Comments on: Would You Value The Message More If My Name Were Joe? http://www.oibo.org/would-you-value-the-message-more-if-my-name-were-joe.html Fresh Perspectives at Running a Successful Internet Business Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:49:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Where Did Everyone Go? | Internet Business Opportunities | oibo dot org http://www.oibo.org/would-you-value-the-message-more-if-my-name-were-joe.html/comment-page-1#comment-493 Where Did Everyone Go? | Internet Business Opportunities | oibo dot org Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:26:40 +0000 http://www.oibo.org/would-you-value-the-message-more-if-my-name-were-joe.html#comment-493 [...] So I was reviewing my feed stats the other day, and for the most part they were growing quite nicely - then all of a sudden it started to reverse.  Hmmm… odd, the only thing that I had done differently was post this article Would You Value The Message More If My Name Were Joe? [...] [...] So I was reviewing my feed stats the other day, and for the most part they were growing quite nicely – then all of a sudden it started to reverse.  Hmmm… odd, the only thing that I had done differently was post this article Would You Value The Message More If My Name Were Joe? [...]

]]> By: Mohamed http://www.oibo.org/would-you-value-the-message-more-if-my-name-were-joe.html/comment-page-1#comment-461 Mohamed Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:06:52 +0000 http://www.oibo.org/would-you-value-the-message-more-if-my-name-were-joe.html#comment-461 Hi Luke, Thanks - I haven't decided either; but will try some experiments with articles to see the responses. Everyone has gut-level reactions to people no matter what. Originally I lived in Edmonton, AB -- I'm sure people hate it but it's pretty redneck. It's been called the Bible Belt of Western Canada. When we first came to Edmonton in the 1970's, racism was rampant. I still remember my dad waiting at a traffic light and someone pulling up beside us... "Damn Pakis - go the f*** home!" I wasn't even from Pakistan! Over the years as new immigrants started to integrate and people moved around the community was more tolerant and accepting of the new Canadians. In all the time I lived there, I saw very few 'Asians' (Chinese, Japanese). I had never met a Greek, or Italian and the Punjabis or Hindus that lived there were very integrated - very few of them wore religious symbols in public. I'm sure it was because most minority groups kept to themselves. Fast forward and I'm in Vancouver, BC. I see people of all nationality here. Many Punjabis and Hindus that have been here for hundreds of years have integrated with the community at large but many express the outward appearances of their religious beliefs. The same thing for people of different religions - whether they be Muslims, Jews or Christians. I've been told that Vancouver is the Gay capital of Canada. Well, in Edmonton that's one topic/word that isn't talked about. In Vancouver, the lifestyles here are very open and I have gay/lesbian friends at work. Believe it or not, for someone that has grown up in Canada - it was a bloody tough adjustment to make! I all of a sudden had to realize that what may have been acceptable in Edmonton IS NOT acceptable in Vancouver. What could I say? What could I not say? Were there topics I should avoid? It was literally culture shock. Fast forward 3-years and I'm feeling at home, though there are still topics I will not approach; I'm getting much better at leaving my redneck attitudes behind me and becoming more accepting of my community and the people that make it up. Regards, Mohamed ... or is that Robert??? :-) Hi Luke,

Thanks – I haven’t decided either; but will try some experiments with articles to see the responses.

Everyone has gut-level reactions to people no matter what. Originally I lived in Edmonton, AB — I’m sure people hate it but it’s pretty redneck. It’s been called the Bible Belt of Western Canada.

When we first came to Edmonton in the 1970’s, racism was rampant. I still remember my dad waiting at a traffic light and someone pulling up beside us…

“Damn Pakis – go the f*** home!”

I wasn’t even from Pakistan!

Over the years as new immigrants started to integrate and people moved around the community was more tolerant and accepting of the new Canadians.

In all the time I lived there, I saw very few ‘Asians’ (Chinese, Japanese). I had never met a Greek, or Italian and the Punjabis or Hindus that lived there were very integrated – very few of them wore religious symbols in public.

I’m sure it was because most minority groups kept to themselves.

Fast forward and I’m in Vancouver, BC. I see people of all nationality here. Many Punjabis and Hindus that have been here for hundreds of years have integrated with the community at large but many express the outward appearances of their religious beliefs.

The same thing for people of different religions – whether they be Muslims, Jews or Christians.

I’ve been told that Vancouver is the Gay capital of Canada. Well, in Edmonton that’s one topic/word that isn’t talked about. In Vancouver, the lifestyles here are very open and I have gay/lesbian friends at work.

Believe it or not, for someone that has grown up in Canada – it was a bloody tough adjustment to make! I all of a sudden had to realize that what may have been acceptable in Edmonton IS NOT acceptable in Vancouver.

What could I say? What could I not say? Were there topics I should avoid?

It was literally culture shock.

Fast forward 3-years and I’m feeling at home, though there are still topics I will not approach; I’m getting much better at leaving my redneck attitudes behind me and becoming more accepting of my community and the people that make it up.

Regards,

Mohamed … or is that Robert??? :-)

]]> By: Luke http://www.oibo.org/would-you-value-the-message-more-if-my-name-were-joe.html/comment-page-1#comment-457 Luke Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:56:03 +0000 http://www.oibo.org/would-you-value-the-message-more-if-my-name-were-joe.html#comment-457 Hi Mohamed, Robert Benjamin is a great pen name. My brother's first name is Benjamin -- great name. I accept you whatever you choose to call yourself. I don't claim to be free of the gut-level racism/culturalism (whatever it is) that affects most people, but I do actively attempt to train myself out of it. Otherwise I would stand to lose chances to build profitable relationships with some very good people. It is so sad when people don't have the imagination to reach beyond their culturally driven prejudices. Hi Mohamed, Robert Benjamin is a great pen name. My brother’s first name is Benjamin — great name. I accept you whatever you choose to call yourself. I don’t claim to be free of the gut-level racism/culturalism (whatever it is) that affects most people, but I do actively attempt to train myself out of it. Otherwise I would stand to lose chances to build profitable relationships with some very good people. It is so sad when people don’t have the imagination to reach beyond their culturally driven prejudices.

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