Better left alone
It's my choice not to get to know my neighbours (‘Neighbourly relations on the wane in Dubai', Gulf News, April 29). I am normally very tolerant of others and their ways having lived in a hostel and shared rooms with fellow students during college. However, my neighbours are different — I have observed that during the morning, afternoon, evening and even late at night, they go to and fro to each others' flat or meet in the corridors and chat or gossip very loudly. I hear them even from behind closed doors. During the few times that we interacted with them, they asked too many private questions — we barely know them. Having people to interact with is good and wonderful, but if they make me uncomfortable with their ways, or if I feel that my privacy and personal space is being invaded, then I'd rather be left alone.
From Ms Farah A.
Sharjah
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Times are changing
I have been brought up in the UAE from the time I was a year old. My childhood days were totally different from what it is now. We used to know almost everyone around the block and evenings and holidays used to be so much fun playing with all the other children — it was like a big family. We played, fought with each other, ran around and helped each other. This was all a part of my childhood. I am still in touch with a few of them and have a lot of beautiful memories from that time. Staying in the same area, I have felt things change from what it was 23 years ago. People don't know each other. Most of them are isolated with their own families. I know my neighbours here but right now one of the families has become a pain. Sometimes I feel that it is better to not know them — they have four children who ruin the corridors with juice and food and disturb everyone around. When neighbours are the reason for breaking your peaceful environment then it's better to just ignore them rather than be friends with them. People these days are just pulled into their own world and not bothered about others and how they would be affecting others. But I guess that's how life goes on. People change, the environment changes and situations change. Nothing remains the same forever.
From Mr Anirudh Venugopalan
Sharjah
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The neighbour culture
I take a very ambiguous stand on this issue. I lived in Dubai for about 18 years until I relocated to Bengaluru for higher studies. Living in Dubai taught me to be social and generous towards everyone because the place where I resided, Al Karama, had people from all walks of life and different cultural backgrounds. Of course there were petty tussles amongst neighbours but they were never vindictive. In India it is a totally different experience — neighbours don't bother to greet or care about who lives next door. The moment we greet someone it becomes an issue of a larger concern and what would one expect in a situation like this? Doors slamming right in your face.
From Mr Abhishek Kamat
Bengaluru, India
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Who's there to help?
Who will give them their daily bread if they are deprived of their daily wages (‘Child labour: A sordid tale of exploitation', Gulf News, April 28)? Has the Indian government taken any steps to help these children?
From Mr Victor Dsouza
Dubai
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Tomorrow's criminals
This is not only in India but in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, where the governments have also failed to stop child labour. This is an open truth where everyone looks the other way. These children will turn out to be tomorrow's gangsters, drug dealers and beggars. The movie Slumdog Millionaire got an Academy Award, but the true story and incidents go on! Not everyone gets to be a slumdog millionaire.
From Mr Jay
UAE
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