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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..to be disappointed in peoples complete indifference

62 replies

firstforthought · 02/02/2011 21:26

to current affairs.
I take particular interest in Egypt as dh is Egyptian. I know that it was any other country I wouldn't be as into it but I would still take an interest and ask after any friends families that i know of in the region.
I have to say I have only one friend on fb who has asked after dhs family and none by phone, even though I give regular updates on the situation.
Even the Egypt thread on the "in the news" section only really took off today... i know this country is very good when asked for international charity/aid and such so aibu to be disappointed in peoples indifference?

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Original poster
firstforthought · 02/02/2011 21:27

sorry -typing holding baby.

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BuzzLightBeer · 02/02/2011 21:29

depends what you mean by indifference. I keep up with the news, but I don't really have the room to care about everything thats going on in the world.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 02/02/2011 21:31

Come live in Canada, they've talked about nothing BUT the situation in Egypt, even the chronic snow storm has got about one tenth of the coverage - so I am well up to speed!

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 02/02/2011 21:33

I don't know if it's indifference as much as 'desensitisation', firstforthought. Also, people generally are more insular and compartmentalised now, more than they ever were, and in spite of the myriad methods of communication.

I wonder if some of your close friends just don't know what to say but if you brought up the subject, they might well feel able to ask questions about it.

Brits have a definite reputation for keeping themselves to themselves and not asking after anything more taxing than the weather and ones pets...

Hoping that your husbands family are ok, it must be such a worrying time for you all.

gordyslovesheep · 02/02/2011 21:33

what Buzz said - it depends what you mean - I am watching the news and reading about it - I am not indifferent - I am deeply saddend by todays events and worried about the global implications in a change of government

curlymama · 02/02/2011 21:33

It could be seen as a bit nosy by people who aren't very close, it depends who you were thinking would call. I would maybe expect a call from my Mum, but not anyone else.

It doesn't mean they haven't thought of your dh and his family.

How are they by the way?

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 02/02/2011 21:34

HollyBolly... Where in Canada are you? I'm waiting for our visas to emigrate! :)

Original poster
firstforthought · 02/02/2011 21:35

if you knew a friends family were in a region affected by big news would you ask after them? i would and that's why i think i am disappointed in people. Maybe its just the people i know? Confused

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porcamiseria · 02/02/2011 21:38

but people are not dying are they (as opposed to earthquake/tsunami/flood type mortalities) , ie its a HUGE deal but its mainly demos no? So I would assume that unless his family were in the thick of it, they would be OK. also is it not mainly Cairo based

so maybe they are thinking they are OK as opposed to indifferent?

Hassled · 02/02/2011 21:38

I don't think people are indifferent at all - it's on the news a lot, it's on the front page of every broadsheet, it's being discussed widely. The MN thread has been ongoing for a long time now.

If your friends are being crap, that's a whole different issue. Are they maybe not putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 4? Is it something they see as so remote and happening thousands of miles away that they haven't made the connection with your DH and his family?

Original poster
firstforthought · 02/02/2011 21:39

and the fact that peoples status' are such inane shite rather than anything of any importance..
"watching shameless" and other such tripe!
seriously, i can put as much shit as the next person but come on....

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gordyslovesheep · 02/02/2011 21:39

300 feared dead today Porcamiseria and 500 injured

BuzzLightBeer · 02/02/2011 21:40

they are dying today. Hundreds of people died on the streets of Cairo today.

Topspin · 02/02/2011 21:40

I'm not indifferent and have been following it on the news. I do know two Egyptian families - one of whom I've talked to about it. The other family are FB friends and I wouldn't dream of asking them about it on there.

Hope all is OK with your DH's family.

Original poster
firstforthought · 02/02/2011 21:41

maybe there a few in particular i am thinking of who i would of thought would have called by now, knowing that dhs family are ok but to catch up about it all.

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curlymama · 02/02/2011 21:41

Do your Dh's family come from one of the regions involved in the riots?

marmynags · 02/02/2011 21:41

i was listening to john Simpson reporting from there earlier - was incredible

Rhadegunde · 02/02/2011 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 02/02/2011 21:42

It's terribly sad, it really is. Every week there is some sort of catastrophe in the world. I bawl my eyes out if I watch the news, I really have to steel myself to tune in.

Australia, Egypt... all the other trouble spots of the world. :(

PatriciaHolm · 02/02/2011 21:43

If you are giving regular updates on FB, maybe they feel they don't need to ask?

BerylStreep · 02/02/2011 21:44

I am watching the news at the moment, and they are saying 3 people died in Cairo. Is this incorrect?

porcamiseria · 02/02/2011 21:44

sorry, have been in own little world.....sorry OP

MmeLindt · 02/02/2011 21:45

I have noticed this too.

Last night when Mubarak was giving his resignation speech, half of my twitter feed was nattering about what was on TV (something to do with gypsies I think it was). The other half was madly tweeting about Egypt, but I follow quite a few people who are politically active and now a good few Egyptians who are tweeting from Cairo.

We have friends on holiday in Luxor and have contacted them to see if they are ok. DH has chatted to an Egyptian colleague daily to ask about his family.

I do think that many do not realise the potential fall out of this - that it is not just demos but could mean a completely different political situation in the Middle East.

I hope your family is ok, FFT, and I think that your friends are very thoughtless to ignore what is going on.

MmeLindt · 02/02/2011 21:46

BerylStreep
I don't know the exact numbers off hand, but it is far far more than 3 people.

Before today it was already over 100, and it has escalated incredibly today.

Original poster
firstforthought · 02/02/2011 21:47

thanks for asking, they are fine. but initially we had family friends missing which was so scary...
there were thought to be over 300 dead before today so yes there are lots of people dying.

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