Genuine Question: Arab Culture and Smoking

[WishfulSpirit]

Hi everyone. So we had some people with Arabic-sounding names in our hotel. They asked us if they could smoke in the room (not allowed) and proceeded to do so anyway. Now violating the rules, especially if you asked about them, is sucky in itself, but it got me thinking about something.

I'm not exactly sure where the guest is from (and to be fair, I know there is a lot of cultural diversity between places in the Arab world just as there is outside of it), but I'm thinking there was a clash of cultures going on. Whatever you grew up with gets so embedded in your unconscious approach to the world that it takes quite a bit of time to adapt to a new culture. Here, smoking in an enclosed environment, especially one owned by someone else, is considered extremely rude. Based on my limited knowledge of the Arab world, smoking indoors is common there (much like it was during earlier decades in the West, think Mad Men), so I'm wondering if that's what made the guest assume we were being draconian for not allowing them to smoke inside and decided to do so anyway. And yes, they ARE getting charged a damage fee.

NOTE: Please take any opinions about Islam, Arab culture or immigration to Fratching. This is a dispassionate question about norms in the United States (where smoking is generally frowned on) vrs cultural norms elsewhere, with no "right" or "wrong" assumed.

[bainsidhe]

so I'm wondering if that's what made the guest assume we were being draconian for not allowing them to smoke inside and decided to do so anyway.

In my opinion, a SC is a SC because they don't like being told no and will proceed to do something anyway. It's also why we call them entitlement whores, because SCs believe the world should bend to their will. It can result in an SC smoking in the room, getting upset there is no late checkout, demanding compensation because they didn't arrive to breakfast on time, etc etc etc.

[EricKei]

Aye. They were expressly forbidden to smoke and did it anyway. hopefully, you can make any room cleanup/smoke damages fines stick.

[eltf177]

Culture or not, they broke the rules and need to pay all damages...

[notalwaysright]

If they had NOT asked, and smoked, then I could see it being because they are so used to being able to smoke inside that they didn't even consider not being able to. (sorry convoluted sentence) But since they asked and were told, it kinda negates the issue.

[Rosco the Iroc]

Last time I was in UAE in 2007 (wow I've been out a while) Smoking was very common. It was awesome to smoke in a mall again.

[Headset Hellion]

Last time I was in UAE in 2007 (wow I've been out a while) Smoking was very common. It was awesome to smoke in a mall again.

Right? I was in Bahrain between '05-'06 and you could smoke everywhere.

I don't know that this was a cultural thing, though. Some people just don't follow the rules, period. I also wouldn't say that it's so unusual to smoke indoors in the US. I drove from PA to WA a few months ago and stayed in plenty of hotels with smoking rooms along the way. There are still bars in PA where smoking is permitted.

[Racket_Man]

A few years ago my state passed a law banning smoking in bars, restaurants, hotel rooms and almost everywhere else except private homes and cars.

Numerious LARGE signs EVERYWHERE and hotels guests were explicitly told the new law.

Guess how many EXTRA room charges were leveled?????

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Probably just a different attitude about smoking over there; that it's no big deal and people should be able to do it wherever and whenever they want.

Regardless, they were told not to smoke in the room and did so anyway, so major suck on their part.

[WishfulSpirit]

The guest got charged, glanced at the charge on the bill, and kind of shrugged and paid it. Wow. I wish I was that rich, but I'm SO glad they didn't cause a fuss. I have a soft spot for the Arab world in general and I do not want to be yelled at by two Arab guys. I agree it's sucky to break the rules, but at least they didn't compound their suckiness by throwing a hissy fit about being penalized for breaking the rules.

[EricKei]

Some posts in here have been deleted for crossing the Fratching line, guys.

Reign it in or we'll have to lock the thread and start issuing Infractions.

[WishfulSpirit]

Thank you EricKei

[mjr]

I would assume it's somewhat of a "cultural convention", much like we have "cultural conventions" in the U.S.

I do agree with them being charged for "damages" as cigarette smoke smells can be difficult to get out of linens, curtains, carpets, and so forth.

[Strathclyde]

I wonder if they asked, not because they intended on not smoking, but because they wondered how high the chance of them getting charged for it was?

I'm glad that they didn't give you any issues. SCs are terrible, no matter what.

[catcul]

How hot can the Arabian Desert get? The people travel to Florida to cool off.

That place is way too hot for Catcul.