtoDOH is offline  
Old Aug 10th 2020, 2:23 pm
  #9  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
scot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond reputescot47 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

Cybernat ? Me ? I never respond to any of The Empire Loyalist tosh we are exposed to every day ! Inferiority Complex ? Keep these insults coming !

Last edited by scot47; Aug 10th 2020 at 2:34 pm.
scot47 is offline  
Old Aug 10th 2020, 11:13 pm
  #10  
Powered by cows
 
Autonomy's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: currently Dubai, ex UK
Posts: 4,582
Autonomy has a reputation beyond reputeAutonomy has a reputation beyond reputeAutonomy has a reputation beyond reputeAutonomy has a reputation beyond reputeAutonomy has a reputation beyond reputeAutonomy has a reputation beyond reputeAutonomy has a reputation beyond reputeAutonomy has a reputation beyond reputeAutonomy has a reputation beyond reputeAutonomy has a reputation beyond reputeAutonomy has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

How it was named the Sand Pit.... Name for ME lounge sub forum (Vote)
Autonomy is offline  
Old Aug 11th 2020, 2:32 am
  #11  
 
Pulaski's Avatar
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,397
Pulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond reputePulaski has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

Originally Posted by Millhouse
I had interpreted it as a play area, like a children’s sandpit. Some people just want to be offended.
Yes, I have always considered it to be a play on words, and yes, some people apparently just want to be offended.
Pulaski is offline  
Old Aug 11th 2020, 3:01 am
  #12  
SUPER MODERATOR
 
Jerseygirl's Avatar
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 87,988
Jerseygirl has a reputation beyond reputeJerseygirl has a reputation beyond reputeJerseygirl has a reputation beyond reputeJerseygirl has a reputation beyond reputeJerseygirl has a reputation beyond reputeJerseygirl has a reputation beyond reputeJerseygirl has a reputation beyond reputeJerseygirl has a reputation beyond reputeJerseygirl has a reputation beyond reputeJerseygirl has a reputation beyond reputeJerseygirl has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

Originally Posted by scot47
Am I alone in seeing things this way ?
It does seem that way.
Jerseygirl is offline  
Old Aug 17th 2020, 4:39 am
  #13  
BE Forum Addict
 
csdf's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 1,171
csdf has a reputation beyond reputecsdf has a reputation beyond reputecsdf has a reputation beyond reputecsdf has a reputation beyond reputecsdf has a reputation beyond reputecsdf has a reputation beyond reputecsdf has a reputation beyond reputecsdf has a reputation beyond reputecsdf has a reputation beyond reputecsdf has a reputation beyond reputecsdf has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

More importantly, now that there's only about 5 people on the board any more, do we still even need a separate sub-board?
csdf is offline  
Old Aug 17th 2020, 9:15 am
  #14  
BE Enthusiast
 
martinbkk's Avatar
 
Joined: May 2013
Location: Bangkok/Doha
Posts: 614
martinbkk has a reputation beyond reputemartinbkk has a reputation beyond reputemartinbkk has a reputation beyond reputemartinbkk has a reputation beyond reputemartinbkk has a reputation beyond reputemartinbkk has a reputation beyond reputemartinbkk has a reputation beyond reputemartinbkk has a reputation beyond reputemartinbkk has a reputation beyond reputemartinbkk has a reputation beyond reputemartinbkk has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

Globally speaking I consider the ME generally as a bit of a pit. I honestly don't know many people who say "When I retire I really want to move to the Middle East" Lots of reasons and everyone probably has their own list. The Middle East is a place where those who are from outside move to for money. It's not the balmy 40C plus temperatures day in day out with little respite, it's not the crushing humidity, it's not the multicultural social interactions providing a variety of curious and sometimes downright suspicious bedfellows, though some might be tempted to move for that. It's all abut the cash, or should be.
Socially, politically,just all round quality of life wise, its all a bit of a pit.

Oh, and there's a lot of sand.

martinbkk is offline  
Old Aug 17th 2020, 8:23 pm
  #15  
 
nonthaburi's Avatar
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Buraydah , Saudi Arabia
Posts: 2,863
nonthaburi has a reputation beyond reputenonthaburi has a reputation beyond reputenonthaburi has a reputation beyond reputenonthaburi has a reputation beyond reputenonthaburi has a reputation beyond reputenonthaburi has a reputation beyond reputenonthaburi has a reputation beyond reputenonthaburi has a reputation beyond reputenonthaburi has a reputation beyond reputenonthaburi has a reputation beyond reputenonthaburi has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: "The Sandpit" ?

Originally Posted by martinbkk
Globally speaking I consider the ME generally as a bit of a pit. I honestly don't know many people who say "When I retire I really want to move to the Middle East" Lots of reasons and everyone probably has their own list. The Middle East is a place where those who are from outside move to for money. It's not the balmy 40C plus temperatures day in day out with little respite, it's not the crushing humidity, it's not the multicultural social interactions providing a variety of curious and sometimes downright suspicious bedfellows, though some might be tempted to move for that. It's all abut the cash, or should be.
Socially, politically,just all round quality of life wise, its all a bit of a pit.

Oh, and there's a lot of sand.
I'd second most of that . Most people here are working towards having a better life somewhere else . I always feel sorry for the Saudis, when they get old they have to retire and live in Saudi. I guess 95%+ of them are happy with that though so it doesn't really matter.
nonthaburi is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.