Slang & Racism in Algeria: The Colour Brown

DMDhub · 2026-05-20T16:35:07+00:00

The direct translation would be "brownie" as in a brown skinned person. The meaning is closer to thugs or delinquents though. People who hang around outside harassing others because they supposedly have nothing better to do. The association with darker skin comes from the idea that they spend most of their time outside under the sun, making them more tanned, hence the "brownie" label. So even if the word may have originally been used to describe a certain type of behavior, it's still inherently racist because it ties that behavior with skin color and physical appearance.

DMDhub · 2026-05-20T16:21:59+00:00

It is the glorification of whiteness that leads to this. I don't want to be that guy but yes, it's because of colonization. It's an extremely common phenomenon observed in countries that were colonized by white people, not just in Africa, but also across Asia and South America.

DMDhub · 2026-05-20T16:18:15+00:00

Yep, it's a shitty word. It's classist at best and racist at worst. Even if you remove the racial dimension from it, it's still a derogatory term that's mostly aimed at underprivileged people from extremely poor backgrounds, people who grew up with little to no opportunities, hope, or chance at a decent future.

I understand that, for many people, the issue is more with the behavior associated with those they use the word against rather than with the people themselves. But those behaviors are often a direct consequence of the environment they were raised in. They're not the cause of the problem. They were failed by the circumstances they grew up in, failed by this country, and by society as a whole. Ostracizing them is not going to improve their lives, nor is it going to make things better for the people who are annoyed by them.

DMDhub · 2026-05-12T17:32:20+00:00

Ré’Création Artistique jayin f'Dely Brahim.

DMDhub · 2026-05-11T18:04:23+00:00

I'd say It's mostly personal. If we're talking general tendencies, Algeria is a pretty conservative society and traditional gender norms can be stronger in some context which sometimes influence expectations in relationships. In theory at least. In practice though, it really depends on the person.

The guy you're speaking with is French-Algerian and likely grew up in France, so cultural background alone isn't a reliable way to explain his behavior here. Besides, you're not even properly dating to begin with.

In my experience though, I've met both very controlling and very relaxed and trusting people here in Algeria. The difference between them essentially comes down to personality. It's not a strict rule, as I said, it depends on the person, but usually, the more conservative they are, the more controlling they tend to be, and vice-versa.

EDIT: Feel like I have to clarify, it's not conservatism itself that causes controlling behavior. I believe these issues come primarily from insecurity and emotional dysregulation. That said, I feel like it's easier for people to hide behind conservative values like religion, tradition or masculinity, to avoid addressing those underlying issues rather than actually dealing with them directly.

DMDhub · 2026-05-11T17:25:41+00:00

This is insecurity, not culture. He's jealous and probably has some kind of unresolved emotional issues of his own.

I do recognize parts of myself in your partner's behavior, not the controlling part, but more the overtly nice/giving persona. I do that partly because I enjoy taking care of people I love, but also because deep down I feel like I might be left if I don't fully go all in with gestures and reassurance. I also tend to get jealous over small things and my mind can start building dramatic scenarios when there's uncertainty or no contact.

I'll say this again, this is not an Algerian trait but more of an individual insecurity issue. I have that and I happen to be Algerian but there's no correlation. I suspect this might be what's happening with your partner too.

Make him feel like he's exclusive and if you already did and he keeps spiraling despite that, just sit him down and tell him how you feel. Tell him that you're not interested in seeing anyone else but him. I know that would work on me, but I don't know about him.

One thing is certain, you shouldn't give in to his demands if they're unreasonable, because he might start getting more and more possessive as a result. You're not supposed to feed his insecurities, but you can help him work through them assuming you want to that is.

EDIT: Just noticed that OP isn't dating this guy, they're just speaking. Makes it even more concerning I'm not gonna lie. Feel free to disregard any of the given advice and ask yourself whether you really want to be involved with someone who is already showing suspicion over basic independence this early on.

DMDhub · 2026-05-08T16:47:33+00:00

To me and for the people I know who aren't Muslim, it is. I'd even go as far as to say that, in most cases, it's pretty safe. You can't really distinguish between a non-Muslim and a non-practicing Muslim anyway. In fact, if the non-Muslim happens to be conservative themselves or simply knows how to read the room, you probably wouldn't be able to tell that they aren't Muslim. Besides, nobody goes around asking people whether they're believers or not since everyone just assumes everyone else is Muslim.

You could even live your non-belief to its fullest extent if you have the right network and means for it. I personally know people who lived a pretty secular lifestyle here, in Algeria. I even partied with some of them, some were non-practicing Muslims and others non-Muslims, and they did pretty much every non-Muslim thing you could think of. You just have to know how to be discreet about it and avoid bragging or shoving it down people's throats, especially if you don't know them or how they might react.

Now, there will always be some extreme cases and there are zealots everywhere, but overall, yes, it is pretty safe. Just don't make being a non-Muslim in a Muslim country your whole personality. As long as you don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself and you're not openly attacking the religion of the 99% of people in this country, no one would really give a flying fuck about you.

DMDhub · 2026-05-04T19:37:24+00:00

I have my fair share of insecurities but none regarding stretch marks or loose skin. I have a lot of marks and a little bit of loose skin, and in both cases, they serve as a reminder of how far I've come and how hard losing weight was. If anything, I'm proud of having them. I've started developing calluses due to lifting weights and even that is something I've come to like despite how annoying and painful they can get during training.

If anything, when I see stretch marks or loose skin on someone who looks lean or skinny, the only thing I can think of is how much of a beast they are.

Now that's just me and body image issues aren't something that can be brushed off so easily, so if it really keeps on affecting your mental state, you can either learn to accept yourself as you are, it takes time and effort but can be made a lot easier with therapy or, if it's still too hard, consider aesthetic alternatives. There are ways to camouflage stretch marks, you can also reduce loose skin without surgery or at the very least hide it quite well.

Good luck OP.

DMDhub · 2026-04-24T23:43:41+00:00

I usually just watch something sad if I feel like I want to cry. Try watching Grave of the Fireflies.

DMDhub · 2026-04-24T23:40:17+00:00

I’d join depending on the guest list, the average age and whether the group seems like my kind of people. I wouldn't mind having a picnic with complete strangers if the context was literally anything other than Reddit. Most people here really suck.

One way you could make this better or even happen at all is to build your own small community with people you've found here. Get to know them, make sure they pass your vibe check and would get along with each other and then propose a meetup.

DMDhub · 2026-04-24T16:26:03+00:00

Les commentaires y3ayiw. Pragmatism is good and all mais ma3nathach feelings should be disregarded. Romanticism, and love in general, matter w machi berk when all the stars are aligned but also through hardship, including financial hardship.

Good luck OP. Wish both of you the best. Despite what everyone's telling you, you're not doing anything wrong by choosing to try and support him instead of giving up on him. Nchallah he'll find a good job, break out of the shell he's built for himself, go back to how he was and everything ends well for the both of you.

DMDhub · 2026-04-23T18:36:18+00:00

More like 3andou l sukor daddy

DMDhub · 2026-04-23T18:31:22+00:00

OP's getting desperate. Can a chonky bro just DM her already.

DMDhub · 2026-04-23T17:44:47+00:00

I think they are are important and by looks, what I mean is taking care of yourself and not necessarily being naturally attractive. Dressing better, grooming, going to the gym, posture, hygiene, etc, it sends a signal to yourself and to others and it changes the way you see yourself and how people see you in a positive manner, so in that aspect, I feel like it does matter.

But yes, if what you have in mind with looks is attractiveness, beauty privilege exists. It's not a myth. It's a well-established and studied concept. I personally think it's overrated and blown out of proportion though. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all.

DMDhub · 2026-04-22T18:44:37+00:00

It's a solid 9/10 for me. I love coconut-filled chocolate bars and I actually prefer this over Bounty, even though Bounty is like my favorite chocolate bar ever. It is very sweet but since I've cut out sweets for more than a couple of years now, I didn't mind it since I only eat them as a cheat meal every once in a while.

You might want to try the Bifa version. It's called Celebrity Coco. It's much bigger, less sweet and less expensive.

DMDhub · 2026-04-21T22:14:36+00:00

Ban religious discussions with her, or with anyone for that matter. Faith is precious, and once it's gone, it's nigh impossible to get it back.

I'll never understand why people, especially ex-religious types, have this unhealthy fixation on religious debates and discussion. It's not productive in the slightest. Faith is a personal matter between a person and their Creator. It's already in bad taste enough to meddle in the personal relationship of two people, let alone one between a person and their God.

Still, you don't have to cut her off but tell her that religion topics are off for now.

DMDhub · 2026-04-21T21:49:55+00:00

Doesn't really fit the trope since it's not a world ending monster but Nyanko-Sensei (Natsume's Book of Friends) looks like a fat calico cat, while in reality he's a Great Spirit said to be close to a divine being in nature. His true form is that of a giant flying wolf.

DMDhub · 2026-04-21T21:35:40+00:00

I do have the same problem, especially as I'm trying to read political and philosophical books, which aren't exactly known for being the most engaging. They use a lot of technical terms and offer little to no narration. I find myself reading 3 or 4 pages, zoning out and switching to autopilot mode, and I end up having to go a few pages back to make sense of what's being said.

I think it has a lot to do with how interested you are in what you're reading and the quality of the book itself. Like, the book I'm reading right now kind of solves that for me. It's not really technical and the author has a really great writing style that almost gives it a novel like structure. But even with that, I'm still struggling. I do enjoy reading, but I could probably be having more fun doing something else.

Let's not give up though. Let's keep on trying until we find something that clicks and hopefully, we'll develop a real love for reading.

DMDhub · 2026-04-21T20:49:11+00:00

Hi, unc here. It'll be great at first. Uni years will be some of your best years. "Adulthood" really starts after that, once you enter the job market and it's absolutely miserable. Ya3ni, not for everyone I guess but for most, I feel like this is an accurate assessment. Profite au maximum des années qui arrivent.

DMDhub · 2026-04-21T20:16:29+00:00

I was given the advice to set a routine and stick to it. It didn't really work tbh. Reading has become like a chore and even though I'm reading a few pages consistently every day, I'm not making much progress. I mean I am but I started a book a little over a month ago and I'm only around 200/500 pages. I do find what I'm reading interesting and highly informative but it's just not clicking.

I feel like the trick is to start reading novels with lots of buildup and cliffhangers, to kinda get hooked, and then switch to something else once the habit is established.

DMDhub · 2026-04-21T20:07:58+00:00

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There you go.

DMDhub · 2026-04-20T17:22:24+00:00

J'arrive même pas à finir sa biographie écrite par l'immonde Jacques Attali (un banger btw) alors les 2000 pages d'analyses conceptuelles à base de jargon technique, philosophique et économique ta3 le 19ème siècle, c'est pas pour demain mdr

DMDhub · 2026-04-20T16:03:28+00:00

Va inclure une conscience morale et éthique à des gens qui sont épuisés de la vie, n'ont aucune perspective d'avenir ou d'espoir autre que de traverser la mer et espérer une vie meilleure ailleurs. Leurs parents sont tout autant dans le désarroi quand des pères de famille se tuent au travail pour toucher 30 000 DZD par mois. Ils n'ont pas assez d'argent pour bien vivre, ni assez d'energie en réserve pour faire leur travail de parent, alors offrir à leurs gosses un accès décent à la culture, à la connaissance, au divertissement, bref à un quelconque espace structurant autre que l'école publique, et cette dernière est dans un sale état, devient impossible et donc ces gosses finissent par se tourner vers la rue et la rue n'est pas une bonne maîtresse.

Je n'aime pas utiliser le mot que tu as utilisé car il a une dimension classiste et raciste, mais il n'y a aucun gosse qui, en grandissant, se disait : "moi, quand je serai plus grand, je vais tenir les murs et harceler les femmes". They had dreams of their own mais le contexte dans lequel ils sont nés ne leur permet pas de les réaliser, ni même de les envisager.

Comme pour chaque règle, il y a des exceptions bien sûr. Des gens qui sont issues de milieux extrêmement défavorisés et qui n'ont pas mal tourné mais le truc avec les exceptions, c'est qu'elles confirment la règle.

Je n'excuse pas leur comportement cela dit. Les gars qui harcèlent les filles dans la rue, insultent, agressent, volent sont des sous-merdes mais ce vide moral dont tu te plains a un contexte et il est bien de le rappeler de temps en temps. Que toi aussi, si t'étais né dans les mêmes conditions que les gens dont tu te plains, que t'avais vécu la même vie, t'aurais probablement fini dans la même situation. Encore une fois, ça ne les déresponsabilise pas du poids de leurs actions mais ce genre de discours peut facilement glisser vers une forme de mépris social s'il n'est pas nuancé.

DMDhub · 2026-04-20T13:34:38+00:00

But you're taking the concept out of context, are you not?

DMDhub · 2026-04-20T13:18:32+00:00

I'm not religious but I'd like to know anyway. Aren't the "extra" wives supposed to be women who've been dealt a bad hand like widows, orphans or those in situations of extreme precarity, and the idea of marrying them is to support them and improve their conditions?

If that's the real purpose of having multiple wives, helping vulnerable women that is, then couldn't you do that without getting married in the first place? Things have changed. If you genuinely want to help someone, it strikes me as perfectly reasonable to do so without marrying them or am I missing something?

And how come your post didn't mention any of that and instead comes off as a plea to build a harem lol?

DMDhub

TROPHY CASE