"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 ?

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

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

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

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 !

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

I read it the same way.

I think that's probably spot on and has been since about 1950.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

You youngsters are so woke scot47

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.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

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.

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 !

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

How it was named the Sand Pit.... https://britishexpats.com/forum/sand...m-vote-459384/

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Yes, I have always considered it to be a play on words, and yes, some people apparently just want to be offended. :nod:

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

It does seem that way. :D

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?

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.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

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.