Comments on this post are now closed. Insiders 1 All Comments 39 Apply To Be An "Insider" » Just A Guy on Jan 7, 2:42 PM said: Hey! This story just got re-posted here after a few months. Even the photo is the same. jimmy mactheknife on Jan 7, 11:26 AM said: THE most off putting thing about India was the vast numbers of impoverished folks who conducted their daily lives on the street and in the heavily polluted rivers. Included in that was urination and defecation in public spaces. The smell is as horrific as it sounds. I agree about the slaughter houses. The cast system is alive and well in India. Finally, the amount of disease and deformity is distressing. That being said, the upper class folks are thoughtful, gracious, loyal and a lot of fun! Manohar on Jan 7, 12:01 PM said: @jimmy mactheknife: Same as every other country... Roger Desai on Jan 7, 12:06 PM said: @jimmy mactheknife: While you are right about the smells related to the activities you mentioned, you are flatly wrong about "upper class" folks being the only ones who are thoughtful, gracious........... People across all sections of society in India are generally warm, welcoming and willing to share the last bit of whatever they have with you if they think you need it. And not to mention that, despite having very low standards of per capita income, the standards of moral uprightness and honesty is the second best in the world. Check this article out for more: http://www.businessinsider.com/helsinki-is-the-worlds-most-hone Card Game on Jan 7, 1:32 PM said: @jimmy mactheknife: India is probably one of the dirtiest countries in the world. I have seen lists for dirtiest cities in the world and Mumbai and Delhi are up there. It's because most Indians don't care about cleanliness in common areas. They might keep their own houses clean but can't be bothered with their surroundings. They don't even mind eating food standing in dirt. I have seen this so many times. It's a serious cultural problem. I say this as an Indian who lives in India. Card Game on Jan 7, 1:36 PM said: @jimmy mactheknife: India is one of the dirtiest countries in the world. In fact, the whole of South Asia is dirty as f&$#. I have seen lists of dirtiest cities in the world and Mumbai and Delhi are up there at number two and three if I remember right. It's because Indians don't mind dirty surroundings. They might keep their own houses clean but they can't be bothered with keeping shared spaces clean and ordered. I have seen people eat food standing in dirt. I mean women eating food standing in dirt. If the women of a society don't mind the dirt then nobody can save that society. It's a cultural problem that goes with other issues like a lack of discipline and a tendency to deceive people. I say this as an Indian living in India. Brijesh on Jan 7, 2:43 PM said: @Card Game: Take a country 1/3rd the size of USA and put 4 times USA population,what do you expect.With 1/6th of human population,its impossible to expect cleanliness from what all,as all varity of people will be there psssh! on Jan 7, 7:41 PM said: @Brijesh: Sorry, but that's not an excuse. I read somewhere that Britain is more crowded than India or China. tfg on Jan 8, 1:48 AM said: @Brijesh: not an excuse at all. Gaza strip is more crowded, yet you don't see Gazans defecating in the streets. Roger C. on Jan 7, 11:45 AM said: In other words, just don't go. crusader70 on Jan 7, 7:07 PM said: @Roger C.: Yes, that's the traditional frightened American couch potato approach. Every American on Jan 7, 9:06 PM said: @Roger C.: Three things we would like to know about Indians: 1) Why are they so rapey? 2) Why are their eyes always bloodshot? 3) Why are they so rapey? Bhuvan Rikka on Jan 8, 1:35 AM said: @Every American: I'd like to answer, but before that, Things i would like to know about Americans: 1) Why there is a sexual assault for every 2 mins in USA? 2) Why are people so mean that they don't fck'n care when a mentally challenged girl gets raped in a bus by a thug even though they are well aware of what was happening? 3) Why do the special forces rape Afghan women when they are supposed to save the country? 4) Why do they loot tax payer's money which is supposed to go to real victims of 911? 5) Why do they plan sexual abuse with their own children? 6) Why does school kids gets killed in class by fellow students? 7) Why do kids kill their own parents and grandparents? 8) Why does a kid rape a teacher in school and kill her? I can go on like this.. But i think these are enough to keep your mouth shut and prevent you from generalizing things! Oh and about your questions, i think you better check this first.. http://www.rainn.org/statistics Stats go well on numbskulls.. Internet - A bad thing for hypocrites like you, don't you think? hammerman on Jan 8, 5:44 PM said: @Bhuvan Rikka: ughh we opened an office in New Delhi and when I was there I shit my pants after every meal and this was Hilton. People in the streets throwing garbage everywhere, horns honking all day every 2 seconds, dust flying in the air out of nowhere, and guys selling bottled water that were filled up from a local tap; they super glued the cap back on so you hear that "click" when you open it....making you think it was new... screw that place Roger C. on Jan 8, 7:53 PM said: @hammerman: Sounds like India. But seriously, that bottled water thing happens in Vegas too. Beware. Erick Blair on Jan 7, 12:20 PM said: I've lived in the Philippines for 25 years; almost half my life. Essentially all of these things could said about here. Asia just has different social norms than the West. Deal with it. This list isn't unique to India. Lone Traveller on Jan 7, 7:44 PM said: @Erick Blair: I've lived in the Philippines and India. Sorry, I have to disagree. India is far worse. Erick Blair on Jan 7, 9:06 PM said: @Lone Traveller: I think it depends on where you go in both countries. It is true that the Philippines has no caste system and has no place as bad as, say Bombay. But I live in the rural southern Philippines. You want to see extreme poverty, come here. Dan M on Jan 7, 12:25 PM said: I was born to Indian parents in the UAE, but never lived in India. I've visited a few times as a minor and I can't imagine why anyone from outside India would willingly want to move there. It has some scenic spots, and the people are, for the most part, genial, kind, and humbling. The food is also spectacular. But I wouldn't recommend it as a place to move. Card Game on Jan 7, 1:29 PM said: @Dan M: Better than living as third-class non-citizens under the boot of racist Arabs. You were brought up in a ghetto and you feel comfortable in those situations. I have been to the GCC countries. They are so rich and still look like toilets. You never see that in the US or in Europe. How did your parents live there? I can understand you living there having never enjoyed any meaningful form of freedom. Warning: Ignorance Above on Jan 7, 2:06 PM said: @Card Game: " ... still look like toilets." I presume you're referring to the issue of slave labor. But you should know there's a good number of expats (Westerners & Asians alike) staying happily in the UAE, who do enjoy a decent amount of freedom as long as they respect the law of the land, and I think Dan M is from this group. And say what you might about its over-the-top ways, but there is no way that Dubai looks like a toilet. Why did his parents live there? Because the UAE offered them tax-free salaries, quality infrastructure and more freedom than you evidently believe exists there. Brijesh on Jan 7, 2:46 PM said: @Dan M: I heard in UAE for everything ,they use camel,and when they dont get camel they catch hold of thankless Indians like you.I hope you meet a horny gay camel loving arab. Card Game on Jan 8, 9:26 AM said: @Warning: Ignorance Above: lol! I see what you did there. You clubbed Western and Asian "expats" while excluding the labourers. Nice try but to most Arabs if you are brown you are no better than slave labourer. Yes, they have moved all the slave labourers out of Dubai (and are currently doing the same in Abu Dhabi) but it's hard not to notice people in shabby conditions all over these cities. You don't see this much of inequality and racism in any Western country. I want to remind you that if you are Brown you are not White. Even some of the privileges enjoyed by this guy in Mumbai is available only to White people (like loitering in a luxury hotel on the cheap). SS on Jan 8, 10:05 AM said: @Dan M: DON'T FORGET The extraordinary culture, architecture, philosophy, food, design, clothing, values. Card Game on Jan 7, 1:38 PM said: I returned to India, my native country after years living abroad. Living abroad can dull your senses and I learnt something the hard way. Most Indians will try to deceive you. They will smile at you and try to screw you at the drop of a hat. It probably comes from surviving in a poor and resource-poor country. You've been warned. sally88 on Jan 7, 2:34 PM said: This is a repeat from a few months ago. Just A Guy on Jan 7, 2:42 PM said: Hey! This story just got re-posted here after a few months. Even the photo is the same. fuck you on Jan 8, 2:38 PM said: @Just A Guy: fuck you RD on Jan 7, 4:15 PM said: How did you miss the fact that you don't need to pay tips everywhere (well, 'almost' everywhere)! ivysnob on Jan 7, 7:16 PM said: yes but you missed the most important part.. the content people inspite of all the wealth disparity.. and yes poverty.. people are content you dont see anxiety on people's faces when I asked a a taxi driver how he manageds without a bank account - he said I am not worried because I have faith :) Psssh on Jan 7, 7:40 PM said: Sorry, but that's not an excuse. I read somewhere that Britain is more crowded than India or China. Bhuvan Rikka on Jan 8, 12:48 AM said: Not again!! Rajeev Shukla on Jan 8, 4:48 AM said: Good points. However most of these are Mumbai-specific and does not apply to rest of India. It is like saying "most Americans prefer not to drive and travel by Metro and you can get almost anything any time of the day" based on experience of living in cities like NY. Generalization is the problem with all such reports. India has too much diversity in its people, cultures, life styles, language and even food, it is almost impossible to generalize based on experience within a city. There are certain behavioral aspects which may be common though, such as lack of personal space, timeliness, civic sense etc. Murthy on Jan 8, 6:24 AM said: This is a misunderstanding. It has nothing to do with gender based violence. It is a part of the culture. [email protected] on Jan 8, 9:25 AM said: Presidente!! Great T-shirt! Christian Koncz on Jan 8, 2:16 PM said: Like others have said before, this is a recycled article. I think it is impossible to describe India in a short article, even a lengthy book would barely scratch the surface (William Dalrymple came really close). I am European, but I did some of my growing up in South India and have visited a couple of times since. I also got to know quite a few Indians in Singapore and Britain. Overall I would say Indians are trustworthy and make good friends. That said, they are far more pleasant to interact with overseas than in their own country, where there are massive and insurmountable problems, mostly a result of religious fervour running high. Since it is inconceivable that Indians would change or give up their religion their future looks just as bleak as that of other highly religious countries, most of which are in the middle east and africa. Like my friend said on our last trip there, he's now sure that hell exists, he saw it with his own eyes from the train window on the way from Delhi to Agra. With the exception of a few prosperous pockets, India is the most violently poor country in the world, with conditions that would shock even battle-hardened old Africa hands. The hardest thing about growing up in India was the enormous, sickening and heart-wrenching suffering and despair that ever-growing amounts of people are subjected to. Yes, there are pockets of beauty and some parts of India are better off than others, but nobody with an ounce of empathy can truly enjoy living the good life in India while surrounded by such despair and hopelessness. And no, the poor and downtrodden in India aren't happy in case you were wondering, they are the saddest people I have ever met. Card Game on Jan 8, 3:12 PM said: @Christian Koncz: So you want us to give up our religion? Nice! I wonder why your folks were in India in the first place. SS on Jan 8, 8:41 PM said: @Christian Koncz: very nice post, thanks. conniver on Jan 8, 9:52 PM said: the only reason I'd ever go to India would be to take it over. Nilesh on Jan 8, 11:37 PM said: Yep.. All stuff is TRUE !! India .. Little bit Urban/City Style Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/things-americans-should-know-about-india-2014-1?op=1#ixzz3JiqImrAv