The new scourge of India? (A rant!)

anorak · Dec 24th, 2007, 07:31

Mobile phones with (very)loudspeakers and "Chav" culture.

I don't know if this is a new phenomenon but I've never seen it as bad as on my recent visit; the behaviour of young middle class/caste Indian boys in Western dress seems to be reflecting the scumbags that hang around my local Co-op/bus stop/off licence in the UK.
Playing crap distorted Hindipop 'music' at full volume on trains, treating everyone else with the utmost disrespect and generally acting "gangsta".

I was in a group of 4 30-something British men, and being surrounded by 10 or so 'educated' degree students acting like they live somewhere between the Bronx and the Village People is somewhat disconcerting and pathetic in equal measures.
I would hate to have been a foreign female tourist or an Indian Girl in these situations, surrounded by sexually repressed, pampered little shits.
From my experience this seems to be a predominantly Northern Indian, town/small city thing and you can spot them a mile off. If you see a baseball cap and a pair of rip-off Oakley sunglasses coming your way, then hide! Avoid the Indore area too.

Rant over, please discuss.

machadinha · Dec 24th, 2007, 07:37

You have something against the Bronx?

Or the Village People? The latter is a band, not an area (did a not-half-bad job in promoting gay awareness, btw).

btw Yes I hate those kids where I live too. What can you do. Ye good olde days and all. I'm sure we were hated as the little brats that we were.

anorak · Dec 24th, 2007, 07:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

You have something against the Bronx?

Or the Village People? The latter is a band, not an area (did a not-half-bad job in promoting gay awareness, btw).

No, I've got nothing against The Bronx and I know who the Village people are, that was part of the point I was trying to make. The reference was to do with pretending to be all hard and 'gangsta' and at the same time touching your friend up in a homoerotic way. Hence the 'disconcerting and pathetic' bit.

machadinha · Dec 24th, 2007, 08:12

I reckon the two may go together well. You could google around some for what hardcore young gay leftist skinheads are up to these days.

(A little more seriously, you sound like one who has been there several times & you'll realize what male friendliness there may look like to an outsider.) But anyway, yes, I get your point, and I'll stop kidding around on it. I didn't like all Indians I ran into, and not the snotty loud wise-ass types of any age, and I'm sure and I hear this won't be improving, and like I said I don't like such folks at home either.

I guess it's mostly an issue of modernization and the rise of the middle classes and so on that many of us seem to hail worldwide though. As for cellphones, I've suggested to quasi philosopher friends of mine to do a piece on "The Public Man"; as it seems that from centuries of jealously keeping your private stuff to yourself, we have entered an age of throwing your sex life and everything over the phone at the top of your lungs in public transport and whatnot. (Their answer was typically Good idea; write it yourself.) And don't get me started on ringtones.

vdvoort · Dec 24th, 2007, 08:35

Shame on those young middle class/caste Indian boys!! Wearing Western dress, baseball caps and even sunglasses?? And on top of it playing this crap Hindipop music, pleasssse, no! How dare they, they should be deported (to the UK maybe?). You are absolutely right, I definitely give preference to all those totally drunk, horny, vomiting, 'football club-songs' singing (luckily no Bollywood crap!) British 30-something lads visiting Amsterdam (especially the Red Light District).

Unfortunately stupidity is more contagious than knowledge

Enjoy!

machadinha · Dec 24th, 2007, 08:52

Er, yeh, bring it on.

There are renewed and ongoing propositions to clean up the Red Light District here (not to everyone's including the locals' amusement btw). Summed up our local newscaster: That spells deterring the drunken Brits.

Which had me laugh

capt_mahajan · Dec 24th, 2007, 08:55

That's the new brash Indian middle class. Never seen a recession, a layoff or the light. And thinking that money has solved all their problems.

Somebody I know put it well on a trip to India, saying that "India wants to be the USA".

Only the irritating and flashy bits, I think. The pluses of the USA are too boring

steven_ber · Dec 24th, 2007, 08:55

anorak, the wording in your first post will infuriate many people.

I agree about the mobile phone youngsters (and not so young men as well), about 4 times on my last trip I was almost forced to listen to EVERY bloody ring tone imaginable, it reminded me of England about 5 years ago.

I found it a little more worrying to see Indian youths heading the same way as English youths, the family structure (and discipline) in India is to be admired, any steps these youths take towards their western counterparts will be steps in the wrong direction.

Sadly though, I saw too many examples on my last trip.

beesakopie · Dec 24th, 2007, 09:10

Ummm...I've given up on using a cell phone BTW.

Now thats a tough thing to do living in the west.

Be an intelligent consumer. Do you REALLY - I mean REALLY need it? If someone needs to contact, can't he or she leave you a message?

steven_ber · Dec 24th, 2007, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by beesakopie

If someone needs to contact, can't he or she leave you a message?

True, a text message maybe?

Couldn't agree more about mobile phones, I hate them, resisted having one for many years but eventually gave in to the nagging and got one so my girlfriend could send me 30 texts a day.

"Where are you?"

"About 10 minutes further along the road than when you last asked!!"

vdvoort · Dec 24th, 2007, 09:21

If someone needs to contact, can't he or she leave you a message.

Of course they can, on your mobile.... ;-) ?

capt_mahajan · Dec 24th, 2007, 09:29

Quote:

And don't get me started on ringtones

I always had the normal phone ringing tone (tring tring) till recently.

I bought a cheap mobile phone. It has sixteen ringtones, but not that normal ringing one.

I am seriously thinking of using the clucking morning rooster.

PeakXV · Dec 24th, 2007, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by anorak

I was in a group of 4 30-something British men, and being surrounded by 10 or so 'educated' degree students acting like they live somewhere between the Bronx and the Village People is somewhat disconcerting and pathetic in equal measures.

hal-ohhh, hal-ohhh

Cell phones are a danger to the human race .... period! If those mobile yakkers aren't cutting you off with their car in traffic then they are attempting to run you over - often without a clue that they are even doing so.

But being 'surrounded' by 10 'educated' degree students is unusal & at the same time a bit humorous - was this sort of like a technical swarming?

.... did they force you to listen to a recital of their thesis papers?

Do tell?

edwardseco · Dec 24th, 2007, 09:33

Kaliyug..

beesakopie · Dec 24th, 2007, 09:52

Quote:

Messages :

The system I use here is that I have a landline. If I am at home, great! we can chat. If I am not, (and that includes my boss!!!

)...you NEED to leave me a message.

Thankfully in France, we still have laws in place where you don't need to be available 24 hrs a day at the beck and call of your employer!!!

...I've been doing this now for about a year. Previously I had a cellphone number (cell with no credit) just so that people could leave me messages...once I'd mastered that, its now been a year and I don't have a cell anymore...the Silence is GOLDEN!!!

I honestly think human evolution just took a wrong turn with this cellphone thingy. I am definitely not going back to using one!!!

Dec 24th, 2007, 07:31	#1
anorak Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: UK Posts: 40	The new scourge of India? (A rant!) Mobile phones with (very)loudspeakers and "Chav" culture. I don't know if this is a new phenomenon but I've never seen it as bad as on my recent visit; the behaviour of young middle class/caste Indian boys in Western dress seems to be reflecting the scumbags that hang around my local Co-op/bus stop/off licence in the UK. Playing crap distorted Hindipop 'music' at full volume on trains, treating everyone else with the utmost disrespect and generally acting "gangsta". I was in a group of 4 30-something British men, and being surrounded by 10 or so 'educated' degree students acting like they live somewhere between the Bronx and the Village People is somewhat disconcerting and pathetic in equal measures. I would hate to have been a foreign female tourist or an Indian Girl in these situations, surrounded by sexually repressed, pampered little shits. From my experience this seems to be a predominantly Northern Indian, town/small city thing and you can spot them a mile off. If you see a baseball cap and a pair of rip-off Oakley sunglasses coming your way, then hide! Avoid the Indore area too. Rant over, please discuss.

Dec 24th, 2007, 07:37	#2
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,114	You have something against the Bronx? Or the Village People? The latter is a band, not an area (did a not-half-bad job in promoting gay awareness, btw). btw Yes I hate those kids where I live too. What can you do. Ye good olde days and all. I'm sure we were hated as the little brats that we were. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Dec 24th, 2007, 08:55	#8
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 8,919	anorak, the wording in your first post will infuriate many people. I agree about the mobile phone youngsters (and not so young men as well), about 4 times on my last trip I was almost forced to listen to EVERY bloody ring tone imaginable, it reminded me of England about 5 years ago. I found it a little more worrying to see Indian youths heading the same way as English youths, the family structure (and discipline) in India is to be admired, any steps these youths take towards their western counterparts will be steps in the wrong direction. Sadly though, I saw too many examples on my last trip. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

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Dec 24th, 2007, 08:12	#4
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,114	I reckon the two may go together well. You could google around some for what hardcore young gay leftist skinheads are up to these days. (A little more seriously, you sound like one who has been there several times & you'll realize what male friendliness there may look like to an outsider.) But anyway, yes, I get your point, and I'll stop kidding around on it. I didn't like all Indians I ran into, and not the snotty loud wise-ass types of any age, and I'm sure and I hear this won't be improving, and like I said I don't like such folks at home either. I guess it's mostly an issue of modernization and the rise of the middle classes and so on that many of us seem to hail worldwide though. As for cellphones, I've suggested to quasi philosopher friends of mine to do a piece on "The Public Man"; as it seems that from centuries of jealously keeping your private stuff to yourself, we have entered an age of throwing your sex life and everything over the phone at the top of your lungs in public transport and whatnot. (Their answer was typically Good idea; write it yourself.) And don't get me started on ringtones.

Dec 24th, 2007, 08:35	#5
vdvoort Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 78	Shame on those young middle class/caste Indian boys!! Wearing Western dress, baseball caps and even sunglasses?? And on top of it playing this crap Hindipop music, pleasssse, no! How dare they, they should be deported (to the UK maybe?). You are absolutely right, I definitely give preference to all those totally drunk, horny, vomiting, 'football club-songs' singing (luckily no Bollywood crap!) British 30-something lads visiting Amsterdam (especially the Red Light District). Unfortunately stupidity is more contagious than knowledge Enjoy!

Dec 24th, 2007, 08:52	#6
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,114	Er, yeh, bring it on. There are renewed and ongoing propositions to clean up the Red Light District here (not to everyone's including the locals' amusement btw). Summed up our local newscaster: That spells deterring the drunken Brits. Which had me laugh

Dec 24th, 2007, 08:55	#7
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,714	That's the new brash Indian middle class. Never seen a recession, a layoff or the light. And thinking that money has solved all their problems. Somebody I know put it well on a trip to India, saying that "India wants to be the USA". Only the irritating and flashy bits, I think. The pluses of the USA are too boring

Dec 24th, 2007, 09:10	#9
beesakopie Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wallis and Futuna (Republique Francaise) Posts: 82	Ummm...I've given up on using a cell phone BTW. Now thats a tough thing to do living in the west. Be an intelligent consumer. Do you REALLY - I mean *REALLY* need it? If someone needs to contact, can't he or she leave you a message?

Dec 24th, 2007, 09:21	#11
vdvoort Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 78	If someone needs to contact, can't he or she leave you a message. Of course they can, on your mobile.... ;-) ?

Dec 24th, 2007, 09:33	#14
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,777	Kaliyug..

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