(small) creative initiatives that challenge (big) traditional ideas
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Posted by Sebastian on Nov 11, 2006

Danish newspaper Politiken today has an interesting article about Saudi Arabian women, written and photographed by Klaus Holsting.
The Saudi women are sometimes referred to as B.M.O.'s (black moving objects) because when in public, they are obliged to dress in black burkas.
Apparently, women and men are not really allowed to mix, therefore they must be very discrete - and creative - when flirting with each other.
According to Holsting, one of the more advanced ways to flirt, is via Bluetooth enabled phones. When activating Bluetooth in a restaurant names such as "Sensitive Girl" or "Prisoner of Tears" pops up on the display as the girl's way to flirt and potentially connect with boys through the invisible as well as visible walls that separate them.
No link to the article. Photo credit here.
Leurs wrote:
That´s the well-known Bluetooth-Hoax... oooold
foofus wrote:
well to tell u the trueth i am saudi i live here and whats said is pretty much true for lots of ppl here but at the same time there are other kinds of ppl that dont have to be BMOs as u refair to them if u dot belive me ask any girl from my home town Jeddah girls there live a normal life mix with guys and dont really need to be that discreet
ooBi wrote:
i personally think that humans by their nature try to destroy differences, i say embrace differences, try to learn from each other. Yes, in saudi women are SUPPOSED to cover up (not necessarily, but most commonly, in black). but has this guy who wrote this article ever asked WHY? has anyone actually asked why.
again, embrace difference, dont destroy it!
ill give a little explanation for the covering up, which is pretty obvious, is to avoid temptation.
why do ppl around the world try to implement their own culture onto others. that is another thing that would ruin this world. yes it is a big melting pot, but u dont want all the ingredients mixed up as one. u still have to have the DIFFERENCES!!
sebastian wrote:
the writer of the article was simply giving an example of how cultural differences make us use global technologies differently.
he did not try to implement his own culture onto others.
Dinalina wrote:
Differently?! Cause people in the US don't use text messaging as a way to flirt?! Or ppl in China use it differently! Give me a break :P
Anonymous wrote:
Dinalina, the article is not about txt messaging but about Bluetooth flirting.
Singa wrote:
All of the above is personl point of you. So I think it's one way of young ppl communication by using modren technology.
dexan wrote:
i dont understand in this era of knowledge still people keep watching others.let them do what they like what they wear.its only matters to all why a girl i scovering her face. if u read religious book u will come to know it in all relgions to cover head like but like christian they did it only for nuns in sardas only for man its religion its not fashion let people live according there belives
they do it only for reward from crator that is the main thing. find out who is your creator and what he ask u for he surly loves u ....... but u need to find him
Ahmad Abozaid wrote:
I saw this as a try of insult to Muslim girls more than a news item about bluetooth usage.
No worries, am an open minded man. Still, i had to comment on this item.
Not "every" girl in Saudi wears that "Burka". Also, not all of those who do are obliged to wear it. Most of them are very convinced of using it and using it in black.
Girls (and boys) around the world have been using bluetooth in that manner for years. This is no news to me and --i believe-- to you too.
Could you please remove the words "BMO" and "Obliged" from the article body at least?
Sebastian wrote:
Hi Ahmad.
Thanks for your input.
As you can see, the entry is referring to a photographic essay printed in a newspaper. Nobody is trying to insult anyone.
Contact: Sebastian Campion