Since around the mid-90's, most of our 'New Age Settlers' in DGT, seem to be of the 'Whinging Poms' category, who as you mention seem to know absolutely everything about this country before they even come. I personally didn't come here by choice, this was forced on me by my then employer, however, after 3 1/2 years of actually working here, I asked for a transfer, professionally. Personally, I elected to stay in this 'Twilight Zone', because it still manages to keep one under the radar of modern day communication.(Phones can't be reached at times, internet is intermittent at best, brownouts frequent, just the way I like it). I rather like the old adage, which I try to adhere to at all times: - "Keep your circle of friends close and your beer cold."If one does so, what others say or think will really be like "water off a duck's back." Perhaps take a 'chill pill', as a modern expression goes.
Alex, judging by the number of comments on the guy's site, you have multiplied his audience by a factor of 10 by reposting his stuff here. The guy sounds like a self hater and he projects it onto other people. There are a lot of cranky people in the world, no nationality has a lock on it. By the way, the Philippines did not "invite me in" they charge me for it. I also like that this guy has decided that everybody but him is wrong. I take this guys writing as cranky humor of his own and is not to be taken seriously. A bitter version of Erma Bombeck or Dave Barry.
Based on the title of the link he posted I didn't bother clicking it because it sounded like it was going to be negative BS I didn't want to waste time reading. Your comment made me curious enough to click it though. I was right, like hearing fingernail screeching on a chalkboard, I couldn't read the whole thing. Self important superiority complex, giving analysis nobody asked for and has no use. I didn't come to the Philippines for negativity, to change it, tell them how to make it better, let them know how the US/the west is better, etc. I came here to relax and enjoy my life and one way I accomplish that is to ignore the back seat analysis from the expat peanut gallery. This thread did get that guy one more hit on his website (by me) but I am certainly not adding to his audience as I am not going back. I will be staying here for information and humor, and yes the occasional frustration post, but overall positive experience.
So we as foreigners are wrong for complaining when sh*t sucks and we'd do this still in our home countries as well except may not have as many agreeing ears to talk to yet someone else can complain about us? Kind of hypocritical that *we* are the bad guys yet this guy must be the *good* guy for telling us off. Maybe his own complaining would be put towards a better use then telling those set in their ways who have nothing to do with him what we are doing wrong. I find guys like this very hypocritical and simply a$$holish. Many of the things we say negative are the same things Filipino's say as well. The main difference is we'll also complain about poor service or simply lack of service. But does a guy like this really feel all smiles and happy if he pays for a service and it doesn't work yet he still has to pay that bill. Even more so during the time he lacks said service he actually has to pay more in some cases because of poor management. When his internet goes off for a day and he can't post a crap blog does he come back saying how wonderful the world is that his internet was off for a day which he still has to pay for because he had the best day ever? Is he happy if he orders a beer and it arrives warm? Is he smiling and cheerful when he finds his wife or SO was off seeing someone else because the someone treats her far better then he does? More so is he happy when his 19 year old daughter is hooking up with a 50+ year old because he takes care of her and is more fun then the boys her own age? After all that is the Philippines also.
I thought there were some good points made in the article. IMO, the article seemed to be pointing out a specific type of personality; those that are not happy unless they are absolutely miserable and take every possible opportunity to tell anyone willing to listen about their misery. I don't see it as an article ragging on complaints in general. The article even goes on to point out the dangers of being completely naive and seeing the Philippines in only a positive view. We all have complaints (the website linked in the OP speaks on plenty of them), but when these complaints are addressed/spoken about in a "holier than thou" attitude or just thrown out there as non-constructive bitching it is, at least for me, very off-putting....and at times downright annoying. Note: I know I can be guilty of doing that myself (as most of us probably are) from time to time, but I normally do try to be constructive and/or understand what is the root cause of the thing that is bothering me.
I just dislike that anyone with a more positive viewpoint than this guy is wearing rose colored glasses and anyone who complains more than he does is wrong also, only HE is right. What are the chances of that?
I didn't get that tone/message from the author. He just pointed out his displeasure and some of the annoyances of two personalities that do exist here (and pretty much anywhere in the world).
