So I know a lot of my blog posts about Pakistan are negative, but hey it's the negative things I need to vent about. Blogging is such a great way to get out all of that pent up angst and frustration!
One of the things that drives me crazy is people I call "beepers." Beepers are too lazy to get out of their cars themselves and ring a doorbell or open a gate. They drive up a house and immediately start beeping. "Beep beep beep beeeeeeep!" Two seconds later (not near enough time for anyone to actually get out of the house and open the gate), "BEEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEP!"
These beepers have no concept of disturbing the peace. At least once every day I am woken up by a beeper. At four in the morning, when even most Pakistanis are sleeping, they seem to beep longer and louder than they do during the day. What a nice alarm clock. "Beep beep beeeep! Beep be beep beep beeeeeeeep!"
They beep in the morning. They beep in the evening. They beep when I am enjoying my dinner .They beep when I am sleeping. They beep when I'm talking on the phone. They beep so loud I can barely hear myself think. This is not a nice little 'honk honk,' but a laying on of the horn as if the driver is constantly in an aggravated state.
If you are a Pakistani who gets out of the car to open to your own door, I respect you. Thank you for being considerate and thinking about the sanity and peace of others. Even if you give a missed call to someone, but stay in your car, this is still much appreciated. Beeping is not necessary for doors to open and shut. My gate seems to open just fine without a password of "Beep beep beep beeeep!"
If you are a beeper, you may not think your beeping bothers anyone, but I'm sure you have woken someone up at some point with your incessant honking. If you ever move to a country where disturbing the peace is a crime, you will be faced with steep fines and a lot of angry neighbors. Beeping on the road at dangerous drivers is fine; but beeping in quiet residential neighborhoods is just plain rude.
One of the things that drives me crazy is people I call "beepers." Beepers are too lazy to get out of their cars themselves and ring a doorbell or open a gate. They drive up a house and immediately start beeping. "Beep beep beep beeeeeeep!" Two seconds later (not near enough time for anyone to actually get out of the house and open the gate), "BEEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEP!"
These beepers have no concept of disturbing the peace. At least once every day I am woken up by a beeper. At four in the morning, when even most Pakistanis are sleeping, they seem to beep longer and louder than they do during the day. What a nice alarm clock. "Beep beep beeeep! Beep be beep beep beeeeeeeep!"
They beep in the morning. They beep in the evening. They beep when I am enjoying my dinner .They beep when I am sleeping. They beep when I'm talking on the phone. They beep so loud I can barely hear myself think. This is not a nice little 'honk honk,' but a laying on of the horn as if the driver is constantly in an aggravated state.
If you are a Pakistani who gets out of the car to open to your own door, I respect you. Thank you for being considerate and thinking about the sanity and peace of others. Even if you give a missed call to someone, but stay in your car, this is still much appreciated. Beeping is not necessary for doors to open and shut. My gate seems to open just fine without a password of "Beep beep beep beeeep!"
If you are a beeper, you may not think your beeping bothers anyone, but I'm sure you have woken someone up at some point with your incessant honking. If you ever move to a country where disturbing the peace is a crime, you will be faced with steep fines and a lot of angry neighbors. Beeping on the road at dangerous drivers is fine; but beeping in quiet residential neighborhoods is just plain rude.
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5 comments:
Just wanted to let you know something. Your negative comments about Pakistan are just the things which ordinary Pakistanis would also complain about and written the way an ordinary Pakistani would rent. I haven't ever noticed a condescending tone or theme in them ever, unlike some other expat bloggers.
Thanks for the comment. It's good to know that this kind of thing bothers Pakistanis too. It's certainly not everyone who behaves in this rude way, but unfortunately due to clout and the perceived importance of these people everyone else just has to deal with it!
One of my favorite memories in Lahore is when I was standing in the queue at the airport and all the regular people (along with me) joined together to stop the self-identified "VIP" queue jumpers. When people started speaking up and making them go to the end of the line, I thought everyone was going to break out cheering!
Though i agree with the above anonymous commentator, i like to see writings and photos about good things in Lahore but HERE You are right, You have full right to speak out against such evils.
Excellent writing !!!
Qurran Quote for neighbors: ( Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good - to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the Companion by your side, the wayfarer [you meet], and what your right hands possess . . .) (Qur'an 4:36)
Everyone whose home neighbors yours has the rights of a neighbor over you, even if you are not connected by kinship or religion. This honoring of the neighbor is an example of the tolerance promoted by Islam.
sadly that is how it is...
beeping is a way of life in lahore and most of pakistan
Darn... Can't seem to get away from all the B...ing... Here in the USA we have a 'bleeping' problem where film and music stars can't go more than 10 words without having some profanity bleeped out of their comment (especially if they're on HBO). In Lahore, you've got a 'beeping' problem with discourteous drivers... :oP
I suppose you've experimented with ear plugs? May or may not work. I used to live 3 floors up from a bar that closed at 2AM... at which time all the drunks would come outside to hang beneath our windows and take turn breaking beer bottles and singing off tune... for an hour or so. It made me dream of pulling one of those ancient anti-siege technique where the wall defenders pour scalding oil down on the invading force underneath... (never did that, of course, but man.. there were nights when I'd love to!). :o)
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