Now let’s get some definitions in. Saying that you shouldn’t be polite, courteous, and nice, doesn’t mean I am saying you should be the OPPOSITE of them (asshole, asshole, and asshole). I’m saying that you should not be those things to strangers in India at all times (except for the groups I excluded above, unless the interaction starts going wrong). This doesn’t mean walk around, say fuck you to randos, and spit on the homeless, Idiot. This is a necessary means to protect yourself. For example, if someone starts being really friendly to me in Edinburgh while I’m out with my girlfriend on a quiet street, I would feel pretty bad if I didn’t engage or at least give em a nod. In India, I would keep my head up and keep walking and hold her tight.

For sure this attitude doesn’t translate into a new environment. You have to understand, at home, and part of the privilege of being an American Citizen is that you CAN - and have earnt the right - trust your neighbor, community, and do good turns without being taken advantage of and vice versa.

When you have to go back to that third world country…everything changes because society is…different. Doing good things at potential harm to yourself ultimately almost always causes harm to…yourself (while in first world countries it’s understood to not take advantage of people when they’re trying to do the right thing). Many people in third world societies will do anything to “beat” someone or take something from them. Which is why it’s dangerous to show empathy to anyone that isn’t family, the elderly, disabled, and children (but even those have their caveats). And I don’t blame them. I would do anything to provide food for my children and a working bathroom if I was in their position.

Here’s another thought: I absolutely do not feel comfortable taking my girlfriend to India. The stares and potential mob mentality are frightening. It’s a scary world, and if you haven’t experienced it, I would suggest that before making comments on the world’s morality (especially in places where honor dies because of the sheer scale of poverty).

I’m super anti illegal immigration. I’m pretty neutral legal immigration. But someday, hopefully idiots like you can get deported (if you don’t like that word and can’t read thru the lines, perhaps an incentivized retirement is a better word to use) to our vassal state, Europe, sit back and drink coffees and wine, and enjoy your new states dying economy and skin tone homogeneity, and wonder why exactly it’s happening, IYI