Comments on: Rude Indonesians

By: ?? ?? (Toshihiko Atsuyama)

?? ?? (Toshihiko Atsuyama) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:37:00 +0000

some may think that you are stereotyping Indonesians, but no, that’s the way they really are. i agree with your points. i’ll consider blogging about this too sometime soon.

btw, org indo jg ya mbak?

By: Samuel Goh Kim Eng

Samuel Goh Kim Eng — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:01:00 +0000

Usually one, from anywhere, who’s rude
Is also one who’s brought up crude
To often behave openly like a brute
Losing sweetness from sugar cane to jute

By: isman

isman — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:49:00 +0000

Yes. Maybe like how Italians are different from the rest of the Europeans, I guess Indonesian are also different from the rest of the Southeast Asians.

I, myself, once reprimanded an middle-aged woman (probably mother of several children--and trust me, the last thing we need are people like her reproducing) for breaking through a queue for train tickets.

She was majorly pissed off, even threatened to rip my mouth off.

So here it is, the first difference of Indonesians: it's not rude to break through queues. But it's a blasphemy to reprimand someone who's doing it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:40:00 +0000

Ha! Good post.Rude people are everywhere! At the risk of sounding patronising you never see the negative parts of you country until you return to it. Its kind of like thinking about an old flame and wondering why you ever broke up with him/her. So you call them up and 2 minutes into the conversation you say” oh yeah now i remember”

By: Tonyrome

Tonyrome — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 19:55:00 +0000

I believe you’re a perfectionist who wants everything in order and by your way. Only in your ideal world, darling. You won’t get that in Indonesia, especially in tiny city like Mataram. My suggestion is to take a deep breath and accept the condition if you still love your heart. Smell the roses.

By: Anita

Anita — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 19:51:00 +0000

@Adit: Today, on the flight to Surabaya from Mataram, I was seated on no. 1, but a passenger behind me pushed himself in between me and the passenger next to me so he could be the first when the plane door was open. His friend was about to do the same so I told him nicely, "Sabar pak. Saya juga mau keluar, pintunya gak akan ditutup sebelum bapak keluar kog (Patience, Pak, I'm going too, the door won't be closed before you're out), and you know what he said? He said, "Oh no, I just... want..." and squeezed himself so he passed me and stood right in front of me. I was so in disbelieve, and only my mum's gesture that stopped me to preach at him about being polite and have manners.

I think being polite by saying thank you, please, and sorry, are universal. As well as treating people nicely and not being bossy. Indonesians culture are full of symbols, it's beyond words. We were full of tata krama. Where have those gone?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 06:38:00 +0000

I dont mind the rudeness. Its not really rude, just different attitude. holding the door is somethnig servants do, and who wants to be mistaken for a servant?

On the other hand, why do Indonesians stop at the top of the escalator and hold a discussion, then stop at the bottom and do it again?

By: adit

adit — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 12:59:00 +0000

“It is because I realise that Indonesians are rude”

I don’t deny the fact that there are rude people in Indonesia, and I am sure in every part of the globe as well.

However, I see you have a tendency to look at things from ‘western’ view, and therefore western standards.

I’m not going to say one is better than the other, but sometimes things just don’t click (cultural shock).

Your perception of politeness may not apply in some parts of Indonesia, and therefore doesn’t meet to your expectations.

Still, I don’t think it is fair to straight away say that it is wrong or there is something wrong with Indonesians.

Again, it really depends on from which direction you look at things.

By: Anilú

Anilú — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:11:00 +0000

Hope your holiday improves. I keep saying I’m oing home for Xmas but you are right, home is Aberdeen now.
Take care.

By: Parvita

Parvita — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:24:00 +0000

I don't think Anita is overreacting. On the lift and holding the door, this is not the first time I've heard about it, both from expats and Indonesians who has been taught properly.

They are just not brought up to be polite because their parents didn't have any idea of the word 'polite'. Later on, try queueing and driving in the city. You will bitch big time about it.

Besides, malls and apartments are practically new to Indonesia. Those days, you don't have to hold the doors at the pasar2, that's why they don't know it. Maybe lho...

Like Elyani said, there are always rude people everywhere and if you do travel a bit while you are in here, you will see friendlier people.