Manama: A Saudi man smashed his television set and asked his son’s guests to leave after they ignored him to focus on a scene from a Gulf drama.

The incident happened as the man, in his 60s, went to sit with the young people invited by his son to have dinner and to sit together, Media, a Saudi news site, reported on Sunday.

The man reportedly wanted to welcome the friends after they had dinner and “exchange cordial talks with them” to make them feel at home. However, as he sat in the majlis – the hall where guests are received – and started to talk, the young men were attracted by a scene from a Gulf drama, kept their eyes on Amal Al Awadhi, the Kuwaiti actress, and ignored the father.

In a fit of fury, he stood up, smashed the television set and ordered everyone at the majlis to leave. Telling people to leave a home is deeply frowned upon in Gulf tradition. Reactions by online readers ranged between full support to the father for being ignored in his own house and harsh criticism for mishandling the delicate situation.

Moteb Abdullah insisted that the father should not be blamed. “The problem is with the young men who did not appreciate the situation and opted to watch TV instead of talking with the host,” he posted. Chicko said that the television dramas were causing serious social issues. “I do appreciate the father’s attitude,” he said. “Some of the dramas are programmed at a time when people should be at the mosque or sitting together to talk.”

However, Omran blamed the father for the embarrassing development and said that he should have been more sensible in his approach. “He could have simply locked all the channels he did not want and kept only the religious and news stations. He could have also removed the television set from the majlis,” he posted.

Shiha said that the father could have simply used the remote control to switch off the television or change the station.

“It was wrong to order guests out,” Fahd posted. “He could have talked gently with the young men or explained to them his feelings. You do not simply smash your television set or kick people out of your house because they are not listening to you. That is rude.”