Indian mentality and customs

the irish indian · Apr 22nd, 2007, 01:03

I find the indian people to be among the most sincere, genuine, friendly and people in the world.....almost to a fault.

I also find that their sense of humour is quite innocent and very 'childlike' compared to ours in the west.
Most of the grown men that i know are like big kids and i suppose this may be because of the more reserved traditions they have.

Example: My wife and her best friend Heather are just back from India, a mutual male indian friend of ours had a quick grope of Heathers backside one day and when she rebuked him, he fell to his knees and apologised,cryed and apologised again and again and again....

My wife, when she heard asked him "Did you feel Heathers arse? "
He waved his hands in the air and in a flood of tears cried, "Please dont tell anyone im so sorry, it wont happen again, im sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry....."

I believe him.

Noodle · Apr 22nd, 2007, 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by the irish indian

I also find that their sense of humour is quite innocent and very 'childlike' compared to ours in the west.

Slapstick. Total slapstick fans. Sepp, tell them you just saw one guy stepping on a banana and slipping, trying to hold on to a sari of a passer by woman and ... you'll have all the laughs

capt_mahajan · Apr 22nd, 2007, 01:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noodle

Slapstick. Total slapstick fans. Sepp, tell them you just saw one guy stepping on a banana and slipping, trying to hold on to a sari of a passer by woman and ... you'll have all the laughs

Hey, some of us have a very refined sense of humour, like tom and jerry and the marx brothers

Noodle · Apr 22nd, 2007, 01:36

I must agree. Tomy and Jerry is the best cartoon there is!

Nick-H · Apr 22nd, 2007, 01:38

Most people I know here have a slapstick senes of humour --- and jokes still include mothers in law and beating the wife

But the one or two who have surreal humour are superb at it

Sama · Apr 22nd, 2007, 01:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

Hey, some of us have a very refined sense of humour, like tom and jerry and the marx brothers

and don't forget the three stooges.....nyuck, nyuck, nyuck....

noflylist · Apr 22nd, 2007, 02:57

How about Jack Tripper and Al Bundi?

tacita · Apr 22nd, 2007, 03:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Not here! A slight, or half shake of the head means YES!!!!!

as it does in sikkim and west bengal, with seemingly myriad subtle variations. the gesture most resembled the american equivalent of equivocation, sort of a, "well...i don't know...maybe" and somewhat hesitant, but reluctant to out right disagree or say no. so this was a constant source of confusion for me. i thought the other speaker was equivocating, but they were instead agreeing.

i LOVE the indian head wobble in it's infinite variety described on this board.

what might it mean as transplanted to new york city's jackson heights?

Cathal · Apr 22nd, 2007, 08:52

The description of the "Indian head wobble in its infinite variety" happens to coincide with how I remind myself of it: to trace in the air with my nose the sideways infinity symbol. It sort of works I think -- and it always gets me a seat by myself on the bus while I'm practicing.

Nick-H · Apr 22nd, 2007, 10:46

...Brilliant description!

Rather like another hard-to-describe Indian gesture, this time with the hand. Another member caught it perfectly as 'unscrewing a lightbulb'!

batistuta · Apr 22nd, 2007, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sepp

Saw your reply now, thanks. India's disaster is them being knocked out, a common grievement, and I have offered my condolences a lot of times. Currently in Mysore, what is a an IM meet up?

I will be in Mysore next week, If you are still around we can have a meet-up , Definitely , No Holding hands, No condolences By hugging or in any other form, We can chat for a while and maybe have lunch if that is ok with you.

In Mysore, To strike up a conversation , as coffee is the preferred drink , you Need to ask , Coffee ayitha?(That means have you had coffee) , The general public use this as a form of Greeting . They may not ask you How you are doing (That will come later) , but they will ask you if you had food(that would be Oota ayitha) or had coffee. We Mysoreans have got our priorities Right.

Sepp · Apr 22nd, 2007, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by batistuta

I will be in Mysore next week, If you are still around we can have a meet-up , Definitely , No Holding hands, No condolences By hugging or in any other form, We can chat for a while and maybe have lunch if that is ok with you.

In Mysore, To strike up a conversation , as coffee is the preferred drink , you Need to ask , Coffee ayitha?(That means have you had coffee) , The general public use this as a form of Greeting . They may not ask you How you are doing (That will come later) , but they will ask you if you had food(that would be Oota ayitha) or had coffee. We Mysoreans have got our priorities Right.

Lunch sounds excellent, I will be here for another couple of days, so do let me know when you will be here and we will meet up. I will try the coffee phrase a s a p..

Looking forward for some interesting inside information...So you are a Mysorean, stayed here for a while?

Sepp

navinkurian2002 · Apr 23rd, 2007, 02:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by batistuta

I will be in Mysore next week, If you are still around we can have a meet-up , Definitely , No Holding hands, No condolences By hugging or in any other form, We can chat for a while and maybe have lunch if that is ok with you.

In Mysore, To strike up a conversation , as coffee is the preferred drink , you Need to ask , Coffee ayitha?(That means have you had coffee) , The general public use this as a form of Greeting . They may not ask you How you are doing (That will come later) , but they will ask you if you had food(that would be Oota ayitha) or had coffee. We Mysoreans have got our priorities Right.

Hey batistuta awesome info . Thanks for giving a mumbaikaar a couple of tips to use down south cheers

invidious · Apr 23rd, 2007, 04:40

Err - how do you generalize about a billion people? I think the only two common threads which MOST indians will be able to talk about, irrespective of region or social status is Cricket and kicking the Brits out of India in 1947. There is too much disparity otherwise.

batistuta · Apr 23rd, 2007, 12:36

Sepp, I used to live in Mysore. I will be there next sunday -29th, Looks like you would have moved by then, Anyway, if you are still around, do let me Know. The best Places to visit in Mysore are the Mysore Palace, The Chamundi hills temple, there is a Nandi Bull statue when you descend from Chamundi Hill, There is Srirangapatna , which has a palace as well as a Beautiful temple. You can catch a train from Mysore to Srirangapatna, which is a 20 min ride. I am assuming that you have been to most of these places , but I mentioned them , just in case, if you haven't.

For the best veg food, One can go to Indra's cafe(Sayyaji Road) for Breakfast and for the best Dinner and Lunch, Hotel Dasprakash(Not to be confused with its Namesake , Dasprakash Paradise).

Navikurian, Thanks, The info is only for Karnataka and Only in Mysore and Bangalore as the Dialect changes in different parts of Karnataka. Love the quote present in Your signature .

Apr 22nd, 2007, 01:03	#31
the irish indian Totally Clueless Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 174	I find the indian people to be among the most sincere, genuine, friendly and people in the world.....almost to a fault. I also find that their sense of humour is quite innocent and very 'childlike' compared to ours in the west. Most of the grown men that i know are like big kids and i suppose this may be because of the more reserved traditions they have. Example: My wife and her best friend Heather are just back from India, a mutual male indian friend of ours had a quick grope of Heathers backside one day and when she rebuked him, he fell to his knees and apologised,cryed and apologised again and again and again.... My wife, when she heard asked him "Did you feel Heathers arse? " He waved his hands in the air and in a flood of tears cried, "Please dont tell anyone im so sorry, it wont happen again, im sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry....." I believe him. __________________ "If you cry because the sun has gone out of you life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars" Rabindranath Tagore

Apr 22nd, 2007, 01:38	#35
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,786	Most people I know here have a slapstick senes of humour --- and jokes still include mothers in law and beating the wife But the one or two who have surreal humour are superb at it __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Apr 22nd, 2007, 01:36	#34
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	I must agree. Tomy and Jerry is the best cartoon there is!

Apr 22nd, 2007, 02:57	#37
noflylist Account Closed on User's Request Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 840	How about Jack Tripper and Al Bundi?

Apr 22nd, 2007, 08:52	#39
Cathal Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 7	The description of the "Indian head wobble in its infinite variety" happens to coincide with how I remind myself of it: to trace in the air with my nose the sideways infinity symbol. It sort of works I think -- and it always gets me a seat by myself on the bus while I'm practicing.

Apr 22nd, 2007, 10:46	#40
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,786	...Brilliant description! Rather like another hard-to-describe Indian gesture, this time with the hand. Another member caught it perfectly as 'unscrewing a lightbulb'!

Apr 23rd, 2007, 04:40	#44
invidious Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 122	Err - how do you generalize about a billion people? I think the only two common threads which MOST indians will be able to talk about, irrespective of region or social status is Cricket and kicking the Brits out of India in 1947. There is too much disparity otherwise.

Apr 23rd, 2007, 12:36	#45
batistuta Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,729	Sepp, I used to live in Mysore. I will be there next sunday -29th, Looks like you would have moved by then, Anyway, if you are still around, do let me Know. The best Places to visit in Mysore are the Mysore Palace, The Chamundi hills temple, there is a Nandi Bull statue when you descend from Chamundi Hill, There is Srirangapatna , which has a palace as well as a Beautiful temple. You can catch a train from Mysore to Srirangapatna, which is a 20 min ride. I am assuming that you have been to most of these places , but I mentioned them , just in case, if you haven't. For the best veg food, One can go to Indra's cafe(Sayyaji Road) for Breakfast and for the best Dinner and Lunch, Hotel Dasprakash(Not to be confused with its Namesake , Dasprakash Paradise). Navikurian, Thanks, The info is only for Karnataka and Only in Mysore and Bangalore as the Dialect changes in different parts of Karnataka. Love the quote present in Your signature .

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