Cyprus-Forum.com

[Eliko]

I stand by what I said regarding natural respect, I was referring to the basic traditional culture of the Cypriot people, those who have not been subjected to the influence of others, there are still plenty of them around and it is at times where traditional values are appreciated that you will see them, I did use the practise of pinning money to a bride's dress as THE example of such respect and how it is abused by 'outsider's'. In times past, all money was pinned to bride and groom in full view, to prevent embarrassment it later became acceptable to conceal the contributions in envelopes, no self respecting Cypriot would lower themselves to use the ruse of substituting paper for the intended gift, sadly, such respect is sometimes ridiculed by those who do not understand it.

[andri_cy]

It's strange that the parents weren't called to inform them the schools would be closed.

It was probably announced in the news broadcasts. When schools are closed in the US, the parents done get an individual call each to tell them the schools will be closed that day. I think that would be an unrealistic demand.

[andri_cy]

You first said "all Cypriots share the same view" (referring to 'respect').
But in the next phrase you said "there may be some who have adopted the standards of other nations" (referring to Cypriots).

So which is it?! Either all Cypriots share the same view, or they do not all the share the same view!!!!

Besides, unless you personally know all Cypriots then you are not in a position to even make the above statement!

hmmm lets talk numbers 99% share the same view about respect 1% has been influenced. Ergo you can safely same all Cypriots have the same view since 1% is not big enough and so on.

[Pete_D]

hmmm lets talk numbers 99% share the same view about respect 1% has been influenced. Ergo you can safely same all Cypriots have the same view since 1% is not big enough and so on.

Things must be very different than in the UK, then.

Because here there is no way I would know how many people have the same viewpoint on something. I could believe the media - the "voice of the people" - but I would be wrong to do so. I could listen to so called "community leaders", who claim to talk for their "community", but of course these people don't know what people think anymore than the rest of us. I could believe pollsters, but it has been shown people regularly lie to opinion pollsters.

The population of the town where I live probably about 80,000 people: about a 1/10th of Cyprus it would seem. Yet I could would not be able to give you an opinion about "the consensus" of people in my town on almost anything - and I certainly don't know who they are let alone what they think.

I guess Cyprus is just different, if this is the case, then.

Pete

[Sotos]

On important issues it is easy to know what most people believe. You don't have to know all of them but just a sample will be enough

[Pete_D]

You see, I've always thought that to be a popular belief that is grossly inaccurate.

For example, back in 1997 Princess Diana died and - so the media would have us believe - the whole UK was in deep mourning, and Blair was sincere in his tributes.

But was this really the case? I - and everyone I spoke to at the time - were not as hysterical as "the public". Now people look back and the "general perception" is that blair was not sincere at all and now nobody can believe the alleged "mass hysteria" was going on everywhere.

I am sure, as Mulder would say, the Truth is out there somewhere!

Anyway lets give up on this now, as it is totally off topic.

Pete

[Sotos]

Maybe that is because UK is a big country. Here we don't have to trust any media. We just have to ask people around to know what they believe. I think it is easier to manipulate media in big countries. I am glad all those exaggerations about Princess Diana were not real!!

[123456]

I did use the practise of pinning money to a bride's dress as THE example of such respect and how it is abused by 'outsider's'. , no self respecting Cypriot would lower themselves to use the ruse of substituting paper for the intended gift, sadly, such respect is sometimes ridiculed by those who do not understand it.

Again with the broad sweeping statements whereby 'outsiders' are the bad guys and only true Cypriot's have self respect apparently.

Look, every nation of the world has it's pro's and con's as a society but one thing appears to be very true on this forum and that is a number of members absolutely will not accept any idea of their nation having flaw's. It is all 'outsiders', all your troubles are caused by 'outsiders', all the bad things happen because of 'outsiders'.

I know many Cypriot married couples and there is not one couple who didn't find at least a few newspaper filled envelopes at their wedding. I have often asked why people attend the wedding of couples they do not like and they reply that you have to be seen at the wedding. How insincere is that? Could it be that most of these envelopes are pinned by these, rather resentful, guests? Which leads us back to the question of the emotional honesty you appeared to claim as being the sole preserve of the cypriot. What evidence is there to somehow prove that you are more genuine than 'outsiders'?

[reportfromcyprus]

It's strange that the parents weren't called to inform them the schools would be closed.

It was probably announced in the news broadcasts. When schools are closed in the US, the parents done get an individual call each to tell them the schools will be closed that day. I think that would be an unrealistic demand.

When I lived in the US, schools closed only in extreme weather conditions. Perhaps it would have been better planned if a day was set aside for mourning the minister (maybe a week from his death) and then parents and teachers would know in advance. It seems like an emotional decision made on the spur of the moment because he was popular. Anyway, it goes to show how much of a shock it was.

[Strahd]

For all you foreigners the School closure was announced by the media TV and Radio the night before. So if you do not understand our language then it is obvious that you would miss some things. Do they in england go out and announce any news in any other language than English even though especially in London there is a large population of ex pats?