Letters: April 30, 2012

Say no to violent video games
As children aged nine and ten, we are shocked to read about this tragic and horrifying incident (‘Child kills father over PlayStation’, Gulf News, April 24). We think that young children should not play violent games on the computer. Our parents did not allow us to play video games at all. However, we do play certain video games that are fun to play and learn from but for a very limited time.
From Mr Arham and Mr Reham
Abu Dhabi

Lost values leave a void
Yet again we are reading harrowing stories of barbaric child cruelty in the UK (‘Boy locked in filthy ‘cell’ for more than a year’, Gulf News, April 24). This goes to show the extent to which family values have become broken and fragmented in modern Britain. I totally support UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s drive to encourage marriage and his belief in traditional values. When fellow Britons tell me that my views are ‘old-fashioned’, I only have to point them to stories such as this. There are also the riots in London last year, which had my husband, son and I endure four nights of terror in our family home on what was supposed to be our annual home leave from Dubai!
From Ms Sarah Louise
Dubai

Parents at fault, too
This is disgusting, ridiculous and shameful. Such parents should get the worst punishment and this should serve as a warning for others so that they don’t treat their children in such a manner. I hope this boy gets the best upbringing in life henceforth.
From Ms Mohammad
Dubai

Don’t be out of place
We as expatriates need to understand that we are guests here (‘Company ordered to remove ‘offensive’ lamp pole adverts’, Gulf News, April 25). If members of society have raised their concerns about an issue and the municipality has considered their comments as valid, then we must also respect the same. Things that do not look irritating to us might be very serious for others — respect for being respected.
From A Reader
Abu Dhabi

Nothing to fret over
I seriously don’t understand what the whole commotion is about with this advertisement. If people make these kinds of associations then they should really question their own thoughts. If this is causing such commotion then you should take down 80 per cent of the advertisements you see on the roads, newspapers and other media channels. ‘Call me’ on a billboard in my book means ‘call me if you would like to advertise here or find out more’. So people, you should really look at yourselves if you associate that with anything else.
From Mr Stephan
Dubai

Twisted perception
It is clear that it is an advertising campaign and there are no bad intentions behind it. But when the public insists on poking fun at everything, then it starts looking like it’s a bad thing.
From Mr Ali
Dubai

What’s the message?
Seriously, what kind of media company posts such advertisements! And what was the product or service about?
From A Reader
Dubai

Flaring neglect
Why are there so many fires happening these days (‘Tower fire displaces hundreds’, Gulf News, April 29)? It is happening so frequently that it has become ridiculous. Who is to blame for all these fires? The tenants, the landlords or the developer of the buildings? I guess the answer is all three. Tenants can’t afford to be careless and burn down their house and everything they own. Landlords have to make sure that all fire-preventing equipment is in place and in working condition. And finally developers should not get away with constructing buildings using cheap material. Everyone needs to take responsibility.
From Mr Edward Collins
Sharjah

What’s new?
This is an excellent comment but it seems that the author is only rephrasing what GCC Assistant Secretary General Abdul Aziz Aluwaisheg has written in Arab News on April 1 (‘Strategic GCC-US shift from alliance to partnership’, Gulf News, April 16).
From Mr Majid
Riyadh

Hard to tell apart
I noticed that this comment is mainly a rewrite of a previous comment published two weeks ago in Arab News.
From A Reader
Jeddah