The fact that it might not be intended as a racist insult is important to me (I am still wanting to engage with you verbally, not something I am inclined to do with racists) but you really ought to take more care if you do not want to be seen as hyprocritical.

I am confused MBE! On one hand you speak of: ‘unacceptability of personal attacks on anyone’ and on the other hand you told me the other time that ‘you are rude here as you think this is all the Greeks understand!’ Never mind that I reject this assertion of yours but surely you imply then that you yourself is engaging in personal attacks!
You may think that those cases are done with justification but then again others may think too likewise!
And where this is living us?
On the other hand my suggestion (and I may not try to be patronising) is to stop having chips on your shoulder and try to address the message directly and not perhaps the ugly (to you opinion!) package it came with!

Your lack of diplomacy makes me think you a poor judge as to what constitutes civilised behaviour or for that matter a personal insult. But my object is not to criticize you so much as to encourage you to be more measured and specific. Indulging in generalisations just encourages what I called the dialogue of the deaf.

Well, ok, I am not renowned for diplomacy I do think that many of the problems of Greece relate to a certain lack of sophistication in social affairs, which tend to be instinctive [or "primitive"]. This can have very positive results at the personal level, but very negative results for organising the society and economy. And of course I am not racist: I deny the meaning of “race” as a concept. The explanation of most of my comments here is that I am intolerant of things in any culture, including the British, which seem to be self-congratulatory or which deny the value of independent critical thinking.

Actually your first post used applied the term ‘primitive mentality’ to the whole of Greece. I can see how some might be offended by that. The fact that it might not be intended as a racist insult is important to me (I am still wanting to engage with you verbally, not something I am inclined to do with racists) but you really ought to take more care if you do not want to be seen as hyprocritical.

I think your opinion is not shared by my Greek students of the last 8 years, Papa Duck. My first post here was about the content of the original post, and the nationalists chose to pursue their usual line and insist on how bad other countries/cultures are.

Whaty a depressing dialogue of the deaf! It would be nice if DD’s interesting post was followed by sober reflection on the reality of Greek political culture. Instead we have a phony ideological war that really does not belong here. Most contributors know so much they seem unwilling to learn and far too ready to take offence. Quite sad really, whether they be lecturers or students. I guess DD is now thinking she had a lucky escape not going to University.

JC: I am sorry, but these are personal and offensive attacks. I do not accept that anonymous people have the right to behave in this crude and sneering way. Even if that is acceptable to Greeks (and I doubt it), it is not generally acceptable to civilised people. The values of the gutter are not my values. I have asked DD to remove the personal attacks on this blog.

More personal attacks from anonymous Greek peasants. Such a delight to deal with these nationalist-fascists.

Yannis, there are many in NYC and America who don’t want their tax money to go to the poor because they believe that charity should be given voluntarily by the individual and not the Government. This is primarily a Republican view but in some ways I can see their point. Why should I have to give money out of my salary to someone who doesn’t have the common sense or education to take care of himself. This type of person can sponge of hard working Americans and has no reason to improve. Of course, there are indigents or disabled people who should be assisted at any cost.

Martin loosen up!! Take it easy…

More personal attacks from anonymous Greek peasants. Such a delight to deal with these nationalist-fascists.

Martin, or should I call you Mr Martin, Kyrie Martin, because of the age difference that I assume that we’re having. I’m in my thirties and from what I read you teach at a university, so you must be older than me.
I am a fairly new visitor in these blog but from I’ve seen I’ll have to say that never did legein, or myself attack anyone personally . What he and I do is to try to explain things to you that I’m sorry to say, you don’t understand about my people. I’m again sorry to say this, but I think that it might be your culture that doesn’t allow you to understand. In no way I’m going to call you a racist because from what I’ve read from you and others here that criticize my people you are all nice folk but also bothered by things. Of course you and Philip will find things “odd” while you’re living in Greece the same things that I find odd living in NY the past 10 years of my life.
Mr. Martin I see people here divided everyday. I see blacks and Hispanics living in ghettos in the worst conditions and I see others living on the upper east side of Manhattan in expensive apartments with big cars and all, complaining that the government shouldn’t be helping the poor with their taxes. How am I suppose to understand that and not find it “odd” when I come from a culture where people that are better off always try to find ways to help the poorer or weaker? Tell me Mr. Martin.
How am I suppose to understand a war that has killed thousands of innocent poor Iraqis and has also killed and crippled physically and mentally thousands of poor American soldiers while half of the population doesn’t seem to complain or care about that?
One thing I don’t do is to criticize the American population because I understand that its not enitrely their fault. They have been scammed into believing that the poor should be killed in a war or shot in a ghetto. That the poor has no value.
So you’re not alone in this. There’s many people who for some reason live away from their homeland and feel isolated. If I was in Greece I would have taken you out for a frappe or ouzaki and hang out. Do you have any Greek friends Mr. Martin that you go out with? If no why not? Of course Im talking about common Greek folk that once you get to know you see that it is not “common” at all. It is common folk that carries the riches and beauty of our culture.
Don’t fight us Greeks Mr Martin. As I said before it doesn’t make sense because we don’t fight back. You might be losing your time doing that. Try to understand us and once you do, then offer us as many suggestions as you wish as long as we understand that you’re doing it because you care about us and you want to help us in any ways.
Also if legein happens to be a student of yours please don’t fail him, lol!!!!
Legein buddy I have visited your blog and I really like the things you’re writing. I dont have a college education and its a bit difficult for me to read your writtngs without two ditionaries next to me lol. Im glad that you also kill the devil when you get a chance. Right now I’m doing it while writting this listening to the Waterboys. Those Irish boys seem to know how to be spiritual too and they kick ass doing so. I wish I was with you and your friends when you partied the other day but I myself am also a “xeno” here and opportunities like that are rarer. When I get a chance though I play Socrates Malamas too. Lately I’ve been also taking classes from Lakis Lazopoulos show. He realy carries the Greek spirit like no one:).
Γιαννης.

Martin, most people find your entire existence, offensive. Your ideas are stale and have been proven, unfortunately through historical examples, to be destructive. You are an intellectual light weight yet continue with your haughty behaviour. Who asked you to stay in Greece again? Certainly not its people…

legein: you have been told before by DD: STOP YOUR PERSONAL ATTACKS. I have nothing more to say to you, because you respond with personal abuse. I find your behaviour offensive, and I suppose from your recent comments that you are a student in the university where I teach. This makes your behaviour all the more unacceptable.