A couple of weeks back I was talking to a friend who had recently posted on the blog and they were irritated by a reader who had complained about their writing style. I was like yeah thats one complaint, now imagine that on a daily basis for over 10 years because thats what I have to deal with. I’ve been blogging for over ten years now and I don’t think a single day has gone by without me getting some kind of hate from a reader.
In the beginning I used to get really bothered and take things personally but over the years I’ve just grown immune to all the hate comments. I’ve basically heard everything, or I thought I did until I got a divorce a few years ago. Some asshole started coming in and leaving hate comments on the blog and signing off with “No wonder Nat left you”. First time I read that I was like WTF, why would anybody be so mean? It hurt reading it the first couple of times but then again I just became immune to it like everything else. And it’s not only from readers, I’ve gotten hate from business owners as well. There is one I have saved on my phone because it’s so mean it’s funny. A girl emailed me and wanted me to post about her cupcake businesses. I replied back to her politely thanking her for contacting me but my readers wouldn’t find a post on a cupcake business interesting. She ended up leaving the comment below on her Facebook status (a friend in common sent me the screenshot)
That’s from a girl who sells cupcakes and has a cute cat as her Facebook profile picture. WTF.
Yesterday I got a bunch of hate in my post about snapchat broadcasting Kuwait live today because some people were upset at me because I was thinking of snapchatting all the garbage in my neighborhood. They weren’t upset about the garbage, they were upset at me wanting to snapchat it.
I tweeted yesterday how I tend to start off most of my replies to people as “Go fuck yourself” and I wasn’t kidding. Thats how I tend to start off my replies but then I send a screenshot to my best friend who usually replies no Mark thats not appropriate and I end up trying to respond more decently to people. But how much more of this do I have to take?
I’ve grown immune to these negative comments or at least I think I have but what is the long term effects of all this bullying on a subconscious level? Emotionally I’ve been told by some people I’m like a robot, I’m not sure if I’ve always been like this or if I’ve become like this after a decade of daily verbal abuse by people. Does it affect my self esteem? Do I get angry quickly because of it? When people keep telling me to get the fuck out of Kuwait, does it make me resent Kuwait? I’m not really sure, I don’t know how deeply all the daily bullying has effected me but I’ve finally decided I don’t want this anymore. I love the blog and I love my readers but I’m done with this.
Over the weekend I will be thinking of different solutions to this problem and one option might be to permanently shut down the comments on the blog. One of my favorite blogs Daring Fireball did that way back and he doesn’t regret it. I think I have some of the smartest and most intelligent readers in Kuwait and I learn so much from the comments every day, but I also don’t want to deal with the negative aspect of the comments anymore.
230 replies on “I Love You, But I Hate You”
Judging from these people’s grammar and spelling, they’re the type you shouldn’t concern yourself with. Their unintelligible opinions come from unintelligent, misinformed minds.
Hey Mark,
The 2 links below should help u “hah” at those fools bro, don’t let these low life turds bother you, besides critics are there everywhere and I bet everybody else loves to read the comments as much as i do, some are informative, some are hilarious & some are utter garbage, but its nice to read. I bet you must know how many people are jealous that u came up with the brilliant idea of this blog & must be going like, “I want a 248am too..bohoo”…
links:
https://oxpress.pl/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/blog.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XvNO5VNyzJg/VAO1XhVTyFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/j8AuXBE48SE/s1600/keep-calm-cause-haters-gonna-hate-5.png
This seriously sucks. Good on you for having to deal with this for so long.
One suggestion: How about you make a review process for comments and have a moderator (someone(s) other than you who you trust) go through the comments and approve/disapprove what they/you would see fit?
were the cupcakes good at least???
It seems Omar’s approach to solving any problem is to ignore it in hopes that it will go away. Or ignore it and hope nobody else notices it.
That approach has always worked so well in the past….
I dont agree with comment. What Omar says is that when snapchat is showing a city, all people try to show nice and funny stuff about their cities eventhough they have high crime rates or pollution etc. They show any crime to stop crime over there?
Oh, yes. Make-believe is so much more fun than reality.
I’m sorry that you had to go through all of this crap for years. Always thought that blogging was a walk in the park.
Jurassic Park maybe?
As you said – we learn more from the comments, its the extra info, which gets bundled on your posts.
You have done an amazing job so far, don’t stop what you’re doing and if shutting down comments is what you need to do to continue, then so be it. It’s hard to not be affected by such negativity and trashy words, but there will always be haters unfortunately. You can’t please everyone but know that you are well respected and so is your blog. If you were trying to address the garbage issue, there is nothing wrong with that. It is a problem that needs to be addressed and speaking about it does not mean we hate Kuwait. If anything it should be construed as the opposite, that you love and care for this country. Keep up the awesome work. We love your blog.
“With great power comes great responsibility” – Spiderman 😉
you are a well known blogger. you will always have readers who love what you write and readers who hate what you write.
Personally I think every well known person has to go through this. it’s not always rainbows and butterflies.
so I guess you just have to ignore it. it’s like how newspapers post shit about stars everyday. you can’t be bothered about everyone who has something to say.
PS: the grammar of the cupcake girl is just off the hook 😛
Drama Queen
What I don’t understand is why people who take offence to what you say or do, still read your blog? Surely people have better things to do than either troll or read things that they don’t like?
Personally,I hope you don’t close the comments piece because of a minority. Instead, I think you should ignore those comments.
p.s. “cupcakes” seems like such a sweet girl :p
I’d suggest your read this post, you’ll find it helpful:
https://oliveremberton.com/2014/if-youre-not-pissing-someone-off-you-probably-arent-doing-anything-important/
Hi Mark
I am an avid blog reader in general and i rarely comment. But i feel it necessary to write today, as you are in a position were you should get input from all around. The Internet, especially the social media has lost touch with reality to some extent. People have started leading double lives. They think that they can say and do anything they want on the Internet and will not be held accountable so they have the worst tantrums, behaviours and mouths. These same people in real life do not speak what they write in the comments. It is like their Inhibitions are off when they hands are on their mobile/tablet devices or the computers.
Finally, my support for you is that do not give up on blogging, but definitely if you feel something needs to be done, then disable the comments until you see fit or indefinitely. I am also really sorry to hear about you and Nat, my sympathies.
– A friend
If you close comments you’ll still get all the negative ones, just emailed directly to you instead of on a public comment.
You’ll probably get less of the informative/encouraging ones because I’m guessing people want to share those publicly.
A wise actor in a semi-good movie once said “They hate us cause they anus”
Im not sure how the bullying must feel as its constant but here is some love from me <3
Anus= “Ain’t us.” Aaaaaaaaaahahahaha! Nice one!!
Although it has been going on for years your psychological immune system should be built really well as u have implied. It is your right to say whatever you like, it is your blog, and whether people like it or not that’s their problem. But I would suggest to never ever fall into their demands and never close the comments. And it’s your right to block certain people who continously abuse u! Keep up the excellent work and your own right to freedom of speech!
Ruining its reputation? What reputation is that 2nd dude talking about? The only things I knew of the country was how it was liberated by the US and is now more well known for its human rights abuses and trafficking.
U da man Mark… Kepe Riting the wey u do!
A lighter twist of the grammar and spelling fiascos 😉
I am a firm beleiver that exposing the negatives is the truest form of love and belonging to a country alot of us expats truly call, or called at some point, home. We want Kuwait to be beautiful and flawless. If we dont call out the BS, how will it evet change to the better.
Ignorance is bliss 😉
i think what some people fail to understand is that this is first and foremost YOUR blog. you are entitled to say whatever you please, it’s up to them to choose whether or not they want to read it. you guys have to understand, this blog was started 10 years ago as just some kind of hobby by this guy who wasn’t getting anything out of it. at this point, he makes a living off of it and that is, of course, thanks to his readers. but, it’s not like that was his intention going into this or he asked for it. this was HIS outlet and the second you guys start telling him what he should and shouldn’t be posting that’s when it starts losing it’s meaning.
Post what ever you want, just respect our country and know your boundries
i don’t see how that’s relevant as he’s been far from disrespectful in his posts. and what boundaries, man? this is the internet, there aren’t any when it comes to voicing an opinion.
the only reason he said what he said on his snapchat live post was to bring about a positive change, i think that’s what you guys don’t understand. there was a post a couple weeks back where some guy wrote a scathing review of the kuwait airport. the comment’s section was ablaze, with angry people upset at how he “disrespected” their airport/country. people refuse to look at the bigger picture, that the airport fucking sucks and something needs to be done. they were just butthurt that their airport was put on blast on a stage where the whole world could see.
mark has not been disrespectful. what’s really disrespectful is the fact that a country with an abundance of resources isn’t putting those resources to good use for it’s residents. to build us a decent airport, a decent public transport system or even provide more garbage bins ffs. now THAT is disrespectful.
this country can be so much more than it is right now and all we want to do is to see it succeed.
Kuwait isn’t being disrespectful to anyone. Kuwait is a country that has been through alot of shit – such as political instability, security threats, geopolitical crisis and terror. we’re not talking about qatar or dubai here, we’re talking about kuwait.
There are many countries abundant in resources but underdeveloped and suffering from resource curse or instability. libya is rich in oil yet a failed state. many sub-saharan african countries are rich in resources yet full of poverty and instability. just because kuwait is rich in oil doesn’t necessarily mean that kuwait should be qatar/dubai.
fun facts:
kuwait is the only country in the gulf that has experienced war in the modern era. kuwait has suffered from more security threats and political instability than other gulf countries.
Kuwait’s political instability is not comparable to any other Gulf country or any other country in the region. Between 1962 and 2014, 34 different governments were formed at a rate of one government every 18.3 months. This is not counting all the cabinet reshuffles.
This political situation has had a clear negative impact on kuwait’s social, cultural and economic development.
let’s not talk about all the security threats and terror attacks. kuwait has experienced more terror attacks than the united arab emirates and qatar. for example, throughout the 1980s kuwait was a battleground with sporadic terror attacks for almost an entire decade. just recently, kuwait experienced a terror attack that was the biggest in its history. it’s also the biggest suicide bombing attack ever in the the GCC.
for the past 30 years, Kuwait has been the least stable country in the Gulf.
Kuwait is probably the most vulnerable country in the world. Forget the internal instability, remember its geographical location and the volatile neighborhood it’s located in. kuwait is a country that’s sandwiched between Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Do you have ANY idea what kind of impact that has on kuwaitis and internal politics? Do you think this doesn’t influence our internal affairs? Kuwait is basically an ideological battleground between Iraq/Iran and Saudi Arabia and the West, this is evidenced by political-social divisions and even exploited by divisions within the ruling family in which certain sheikhs choose to support a certain side against another side.
The Gulf War obliterated kuwait’s infrastructure. Then the political instability and never-ending political crisis soon followed. Kuwait has had more than eight governments and parliaments in just six years. I’m not counting all the cabinet reshuffles.
this country hasn’t been able to enjoy the privilege of functioning government, we have brief periods of political stability and then return to a never-ending cycle of political instability. Kuwait is currently going through a difficult phase over security. You simply can’t compare kuwait to dubai/qatar, like in that airport review.
So the population must suffer with bad services?
I saw the garbage timelapse and it is ridiculous. I live in a third world country and I assure you I have never seen the garbage on the street like that.
No you seem misinformed. kuwaitis aren’t suffering from this bad service because Kuwaiti residential areas don’t have any garbage problems. it’s mostly just expat residential areas that have this issue. the garbage timelapse is a normal scene in most developing countries. and like I said, it’s not common in all parts of kuwait. just certain areas (jleeb, hawalli, mahboula, etc)
Ah that explains the slavery system, and the fact that thousands of expats are underpaid (if paid at all) and have their passports confiscated – not having been home for years to see their families.
Good one. I like your fun facts. But sorry I don’t give an extra shit about Kuwait which is just a piece of land … it’s the PEOPLE here that are unstable
I come from India and most of our multiple airports will put Kuwait Airport to shame. We are the second most populous nation in the world and yet we some how manage to use our resources to try and provide better services to the general public. We have a history of invasions and we too are strategically placed. Our leaders have been assassinated and yet somehow we try and move forward. Governments whether Kuwait or any other country will always try and be influenced by more socially well off nations. So I don’t see why Kuwait cannot improve
All of this has nothing to do with basic day to day problems in Kuwait.
Bla bla bla… excuses excuses….
Kuwait has the funds and the means just not the people who want to work hard for it. they rather stay at home or be on vacation scuffling in money produced by us expats, and don’t give a rats ass if the garbage is flying…
One friend said it, In Europe you work hard to make the outside of you house and street pretty, here we only care about the inside. I told him we are obliged by the government to do so. Even if we are in a building, we care.
But also the government provided us with a system who works. I had great hope for the company who took over the garbage collection few years back, oboy was I wrong. Same same….
Yes expats are part of the people, they don’t care about the country because the country don’t care about THEM!!!
Simply.
” The victim mindset dilutes the human potential. By not accepting personal responsibility for our circumstances, we greatly reduce our power to change them” Dr. Steve Maraboli
Alternatively, you could consider a comment system with no anonymity.
I liked how you only showed bits of the comments and not all of them, anyways this just shows how childish and ignorant you can be.
Actually those were screenshots of the full comments not “bits”
#Burn
Ohh were is the part of you threating to “publicly shame” kuwait. Dude if u want something thing done, why dont u do it yourself. Create a community service group and rent out a truck pick up the trash and take it to the garbage yard or just put up signs asking people not to overflow. Their is so much you can do that dosnt result in trying to humiliate us. And yes you are doing so by posting a negative view on a feed that shows the world the positives of a country. I personally do care about my country and do see the overflowing garbage as a problem but their is diffrent ways of handling the problem and the one you suggested is not one of them.
**where
What are you on about? Those two comments were in response to the blogpost from yesterday about Snapchat. It’s not like he was privately chatting to these two users.
I’m not sure if you’re a new reader to this blog or you just choose to read the “negatives”, but this blog has been a platform for a lot of positives in Kuwait and continues to be. Just because he posts about a trash problem, doesn’t mean he’s trying to humiliate Kuwait, the trash problem is that, a problem.
How about you read the orginal post and comments before you come in running your mouth ?
My comment is still pretty relevant. You’re the one trying to start something. Where did Mark “threaten” to “publicly shame” Kuwait? These are your words not his. He’s trying to raise awareness to get something fixed to make Kuwait a better place. Then you have the audacity to tell him if he wants something to be done, then he should do it himself? What kind of logic is that? It’s not his job to take care of garbage, just like it isn’t your job or my job.
Either way, leaving those kind of comments are not beneficial and just do more harm than good.
i think u should go back and read the snap post comments again, and i never said it was anyones job thus saying community service. Why shouldnt you help out if you can. Be the change you want to see and as i have said my problem isnt with the whole garbage thing it is with the unnecessary comment that was made. And thats my opinon which i am entitled to and if u cant handle criticism than thats your fault
It seems like you are the one who can’t handle criticism…if you believe you’re entitled to your opinion why isn’t Mark entitled to his? The irony hurts.
I think the municipality is the one who is humiliating “us” Mark is only pointing out the obvious.
Mark is doing his job. Blogging – sharing news and discussions. Its very much his right to do so.
The municipality isn’t. Simple.
You guys arnt getting the point. Blog about it, I actually have nothing aganist that, my problem is using a feed that is suppose to show the positives of a country to the world, in a negative way, thats all. And maz how about you respect yourself and act like an adult, i dont recall me calling u an idiot
I didn’t call you an idiot Ali. In a seperate comment, I mentioned that the haters that Mark posted are idiots. Wasn’t targeted towards you.
I believe I am a respectful person, and I do not appreciate your hostility.
Take it easy we are all adults here.
And just to follow up, Snapchat Live is not only for the good stuff, its simple [City] live, if you have anything posted by snapchat that contradicts what I’m saying please go ahead and enlighten me. I have seen other ‘lives’ with negatives pointed out. Mark wouldn’t be the first
*simply
Tbh i havnt seen any negatives being pointed out on any of the live feeds and dont think snapchat would even allow it since it has to be moderated before being posted
Maz, i just called it like i saw it and that why i was hostile but if you didnt mean it towards me that i apologize for that
** thats why
**than i apologize
No problem Ali, no offense taken.
(This is for everyone)
Just an FYI, these are the posting rules I found on Snapchat’s terms and conditions page —
“What not to Snap:
Pornography
Nudity or sexually suggestive
content involving minors
Minors engaged in activities that are physically dangerous and harmful
Invasions of privacy
Threats
Harassment or Bullying
Impersonation
Self-Harm”
Now we know its not against the guidelines… That’s the first part.
As for the ‘moral’ part, I personally believe what Mark will post will be more constructive than destructive for one simple reason: when Mark is doing this, he is pointing out a problem, which needs to be rectified. People should focus their attention on the actual PROBLEM and those who are responsible rather than the person who is pointing out that problem. It really doesn’t matter what platform he is sharing it to, especially after his previous attempts at getting attention for this particular subject failed repeatedly.
As for those saying “get out of my country,” Mark is actually trying to make “your country” a better, cleaner place; when most likely you are one of the people who throws your garbage out of your car window and don’t even take a second to realize how it ends up where it does.
Who is the “mouthafucking douchebag” now?
dude everyone knows Kuwait is crap. Slavery, compulsory DNA testing, corruption, human trafficking, some of the richest snootiest valueless people on earth. Obesity and diabetes record holder. I live abroad now and tell everyone I can what a shithole it is (love to do my part), getting national anthems wrong during major world events… oh the list goes on and on
But trust me no one is going to learn anything they didn’t already know. Kuwait takes care of its own publicity
Hey Mark
We have met once, And I told you thet your website changed my life in a way, and how what your doing is so great.
But I disagree on your intention to broadcast garbage in your nighgboorhood on your snap chat, Plz Dont, what would negative publicity add to us ? Well it improve upon are situation ? I don’t think its right at this point, we need to improve are slef esteam in the country, not Wrek it up.
You’r actions prove you moral grounds, and I would like to think that you do feel a sence of national pride to this country, as part of your belonging to this land.
I wish you reconsider your disecion to broadcast The negative things, and foucus instead on the positive side of the story.
Your fellow Arab man
Hammed Al-Mutawa
PS( am proud of my grammer and spelling mistakes, it proves my first Language is Arabic not English )
I think he does have a sense of overall pride. He has lived here for many many years of his life after all. However publicly showing the garbage problem on his (or anyone else’s blog) will hopefully provide enough humiliating pressure across all relevant ministries, parliament and the municipality to create a shift in change. By doing this the municipality could restructure their garbage collection managment system to improve the countries hygiene and civil urban aesthetics. No change comes easy; and often the case it takes a certain voice to be totally unreasonable to make a change.
The power of blogging does show the negatives of a country but without doubt it very much can reverse its editorials to provide huge positive change; when the problem is resolved and there are clear strategic solutions. Keep up the blogging!
Their “garbage collection managment system” is as follows: Collect every piece of garbage from the Kuwaiti areas. When you’re finished, pretend you’re picking up garbage in the refugee areas (hawally, salmiya etc).
+1
Comments should be treated like food. Food is good, it nourishes ones body, at the same time some foods have the opposite result. Your attitude should be like your body in relation to good and bad food. Live on the good and flush the bad. Cheers!
Make them use the FB account to comment, people who wanna be shitty would at least have to make an effort in creating a fake FB account to post.
Every tree needs crap to grow. If the fertilizer is not more than the soil then just let it be. Im sure that the good comments are more than the bad. People think that the internet is a big rock which they can hide behind and throw stones at others. The way that the negative comments affect you depends on what you tell yourself when you read the comment. If you say the guy is a prick or animal and just him be then eventually you’ll close up to everyone because the only thing that bad people have in common with good people is that they are both people. Its like you keep firewalling yourself from people because of a few attacks. They hurt and there is no doubt about that. People think you are virtual that a real person does not exist behind every post. You just have to tell yourself that these people are sick, I don’t mean meantly but these people are just little kids who trow tantrums and are not mentally and emotionally acting for their age. If a human being was a river then I’d advise people not to dam their rivers, just divert the water to other streams. As my wife always tells me ” we tend to always remember the moments we choke yet never the moments were breathing. Stay strong mark
If we bury our heads in the sand and only comment on the positives of Kuwait will anyone ever get to work on improving the negatives? I personally love Kuwait however it is naive to think there aren’t areas in which it can dramatically improve (garbage and littering are big ones for me)
all countries need to improve. there is no need to keep anything secret.
I love the blog and hope you don’t change it.
+1
Mark,
You don’t need me to tell you this, but you are just as welcome here as anyone else. I do not support what these idiots are saying, and I do not appreciate that they speak on behalf of the department of immigration.
In this particular case, instead of taking out their anger at you (because of the snaps), they should use their efforts to revolt on the actual problem (lack of cleaning services by the municipality).
Having said that,
There is no doubt the actions of these people is shameful and ignorant. The whole concept of what is ‘acceptable’ to write/post is so skewed that it’s ridiculous. Haters will always hate. I can understand how frustrating comments like theirs can be.
I would suggest that you create a user database. To be able to post comments, you would have to be a registered user. Atleast this way, you can suspend/ban people for being abusive, and they would have to go through the trouble of creating a new username (using a diff email etc) which is just one extra step for their lazy complaining asses. On top of that, you can also introduce a Like/Dislike counter so every time a person posts, he/she will have their “Like Count” shown next to their post. (This may backfire considering the demographic here).
Another suggestion is to ask for people to help you moderate the blog’s comments, it may make it a little less destructive for you.
Just my point of view. I personally believe that the comments are a big part of this blog.
Good Luck and all the best.
Mark, my advise, don’t give up. That’s what the HATERS want. This blog is your baby, and don’t let any1 screw it. These haters don’t have a sense what actually blogs are for. It’s really very bad when people start using such a language on social platforms which is not acceptable at all. An opinion can’t consist of such words which are disgraceful.
These Haters are hopeless / selfish / losers / uneducated / low class people, who simply can’t think anything out of the box. There is a way to reply to any subject, but to go beyond dignity is not acceptable at all.
God bless you Mark and keep your foot strong. May ALLAH give you, these Haters and to me right HIDAYA.
I’m a big fan of your blog and I think you were pretty cool when I approached you last year. But I have to say I was tempted to comment when you posted about your garbage plan for snapchat. It bothered me. I mean we all saw how ridiculous ila7medi’s snap story was and I had hope that we’d at least do a better job this time around and you snapping about the garbage is just like… well an attempt to be, for lack of better words, a party pooper haha. But I wouldn’t go as far as telling you to leave the fucking country and start insulting you. Some people take things wayyyyyy too seriously. I also don’t think shutting down the comments section will do you any good. You’ll miss out on valuable info from your readers. Lastly, I know cyber bullying is a big issue but in the end of the day they don’t know you personally and you don’t know them so their words shouldn’t matter much to you. They should go fuck themselves indeed.
Mark
As someone moving to Kuwait I certainly have appreciated your honest and frank opinions, comments and spotlights on everything Kuwait. I also echo someone else’s view in that we learn almost as much from the comments as we do from your blog.
I cannot say I have walked in your shoes, blogging for so long and dealing with the abuse but I must assume while you have dealt with the negative there must have been many more positive comments which have empowered you. So if you limit comments, you may not receive the positive feedback either.
If you stop doing what you’re doing in some way the bullies win but I understand that even a rock will wear away eventually.
On a side not I would have found the cupcake story very interesting – just think they come in all sorts of flavours, sizes and shapes – that’s cool…
thats smart! Do it! Your sanity is not worth the shit people are saying.
Syed FM is so right about the disconnect between real life/online behaviours. I’m looking forward to the day where people are truly held accountable for the hate and threats they spew on the internet. Seriously, bring on imprisonment and/or fines. I don’t have a blog but I follow many and am active on Facebook and Instagram and it just astounds me that people can be so cruel to someone they have never even MET. Just because someone ‘opens their life’ to you on the web, doesn’t give you the right to tear them to shreds when they say something you disagree with. So many people lack basic empathy.
I wrote a comment trying to help diffuse a racial situation once in a Facebook group I was part of back in the day and I got a private message where a middle aged man was threatening me with horrible things. Not only was it scary, but it completely put me off engaging in any other posts. That was 2 or 3 years ago now and I can still remember how it felt to have a complete stranger attack and threaten me over a simple (and honestly very polite) comment.
I think one of my favourite things about this blog is reading how your viewers respond to what you post, because it’s so interesting when the discussions open up and you see all the various opinions and view points, the majority of which are positive. That being said, it’s hard to believe some of the abrasive and aggressive comments people make and those are the one’s you’ve actually moderated. You must have a thick skin but if it’s affecting you psychologically in any way you should really consider seeing someone about it. Even just to learn healthy coping mechanisms… ten years of verbal hate is a lot to contend with. Whatever the outcome, do what’s best for you!
Also, I feel like you might find this article interesting. It’s about a female writer who confronted one of her worst trolls and what she discovered. It’s pretty good: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/02/what-happened-confronted-cruellest-troll-lindy-west?CMP=soc_567
I don’t understand how people think that when an expat wants Kuwait to improve and be the best that it can be that it means that they hate Kuwait and should “go back where they come from”. The people who choose to remain ignorant about Kuwait’s problems are the ones who hate it.
+1
amn
amen
bachayaaaaaaat
That’s the price of fame my friend!
FMAHB
Drama Queen indeed..With fame (and money) comes a bit of abuse. Anybody in the public eye will tell you that.
Heyyyyyyyyy!
I’ve read your comments before!
You’re the one who’s an asshole, right?
Just because you don’t agree with what I write, doesn’t make me an asshole. Such an ass-kissing twat.
Yeaaaaaaaaaaah!
You are the one who’s an asshole.
Thanks for clarifying that!
Gungho…….
At the end of the day, it is your space, it is what you love to do and haters will and always be reading your pieces.
As I always tell my friends….”Karma is digital, wifi is everywhere ;)”
Mark seriously, just dont pay attention to all the bullshit. It’s probably easier said than done, but you’re an established man and blogger. This post shows your humility and I admire that.
I’ve been reading your blog daily since 2008, I studied abroad and your blog became my remedy for homesickness. I swear there were times where i would refresh your page at least 5 times in the space of an hour just to read a new post. One thing I always noticed was your tolerance for hateful/negative and ignorant comments, and I always liked and respected that about you. Those comments are as much part of your blog as your posts are. As a reader I gain perspective from the comment section, however with full acknowledgment that the negative comments dont represent the majority of your readers. The comment section is an essential part of 248am regardless of the idiots. If every reader was obliged to write a comment on your posts, im 100% certain that the positive comments would far outweigh the negative ones. And you probably know that, but as a fan I plead with you not to compromise the blog because of trolls and bullies, please!
Then again, im not the one on the receiving end and I empathize with you. Goodluck!
I agree with the homesickness thing, I’ve been reading your blog since 2010, now I’m studying in the States and like aD I refresh it 5 to 6 times for new content everyday but then realize the time zone difference. Don’t feed the trolls, keep up the good work and I’m definitely looking out for that snapstory
funny thing, I woke up this morning and the neighborhood was spotless. Someone definitely didn’t want me to snapchat the garbage https://248am.com/images/2015/08/clean.jpg
That’s frickin’ awesome! You should update the earlier post with the picture
You should’ve went out to Jleeb or Mahboula and snapchatted their garbage situation instead. Lol
YES! change the world starting with the ghettos Mark!
Ghetto is a very disrespectful word. But I’m sure a classy, valuable member of society such as yourself knows that and you don’t need a snooty kuwaiti like me to educate you. Dissing others for no reason doesn’t mean you’re better than them, only insecure and pathetic.
Be thankful 🙂
The more you thank God the more you will recieve back
You have been blogging about the issue since 2010 , officials in baladiya knows absolutly nothing about it , they don’t know it exist a9lan, simply because they dont speak English, dont deal with tech and dont like to read. God sent someone to you to transfer your voice to them.
Wallah I admire your persistance but be more thankful
And regarding your post, it really hurts me when someone try to humilate a person living in my country on my behalf.
Also, Try to train your brain on these two rules:
1- when you read a comment look at the size of the commentor ” we dont get mad at kids when they verbally offend us” How? A person is hidden behind his tounge , if you keep carefully decoding human behavior u will know. Ex, the cupcake owner only very bad person will say such very bad words which in return means that thier skull is full of air. In fact I already feel sorry for her because she couldn’t handle your response and did her “own” screaming and floor kicking just like a kid in the supermarket when his mom refuse to buy him x thing.
3- feel sorry for the commentors , world is run by Karma , whenever u good u good to yourself, whenever you are bad you are bad to yourself.
Last, please del my comment after reading it.
Don’t sweat it. If you voice your opinions on the internet, you have to develop a thick skin. Emotional children who get uppity about trivial issues like cupcakes and garbage collection in your neighbourhood aren’t worth the effort. Life is too short.
Am I considered evil if I laughed at the Nat comment XD
But seriously, if u want to remove the comment section I wouldn’t mind, as long as u keep blogging regularly I’m satisfied.
Or u can enable comments on some posts…
Or Mark why don’t run the blog with someone else?
where there is positivity , negativity will attract. keep doing what you do best.
Mark, seriously pay no attention to those idiots. I had just read some of the comments on the snapchat post and they are totally uncalled for. Just a bunch of moronic twats unwilling to question the status quo and just hide behind a facade of unyielding and “unhealthy” patriotism that they do not question. It is a type of xenophobia and those who posses it also posses no true desire to seek the betterment of this nation they call home. Power to you.
Them ‘peace’ of sh*t haters though.
Mark, I left Kuwait 9 years ago after living there for 15 years, and I still follow your blog (family still living there might have something to do with it).
I think you’re doing a great job. People hate being criticized, but it should motivate them to push for improving the situation rather than just being happy with the facade. You’ve been blogging and complaining about the garbage situation for so long and no response, so maybe taking it to the next step would have been the right thing to do. It sucks for the image of the country, but it is not disrespecting it by any means – you are just stating a fact.
P.S. When did it become such a fad to say “you’re so ignorant” as a polite passive-aggressive response to someone that disagrees with a comment? Pretty relevant in comment sections all around the net now.
Keep up the good work.
Imagine how Kim Kardashian feels 😉
If Kim can do it, so can you!
(Just lightning the mood)
yeah,but Kim that huge ass 😉
*has
Shit…I missed the Snap chat?? I was going to post a picture of the porn star and the naughty captain?? (jokes aside) You know when the wall comes tumbling down? When the government tells them that they don’t have enough budget money to pay for them to travel overseas for medical treatment or when the government tells them they don’t have any budget to pay for their education overseas and then maybe, just maybe, they will look back and wish that they would have raised their voices about where the money went when they look around with little development in the country. How ironic that a person like Mark (a non-Kuwaiti) raises his voice about a simple, yes I said simple, problem as garbage collection in his neighborhood, which has gone on for so long without proper government decisions to address the matter. How many times have the plans for the new airport lay on the Parliament floor without any recognition of the criticality of this project. It now can barely handle the passenger levels, yes it is the gateway to this nation. Sure you can by pass it by entering the country with FLYDUBAI, but that could end and your back to that 3rd world airport, regardless of your income bracket unless you’re in the upper echelon. In my observation, Kuwaitis seem to think that by travelling overseas they can forget about their internal problems and pretend that things are better than what they actually are and that is a dangerous mindset when you’re addressing the advancement and development of this nation. Kuwait is very small, its not complicated to solve their problems. For example, just think how founding an RTA in the country would solve a lot of issues by regulating all traffic related matters or installing EGATE in the airport which would cut down the queues for residents unburdening the immigration staff? Mark highlighted the garbage issue in his area and then proposed a simple solution, yes a simple solution. Look at the pictures of Failaka that he posted yesterday? This could be a vibrant tourist spot but never developed. At some point someone has got to stay in the country and care, otherwise the country will continue to be run like a 3rd world country and look like a third world country rather than an oil-rich nation. So think about it, you can send hate mail to Mark and bash him for highlighting a simple issue or join him in stating that “Kuwait…we have a problem…”. The problems that this tiny nation faces could easily be resolved by improving government performance levels. I really think that Mark is above all this and maybe should block the comments or move overseas and run the blog from there – remember expat in the city? HAHA
Best if luck to you, you are a good man!
Well said.
Mark, what allows you to stand out is your ability to constantly improve. Whether it be your writing style, your blog, your advertisement placement, etc. It simply appears to get better over time and not many are capable of this. (By the way, your writing over a few short years has improved to the point of being impressive… kudos)
But, as you continue to make improvements, your audience remains the same. And sadly, much of your audience has no desire for change. “Snapchat the garbage situation? How dare you actually bring light to a negative situation in Kuwait!”
So yeah, as you strive for improvement (and achieve it) the number of haters is going to increase. Don’t allow ANYONE to have control over your actions. Do your thing and continue to do it well.
Wow, all of this over garbage?
So what if he snapcraps his garbage problem?
Have you seen the stupid crap they have posted? His garbage view would be better than most of the stuff they have done.
There’s one female wearing blue who has since been humiliated because of her snapcrap video, she ended up posting a response crying because of the things people said about her.
Mark, keep your chin up as there are so many bored people who have nothing to do in life but try to make other people feel like sh**. Bloggers post because it’s something they love to do and requires dedication and unfortunately a lot of bloggers are calling it quits these days because people don’t appreciate anything.
We enjoy reading your posts and I hope you can just ignore these trolls, if you make it a debate they will continue spewing their hate forever so just close the comments if you have to.
Ignore it Mark, the way she has written I am sure she is a small baby
for cup cake reviews she can approach danderma
The cupcake girl!!! Yikes!! She definitely spits in orders and deserves a “Go F Yourself” reply…that or a recommendation for a therapist so we can get homegirl on the appropriate meds. Anyone who read her status update would have to know she doesn’t deserve their business until she sharpens her business acumen or at least learns to fake being kind.
Listen, I’m glad you haven’t let these keyboard gangsters deter you from writing this blog. You cannot please all the people all the time. As a newbie to Kuwait I have found this blog to be an excellent resource. So for those afraid to say it, thank you!
Hey Mark, I hope that you see this comment. Don’t care about those racist fucks they’re just pretty jealous from your huge success and you gotta keep in mind, as long as you have enemies that means that you’re on the right way, keep up the great work and as always, haters gonna hate!
Why do you care so much about babies crying like little bitches? Ignore that shit and put on your thick skin suit on. Trolls will be trolls, laugh it off and continue on your day.
How do you know you’re successful? When you have a league of haters. The way I see it, you’re on the righteous path. Carry on my friend.
I totally agree with Omar’s comment ” you don’t deserve what this country gave you”
You don’t deserve to call yourself a fully evolved human being.
Except for the fact I’ve earned everything with my own hard work, nothing was “given” to me.
I have been reading the comments, while resisting the urge to comment…But this comment sure tops it all. WTF did this country give me that I did not give back? Habibiti we are not here because you love us, we are here to do a job that we are paid for. It is a reciprocal relationship. Bas el ha2 3laina inno we love Kuwait and we want it to be better.
I have been reading the comments, while resisting the urge to reply…But this comment sure tops it all. WTF did this country give me that I did not give back in one form or another? Habibiti we are not here because you love us, we are here to do a job that we are paid for. It is a reciprocal relationship. Bas el 7a2 3laina inno we love Kuwait and we want it to be better.
Im from this country. (Jinseya oula)…& my country gave me the following:
1.Mocked me for being married to an American
2. Refused my marriage & divorce license without valid reason (wasta is my only way)
3.laughed at me when I came in to a police station crying with a busted lip after being car chased by obnoxious guys
4. Was ran off the road in my used 2003 Ford focus, which I paid for in cash, almost to my death by fancier cars (the kind only a Kuwaiti with that salary can afford) & when I tried to fight back, “yalla ya bidoud” was the response I got.
SO….I, as a Kuwaiti am awfully jealous of this “special treatment” that Mark has recieved…..oh, btw, what is it exactly that Kuwait has given him…besides a visa that is? Just curious.
I´m going to move to Kuwait soon. I just watched the snapchat and it is amazing. I think this country is really beautiful, rich, and its population is very kind.
However every place has problems and it is a good thing to know those problems in advance.
I saw the time lapse (the garbage one) and that will not make me think that all Kuwait is like that. I know the streets are not full of garbage.
The video is not destroying the image of Kuwait. It is just showing a recurring problem the owner of the blog has been having.
The shame should be on the municipality.
you have a nasty surprise coming your way. Sorry in advance
Sorry your life sucks.
hahahaha!!
Hi Mark,
I used to live in Kuwait back in 2010 and now I have moved on; but I still follow your blog for info, entertainment and good laughs. I like Kuwait and still miss it sometimes. No place is perfect. Keep up the good work. And to all the readers that don’t like the blog, simply don’t read or follow it. And just some food for thought for those with narrow minded thoughts, if you don’t speak about the bad stuff you see how else can they get fixed? Ostriches have a nice live while their head is in the sand… No? and everyone else have a great day!
“I used to live in Kuwait back in 2010 and now I have moved on”
Damn Bill… You just make minimum dozen of “if u don’t like GTFO” angry birds sad ;( How the hell should they trow you out of country if you are already out? 🙁
Lol, they can track me down when i come back for a visit and then TRY to kcik me out. Honestly i love kuwait , its my favorite country from all the arabian gulf, yes even better than Dubai 😉
Mark, don’t give up because of haters.
Your blog is one of the most supporting thing for expats in Kuwait. Canceling comments doesn’t make things better, comments are pretty important and entertaining part of blogging.
How many negative comments are you getting everyday and how many visitors do you have daily? My guess is 0.001% negative comments compared to your daily visitors. Your haters are too few to get angry. Should all celebrities cancel their social media accounts because of haters? Most of comments on their accounts are just hate.
No matter what you think, you are celebrity in Kuwait and you just have to get use to it.
First screenshot is really funny and if it was about me I personally would just laugh if someone write something like that about me. Second and third ones were kind of mean but they just can’t realize what is best for their country. Instead of arguing with you they should complain this in municipality with you. They don’t realize that you aren’t complaining about garbage only because you have bad view from your window, you complaining because you care about this country and care much more about Kuwait then your haters.
It’s Simple…! Success Does Not Come Without Enemies
Where are cupcake stores?
Hi Mark.
I love your blog (and you).
And I actually hate blogs.
And I hate people.
And things…and stuff.
Hot head cup cake cat lover called your blog 24:48AM…what a c*nt
Message me soon let’s catch up.
Ok bye.
This is the result of a government basically buying its citizens. It creates rabid partisans that defend their country at every turn.
Except when they get invaded.^
Just ignore the negetive commenting bimboes and keep going.
O god i almost had a heart attack! I thought he was going to say, he will end the blog… your blog has been my survival guide since coming to kuwait!
You do a lot of good and I personally appreciate and admire that. However, you can be an ignorant dick at times. The examples of both aspects of yourself are countless and perhaps I keep coming back to see more of the former.
“A lion never loses sleep over the opinios of sheep.”
ok lets not get carried away with the ass kissing
Lol
Don’t care mark, you’re doing a good job.
No matter what you are or do. There will always be people who are hateful, mean and ignorant.
Keep up the good work,mark. Im Kuwaiti and you helped me learn things about my country I didnt even know. Kuwait should be proud to have someone like you.
Thank you, mark.
“I hope your iqama gets cancelled”
lol I seriously need this on a t-shirt.
anyway never mind the losers. when you’re under the spotlight, negative comments well come along and that’s happens to everyone whether they are bloggers, politicians, actors..etc
the only way to get rid of those comments is to have a low profile, otherwise hate will come in masses and the best way to deal with it is to ignore it, knowing they are just a bunch of losers hiding behind their keyboards.
hi mark, your readers & bloggers are not only in Kuwait but all over the planet. I really like what you do & how you do it. your honesty is impeachable. there’s always gonna be jerks-idiots-assholes out there so please be strong & don’t cave in to them.
You should make a 248sh.it site and post all those hate messages on it…it is fun to read…for a while.
Mark,
I read like half of it but I know what you mean.
Just simply put the comment system online, but with registered users and if you see ” Hate ” or ” Negativity ” from an account you can BAN them via IP from registering again and via email ofcourse
By censoring comments, this blog will become pathetic. Better to shut it down than leave all the rosy comments and remove everything else.
I am sorry that you had to go through this,I’ve been reading ur blog 4 years now and this the first comment I wrote, don’t give up bro ur blog is one of my favorites
Whoa! This is a side of the blogging business that nobody thinks about. However, as with everything in life, there is a good and a bad side to it.
My two cents – don’t let it bother you. As you can see from the comments thread above, you have about 1 negative comment for 10 positive ones.
Also, I would like to think that more of your sane readers absorb your content without the need to vent their frustrations in the comments section. The negative comments you highlighted in your post sound like people who are extremely unhappy with their lot in life and the only solution would be to hire a hitman to take them out.
KIDDING !
Have a great weekend baby!
lmaoooooo that iqama bit was nuts! if i were you i wouldn’t let comments disturb my manners. dude even if i receive such hatred in person i wouldnt give a single fuck. I keep on thinking how big is the universe compared with such tiny bit of a universal act.
Your posts are good Mark.
But what happens is that you think you are ahead of everyone and anothers opinion does not matter. You have an attitude issue.
Just like this post is to get some good words directed towards you.
Well think of it this way. I don’t know who anonymous is so why should I trust their opinion? If you get upset because I don’t value your opinion don’t take it personally, it’s just simply because I don’t know you or know who you are.
Okay! Thats exactly what I want to prove, “you get upset because I don’t value your opinion don’t take it personally, it’s just simply because I don’t know you or know who you are.” The answer to your problem of bad comments is right in your statement. Dont bother about the anonymous. But anyways, yeah, some people just cross the lines in insulting people but thats part of life… Just like when slowing at a Yellow traffic light and the person behind you horns like I`ve slowed at the green light.
I don’t think that’s what he’s talking about. You do have an attitude issue that shows when you respond to people. It was all fine many years back but then it kept getting worse. Not everyone accepts that. Remember I quit your blog and I still consider my self away from your blog and just very rarely come here because I get home sick. I am still away from your forum, instagram and twitter and have no intention of coming back. I know you have went through a lot in your life and I can imagine how that may have affected your approach to other people. But still you have to be professional…
I didn’t say I didn’t have an attitude, I was explaining why I did. Obviously over the years I’ve gotten aggressive with some of my comments but that’s normal, I am a person, I do lose my temper. But I have to disagree with u on the fact I have to be professional. I don’t. I choose to be professional and I am 80% of the time but 20% of the time I’m allowed to be a dick. This isn’t mcdonalds, the customer or should I say the reader isn’t always right.
The facebook screenshot was hilarious! Almost peed my pants reading it. It was like….cupcake princess on a sugar high, gone berserk!
But seriously, I don’t think people get digital media (social media or whatever you want to call it) in this part of the world. There are pros and there are cons, so if they want to be a part of the digital or social media world they are going to have to deal with both aspects. What you post on you blog is totally your choice and whether your readers like it or not, they have a choice to read it or ignore it. At the end of the day, your bog is popular for lots of reasons and one of them is the integrity and accuracy of the information on it.
You’ve created a brand in 248am. A brand that educates people, informs them and in some cases entertains them. It’s like Craigslist, TechCrunch, CNN and TMZ all rolled into one giant cauldron of information! Be proud and keep doing what you’re doing!
Cupcakes…mmmm such an original idea for a business tho…. On a par with her talent for idioms.
Haters gonna hate…. You have become almost a national treasure Mark, just monitor the comments more and then block the IP? Is that possible?
I come here for your posts not for the comments. GO ahead and disable commenting. I don’t think it will hurt your blog. If anything, it will bring life to your forum.
Mark, you earn a generous living from this blog. You must learn to accept the negative if you want to get paid. Do you think those in social media are just enjoying the easy path ? Cash in bank ? Deal with it and stop wining.
This isn’t worth what I’m making from the blog and I don’t have to deal with it.
You are the most honest blogger in Kuwait I’ve personally read. Your posts are smart, to the point and interesting. I believe whoever is not liking or agreeing with you is just fine as not everyone thinks the same or is “intelligent the same” to realise some points.
whoever is not liking this let him go make a blog and post what he thinks is right instead of wasting everyone’s time posting comments here.
I believe you earn what you work for. so keep it up and never mind.
PS: Close the comment sections and have peace of mind lol
Mark, I’m a Kuwaiti and I think you’re a great person and I love your blog. The “Garbage in Snapchat” incident was not bad, but you have to learn one thing man, you could write whats one your mind but try to avoid writing something that might insult someone. I know writing in a blog means writing your opinion, but the problem is you have so many readers bro. I send you e-mails and you reply pretty quick and I understand most of the thing you do is for the readers and ofcourse for yourself. People might think you’re doing this for money and ofcourse you are but at the same time you’re trying to grab more attention but also how do I know you are doing this for the readers? That’s because you just posted at long post on how you didn’t actually mean any offence and you reply to your emailers and readers (young and old). Mark, I’m a reader and I love and respect you’re blog. People have to understand that you don’t mean any offense. Cyberbullying is harsh yes but stay strong man. You have people who hate you and people who love you man and personally I do think you’re blog is awesome. Keep on what you are doing man and stay strong bro and thanks for all of the amazing posts. Cuz we love ya!
If the people who take offence at your comments about Kuwait are the same people that use your blog to vent their frustrations about you, then they’re plain ass hypocrites because your freedom of speech that they have a problem with, is the same freedom they use to vilify you.
Be grateful you can and always will see and be beyond this tiny bubble called Kuwait.
🙂
It’s terrifying how out-of-proportion this thing blew, but I thought I’d finally chime in.
Mark, don’t stop doing what you do. This blog has become a cornerstone of the Kuwaiti blogging scene and one of the most recognized names in the country. Yes, you draw your share of critics and jerks, but who doesn’t?
I’m going to say the following as a Kuwaiti so come what may: as someone who spent the first nineteen years of his life outside the country before moving back, Kuwait was a slap in the face for me and remains to be so to this very day even though I now no longer live in it. In the years I spent there, I came to terms with anger, confusion, frustration and appreciation for many things that Kuwait is, could be and isn’t. It’s a country that should work well on paper but is something entirely different in execution.
I know what you meant when you talked about your Snapchatting the ridiculous garbage situation in the country. Kuwait is a nation with endless potential that is constantly squandered and overlooked, leaving us in a state of knowing that we’re worth more. Unfortunately – and this is something I’ve painfully experienced as a national – a lot of Kuwaitis become extremely belligerent when their country, mannerisms or states of being come under any form of criticism. If you pinpoint the FACT that our roads are sh_t, the airport is a dump, garbage is everywhere, blah blah blah, you’ll attract that chest-slapping patriots who all of a sudden say “GTFO”, “if you don’t like it, leave” and so on and so forth. I’ve come face to face with idiot drivers who cut me off and put my life on the line on the roads and if I have the gall to give them one high-beam in retaliation, I get aggressively harassed on the road even if they’re the primary offenders. The point is, you’re pandering with several entitled people who are too proud to see someone else criticize something that they consistently complain about and, above all, that is easily reversible with a bit of work.
I know being targeted sucks. As a person, as a friend, you’re worth more. Don’t let these morons get to you – just stick to what you do, exercise some more stringent moderation and keep charging through.
One love.
Your views don’t resonate with most Kuwaitis. Kuwaitis live in luxury hence have little reason to feel angry. Kuwaiti citizenship is tantamount to aristocracy, you get to live in massive houses with tons of servants who do your every bidding and even get a chalet. That is how most kuwaitis live, so it’s only natural that kuwaitis are belligerent to any criticism about their country.
kuwaiti blind nationalism is a natural symptom of the welfare state since it’s like winning the lottery or living an all-expenses paid vacation for life.
Garbage isn’t everywhere. Expat residential areas suffer from neglect and poor infrastructure, Kuwaiti residential areas don’t.
“the airport is a dump” – this isn’t how most kuwaitis feel about their airport. When the airport review was circulating on Whatsapp, most people were defending the airport and oblivious to the fact foreigners think it’s shit. There is little dissatisfaction locally about the airport’s condition.
“the roads are shit” – this view is common but the driving experience for kuwaitis is made less shitty because you get to drive luxury cars and have indian drivers.
Kuwaitis are among the most pampered people in the world, if not the most pampered. In the united arab emirates and qatar, locals take a smaller slice of the pie. the average family in Dubai doesn’t have a driver and multiple maids. there is a stark difference between the average kuwaiti family and emirati family, they don’t spend money like we do, travel as much as we do, their salaries are lower and they don’t have tons of cars and servants. their villas are smaller. they’re using their money to provide decent living for all residents, including expats. In Kuwait, locals take an inordinately large slice of the pie, which is maintained by expat neighborhoods falling into ruin and squalor.
I will agree with most of what you said except for the airport. All Kuwaitis of all stripes and backgrounds agree it’s a national embarrassment, our newspapers constantly write about it and rip it to shreds.
And yet you’re right.. when a foreign reviewer suddenly appeared, many Kuwaitis went into lockdown and defended what they know deep in their hearts to be a shitty airport.. but woe betide the foreigner who dares criticize!!
As some of the most well traveled people on Earth most of us know what a decent airport is supposed to look like and how it functions. Ours is simply not one of them, and Kuwait’s financial wealth only makes it a bigger scandal.
Hello Mark,
I am Remonda Aquafresca from Florence and I lived in Kuwait for 8.5 years, Dubai 2 years and then moved to Miami. I am a professor so I have dealt with so many types of people and I can tell you this: one thing you should always put in mind, people act behind the screens differently. They cannot tell you that in real life, why? because they know it is wrong and unacceptable to say such thing. Think about it. Also, I have lived in many different places around the world but there is no place on Earth is like Kuwait. God, I miss it and love it so much. I actually consider it home and I visit Kuwaiti blogs every week to make me feel happy. When I lived there everyone in university loved it there and yes there are some negatives, but hey, every place is like that, and trust me Kuwait has the least. Dubai and Miami is much much worse. I know you love the country and Kuwait loves you too, you and Kuwait deserve better. Don’t give up. Ever.
Remonda,
Miami
Mark is just the guy holding the flashlight. He is not responsible for what you see.
As someone who has watched this blog change its priorities, which most likely reflects your change as a human being – I can honestly say that I didn’t think much of your blog UNTIL it got involved in social issues. The reviews of products appeal to many people but it just wasn’t my thing (I don’t make a hell of a lot of money so its irrelevant to me) but the personal interest stuff, the things to do, and the social commentary where interesting and as much as I didn’t want to, I visited your blog and got to enjoy it more and more every day. Before that I may even have one time or another been hurtful to you on the comments section, when I thought you were rude to me … and I apologise deeply for that. The internet is a fucked up place that makes us more fucked up than we might intend to be.
So that’s quite a turnaround. But if this blog is asking you to become someone you are not, is messing with your mental health, has got you down, is interfering with your life – yeah man don’t do it. I’m not say do everything that makes you happy because then we’d all just be selfish (as most in Kuwait are) – but do whatever is right … also for your mind and your health. If you think more good will come of you staying online and giving it your all for these things, do it and fuck everyone else.
If you think more good will do from you signing off and taking your life offline – then do that.
Whatever you pick – its been a good run and Kuwait will lack from the blog gone. But then again Kuwait does that to ANYTHING and EVERYONE that ever wishes it was better. All the best in whatever you do.
Ignore that cupcake bimbo, and those idiots complaining about snapchat.
You have the best blog in Kuwait, and that my friend comes at a price!
Mark ,
Up vote / down vote might be a solution.
Good luck with your decision , it’s a tough one.
This is the only blog i check , so I’d be sad to see it go.
Stay real.
It was about the Garbage. Wew I thought you committed a crime man…. But Garbage I think we know what garbage is right.
By the way Mark is this Post having the highest comments number count in the website because it is alot.
No, i think it’s the second most commented post. The most was the one titled i’m being sued by Benihana. That post has 465 comments.
no this post probably wouldn’t make it into the top 10, it’s just 221. I have at least one post also thats over 500 comments.
Keep it going Mark!!!
Many Kuwaitis do not take criticism and rejection very well, often turning hostile and offensive when faced with such. This is especially prominent with people who come from traditional backgrounds, where pride and self-entitlement are very strong emotions. A hostile reaction is even stronger when criticism and rejection come from people whom they consider of lower status, such as expats and foreigners.
Generally, self criticism is rather rare in the Arab culture. Our history books are full of praise of our dear dead leaders and exaggerated glorifications of our history. Almost nothing negative is ever said about it. Everything bad that happens is almost always blamed on outsider conspiracies.
I studied in a public school, and as far as I remember, whenever we were asked to write an essay about a certain subject, it was always about giving praise to this and that, and never about criticising. You would actually be deducted points if you criticise.
That’s really insightful man! thanks – it helps me understand a lot better how this culture works. Also there is the difference between guilt and shame culture. The West functions on guilt because, as an individualistic society, people have to regulate their own sense of right and wrong. The church has made guilt a prominent way of dealing with things in the West.
Middle Eastern cultures are shame cultures. Personal guilt is hard to come by. Only if you are CAUGHT doing something bad and shamed by the community is it then ‘wrong’. hence if you catch a cop doing something shameful, or am MP or anyone in power, they get SO mad because suddenly they realize – oh I did something wrong and now I will be shamed.
We’ve seen the consequences of this community oriented but also shame oriented culture make Kuwait what it is today. There is no personal sense of right and wrong. Rape the maids, misuse the workers, don’t pay your employees – but if someone says soething about how badly you treat people? GET SO MAD that they DARE shame you in public – that is the greater sin.
It’s a ridiculous way of knowing right from wrong but its a community approach. With the new generation, people are becoming more individualistic – which if not taken TOO far – will result in fair minded individuals who do right for rights sake – and maybe wont confiscate the passports of their workers because its the fucking right thing to do.
you shouldn’t close the commentary section. This IS the only reason why you should keep it . Read the well written respectful ones and those who have the tendency to insult, leave it a side.
I’ve been lot of times in disagreement with you. But that doesn’t mean or gives me the right to insult you or your work. Good things can come out of debate. We just have to learn how to do it.
Love your blog. It’s the only one I check on a regular basis and agree with almost everything you say. keep your head up you deserve all the best and have my full support! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 remember that with every negative comment there are ten ppl that are rooting for you! 🙂 much love & respect! X
Most people believe that another curse bestows great honor upon an omphalos around another toothache, but they need to remember how carelessly the espadrille behind the dissident hibernates. If the waif assimilates the somnambulist, then the bride about another hand ceases to exist. The widow inside a tea party knowingly brainwashes a sheepish widow. A waif ostensibly takes a peek at an almost womanly coward.
oops… what was that !! Shakespeare ?
Hi Mark,
First of all as a reader who appreciates your candor, wit and BALANCED view of things in Kuwait whether they happen to be positive or negative, I will make more of an effort to comment and let you know when I have appreciated what you have said. Unfortunately I can be a lazy MF, but it’s important that your comments section more accurately reflect the sentiment that your words are creating – I encourage others in the same boat as me to do the same and perhaps the negative will drown amongst the positive. As detached as you try to make yourself from the negative comments coming in there is no way on some level they are not having an effect and as much as I enjoy your blog if you determine the personal cost is too high you gotta do what you gotta do. Particularly when people who in the absence of a logical rebuttal are resorting to personal digs as their only comeback. I value the comments section because it is here where discussing some other issue that you have raised, that some of the real deep rooted issues that exist here make themselves known, through the closed mindedness and absolute refusal of some to accept appropriately placed criticism and the kind of anger it generates. It becomes apparent to the rest of the readers that this mindset – if widely shared may be one of the greatest challenges and barriers to progress in Kuwait. I hope and believe that in time that this will change as it is an unsustainable mindset, and bringing it to the surface for awareness, discussion, challenge and argument like your blog does is likely more important than any of us realise. Thank you.
In all fairness, he carefully said that “he was ‘tempted’ to snapchat the garbage”.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that he “would actually do it”.
A hornet’s nest is stirred..Why are so many people getting defensive?
If you love your country so much, do not defend it with empty words…just brighten up the image of your country, with positive action.
Is it justified that Garbage is diligently cleared in Kuwaiti areas while at the same time, it is neglected in other areas..It’s the same country, irrespective of who is living there….Nobody likes to see the country they are living in a dirty mess..whether it is their own country or not is immaterial..
Some people do the cleaning themselves..but there is a limit to that…
How difficult is it to solve this issue, just increase the outgoing garbage frequency (municipality garbage collection) to counter the incoming garbage frequency(garbage pileup)…
The end result of cleanliness is a positive outcome for everybody…irrespective of whether you are a resident or a tourist..
I’m not going to read any of the above comments, I check ur blog everyday with my coffee. that’s it.
except weekends..
What about public vacation or travel? 🙂
169 comments? seriously! i couldn’t be bothered to read them all…
For me it’s simple, i love you sometimes, i hate you some other times, but the fact remains the same; you have a style in writing and an angle to things and this is why me and many others come back. This is media after all and you are not a robot. Just ignore those haters, you owe “no one” anything, just keep blogging.
This is my 2 cents.
The best thing about most websites like this is the comments section. I love reading the comments. Some people get so worked up about little things. Keep writing the blog. If you can, ignore the very positive and very negative comments.
Hey Mark,
I personally love your Blog and everything you post is just great. I hope you keep doing what your doing and never stop. I own my personal business and and I deal with people from all around the world. What keeps me going? Compared to you, your are older than me and you have been through so much more experiences than me since im only 19 years old and have so much to come. The positive and negative comments I get everyday from my “competitors ” and haters is what keeps me going. The positive comments just make me feel good and keep going. The negative comments are the ones who make me better because they make me learn from my mistakes and show me what I have to avoid. Although I hear so many bad things about me that I have never ever done but people say just to take me down, I keep on going. I have so much to learn but these negative comments should never ever stop anyone from doing what they love. As they said above, the people who hate and dislike you is a really small % compared to your fans and the people who truly respect you. In addition, with time I learned not to give a fuck about the type of people who want to bring me down, they are doing that only because they see you as the person above and the one whos more successful! Keep doing what your doing and I wish you the best of luck Mark.
We’ve never seen any negative snap on snap live before. That’s why people went crazy.
Anyway guys chill .. and whenever they announce Snap Live Beirut go there and be their Mark XD!
Haha. That really funny. You’d rather spend money and travel to Lebanon and film garbage than fix the problems right here which would be cheaper and more effective. So typical!
The most curious thing about Kuwait is its definition of “respect”. If you don’t say nice things about Kuwait, or if you point out weaknesses and deficiencies, some people describe you as disrespectful, when it’s not at all a matter of respect.
Respect is admiration based on qualities, skills, or accomplishments. Too many residents don’t seem to be aware of the full definition. Pointing out that there’s lots of trash in Kuwait is not disrespectful; it’s honest, even though it may be painful and possibly unkind. However, the point is, there wouldn’t be as much trash in Kuwait if more people “respected” the country.
Beyond that, Mark, you are a man to be respected. Based on your qualities, skills and accomplishments (you’ve created value from a blank screen, and you continue to do so daily — your critics can’t do that) you are entitled to tremendous respect. In my classrooms, I hold you up as an example of what’s possible when you cultivate and apply talent. Kuwait would be less interesting without you, and there’s always the hope that Kuwait will improve because of your efforts.
Unfortunately, success breeds criticism, and critics are often mean-spirited people, often because they are jealous of what you’ve accomplished, or ignorant of what it takes to improve. Part of your success is the Comments section of your blog — it’s highly entertaining (often because of the ignorance of some critics)! I hope you will continue to allow Comments, and at the same time find a way to ignore the critics, laugh at the stupidity of some of the critics, and pity their ignorance.
Clearly, the vast majority of your readers admire you and appreciate your daily efforts. I know you can’t take that to the bank, but that’s respect, and it’s a huge part of the reward for your work. It’s the piece of the reward that your critics desperately crave.
Best wishes!
“Unfortunately, success breeds criticism, and critics are often mean-spirited people”
So basically Mark should be immune to criticism?
If many of his post is him is bashing the country that hosts him and complaining that he can’t get cheap alcohol then i’m not sure how much “good” that is doing.
let me simplify why people are upset because of this.
If I spent few years in South Africa and became the most known blogger there and the opportunity came for the country to show some of its culture to people, Wouldn’t posting about garbage and trash be offensive? or the rules that apply to others does not apply to Kuwait because of their oil wealth and ban of alcohol.
and yes, if you hate yourself living in any country. You should leave. Maybe your home country has less trash 😉
I’m bashing the country? When was the last time I bashed Kuwait in any post? Do you know what it means when you say I am bashing Kuwait? Writing about the problems Kuwait has and complaining about how nothing is being done about them isn’t “bashing the country”. Bashing would mean to attack or insult Kuwait which I’ve never done in the 9,784 posts on this blog.
Secondly about your South Africa example, why would it be offensive I don’t get it? Let me adjust your example so it’s a bit more realistic and accurate. If SA got a chance to get on Snapchat live and a blogger there decides to use this opportunity to highlight the racism over there or the living conditions of families in the shanty towns why would that be offensive? The blogger would be bringing to light important issues that politicians there might be ignoring or shoving under the carpet and shining the light on these issues would bring these topics up for discussion so they can be fixed.
How can you not see that as a positive thing?
Mark, Some people like “Mohammad” who critisized you cannot simply take in comments on issues like Garbage etc….If there is lot of garbage near his home not collected and piling up will he keep quiet, i bet not! but when expats have a problem with garbage piling up near their buildings, he wants them to leave kuwait. How rude !!
Hey Mark,
I don’t often write much on this blog, and although I live all the way in NYC, I click on the 248am bookmark on a daily basis. This blog reminds me of Kuwait, the good and the bad. It prevents me from missing Kuwait and being homesick. And the comments section are a part of it. Please ignore the trash talkers and keep doing you. The blogs traffic speaks for itself on your accomplishments.
Good luck on everything you do.
Consider all the compliments u get all the time in this blog and their effect on ur psyche. How you helped many readers and how these been reading for over 10 years and how some of them still read even after they left Kuwait … etc
Yes Mark I’m trying to say “See the glass half full”.
Im not sure alot of people whould put up with such abuse. The fact you put up with it for this long says alot about your character.
Good luck.
This is the only one of the few sites I keep reminding my friends to latch on ….Shutting it down would be a loss to the regular readers esp the silent ones.. Hold On Mark. Negativism is just part and parcel for the portal guys.Tsunamis comes once…then life is back where it belongs…
Kudos \m/
Thank you but I never mentioned anything about shutting down the site, I just mentioned shutting down the comments might be an option.
Your blog is of great potential in this country, you seem to post what is relevant. There are million and one cupcake businesses, in fact I am thinking of starting my own since I am an avid cake eater and I will certainly send you a taster box over in a recycled box made the mates in the juvenile detention center. Jokes aside.
I am certain several businesses have come up to garner your support for it shows the strength of what you produce on here. I must commend on your ability to have to say NO in not promoting everything on your site. Looking at various other blogs available, not all stand the credibility of good reporting.
I am not for one to brown nose, so I can firmly say I am not doing the same here but simply stating the mere fact of your blog’s strong presence, not only in the country but in the region.
Now it is in your hands what you can control and what you can’t. Turning off comments would be the easy route. Why not be like The Guardian and delete/dismiss defaming comments. The constant barrage of negative comments must take a toll on a person as time goes on, it is simply unhealthy. You can put a disclaimer stating that all negative, crude and other defaming comments will be deleted.
If time is not on your hands, then switching the comments off is the best solution.
And that’s just my two fils.
Wow the cupcake lady is a low life individual, if she bakes them with such an attitude they surely taste like shit. One thing that people never learn is freedom of speech without being emotional. At the End Most people do not really want to hear the truth, they just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
دام حضرتك مبطل بلوق مفتوح للكل وحاط كومنت للكل يعلق معناته تستحمل كل الي اييك منه , مو لازم الناس كلها توافق ارائك وافكارك وتمدحك طبيعي في ناس اسلوبها حلو وناس اسلوبها سيء للاسف لذلك مثل ما تبي الناس تقرا الي تكتبه بدون لا احد يقولك شي استقبل كلام الناس وارائهم واسلوبهم . وتحياتي لك
Mark, Its easy to agree that the first cupcake post was ridiculous. Your garbage snap chat on the other hand is just stupid of you to do and brag about after years of blogging. yes you will and should get backfire if you think thats what deserves to be posted for the world to see about Kuwait. I doubt snap chatters from another country would be posting garbage to showcase their country. I’ve seen litter and garbage on roman ruins in Beirut and much worst smells and scenes in your home country, would i be posting about it if i ever went there again? would you? This is the internet. and as much as you have the freedom to post this, we have the freedom to call your shit out. and you shouldn’t be so butt hurt all the time over everything.
You’ve seen litter and garbage on roman ruins in Beirut and Lebanon as a whole smells like shit. Now why would you think I care? Because I’m Lebanese? If my blog was about Lebanon all you would see are posts of me complaining about all the shit thats messed up in Lebanon. Actually we were recently in the news all over the world because of the garbage crisis we had (And are having). Is it embarrassing? Yeah but not to me, it’s embarrassing to the politicians and the people in charge.
I run a blog on Kuwait and I post about the good stuff and the bad stuff and if you think I would causing embarrassment to Kuwait by posting or snapchatting the negatives then I would recommend you don’t read the news or get online because you’ll be shocked. Did you hear the latest one about the Gulf Cup being canceled this year because Kuwait didn’t have the facilities ready? Faisal Al Basri did an amazing bit about it which you should watch (although you will get offended since he’s embarrassing Kuwait in it). https://instagram.com/p/57HqOCr-6D/
Actually watch all his other videos and then copy the message you left for me here and paste it for him there as well so he knows that you think he’s embarrassing Kuwait.
Despite all his complainings about the country, he ended up singing in a studio for Snap Chat Live! because it is not the news!
Doesn’t change the fact that he openly complains and to an international audience snapchat or elsewhere.
No, Snap Chat Live! is a tour of the city or country it features. would any tour guide take you to the sewers or a backyard?
Faisal Al Basri’s post is social commentary not different from what you do on your blog (and that is NOT the issue here)
Your cynical post was like you declaring “look this is what Kuwait is about” see the difference?
Depends on what kind of tour you’re on. As I said everyone is free to share whatever they want and it’s up to snapchat to decide what goes on there and what doesn’t. There are no rules.
Perfectly Said Mark, I wonder Where did Mohammad Go ? He just made such a big accusation against you !
Posting the negative on your website is not the same as posting garbage on what was suppose to be a showcase of Kuwait.
I did not say anything about being offended by your opinions, I agree with most if not all. I believe you do a lot of good in spreading awareness of some issues we have here and it’s easy to tell you care.
However, the purpose of the Snap Chat thing was to showcase the country and the culture. and posting your backyard garbage is not only offences but misrepresenting the country. Even if we have this as a serious issue, how many Indians will be posting about sexual assault in their country on their day on SC? and how many South African bloggers with post videos of the crime and pollution there?
As the most followed blogger in the country for many years, you should’ve known better on what content is appropriate and to what channel. And if you still don’t see why people are back-lashing, then you are underestimating the effect of your blogging.
The purpose is to showcase snaps from that country, there were no requirements to what those snaps would be, it was up to the discretion of snapchat to decide what gets shared and what does not. So I am free to submit anything I see fit. As a blogger I write about things that happen around me, just because it doesn’t effect you doesn’t mean I shouldn’t highlight it.
Regarding what people to decide to share abroad, again it’s up to everyone to decide for themselves what to share. I don’t understand why you are trying to control the kind of content that goes out there. It’s not up to you.
Again, you are free to post anything. The garbage or your toilet.
a section of your readers are giving their opinions that they find it distasteful on the day they were excited their country was featured. and as you are free to post what you want, they are free to post what they think about it.
why is it a shock that people react?
Also, I’m not sure if you’re missing the point or just being defensive. I didn’t claim what you say should be controlled nor censored. Actually you are the one saying that about your readers, threatening to shut down the comment section for the criticism you got.
Where did I say I was shocked people reacted? I think you misread my post. I also didn’t say I would shut down the comments section because of the criticism. On contrary I don’t mind criticism at all and I’ve never had any issue with it. I think the problem here is you clearly can’t tell the difference between criticism and bullying. They’re not the same thing.
you’re right, the problem here is me.
your indifference to the feedback of a big section is disappointing. You don’t have to agree with any but an acknowledgment of where they are coming would be refreshing for once.
It’s a shame. I like this blog
I really hope you can make the effort to reread my post again so you can better grasp what the issue at hand is since right now you seem to believe it’s about me complaining about the fact people are disagreeing with my views.
Mohammad, why are you trying to force your opinion on Mark? Same as you think that your opinion should be respected, you should respect Marks too. And he is right anyway, he can post whatever he wants, regardless of whether its a tour, a showcase, whether you like it or not, it’s up to him at the end. The argument is useless here, Mark has explained his point extremely clear, but you just refuse to accept it hence keep going..
Mohammad, forgive my intrusion but if I am not mistaken, I believe comments like “iqama being cancelled”, “you don’t deserve what this country did for you” & the like of such comments are of bullying nature. As a citizen, & I speak for most citizens of their countries, I agree that wanting to shine the best light on your country is always favorable. There will be times that the “garbage” is revealed….it’s inevitaineinevitable.
You should take a second to see the type of video post on instagram posted by Kuwaities, shining a very dim light on Kuwait, & its culture…and these are public profiles with videos that can be seen over & over again. ( constant reminder of the disturbing truth which many try to hide). I don’t know Mark personally to defend his actions but honestly, his right to his freedom is being violated everytime someone mentions the snapchat video. It’s as if Kuwait held an outstanding reputation amongst the world all these years which Mark single handedly destroyed by a video about overflowing garbage.
LOL cupcake pussy girl is BOSS !!!
Mark ur doing a gr8 job … everyone hates Miley Cyrus and Justin Beiber but they’r still on top making the bucks and loving the HATE 😉
P.S – We love u Mark and 248am 🙂
Man, these are really rude comments. They must really have strong hatred towards you. Wowzee!!!
Someone may have said this before, I have yet to read the comments, but don’t shut the comments section Mark. Just block such people, make your and our lives easier, it is easier to get them blocked, ALL of them, whether the original poster or their supporting friends, this is the ONLY way to teach them a lesson on how to behave over the social media.
Time and time again this thing has happened with a lot of people, and I can tell you that if you want peace of mind in general and online, then just cut out such people immediately. I never let such commentators linger on my business page either, and I don’t regret losing a customer/critic/whatever. No one needs this kind of material thrown at them, so just let them go into your golden list, they can stay there forever, you won’t even miss them, and they will be back with some other id, block that as well lol.
Have a great day 🙂
Mark, That lady who made such a Scathing comment. You know what , she can be a big danger to her Maid !!! Did you notice the kind of language she used on you , like cutting of your hands etc ? Imagine what she must be doing to her maid when she doesn’t like the way in which she does her house work. I hope that maid runs away from that Psychos house to her Country’s Embassy .
By the Way, Kuwait has good and bad people like any other country….One thing which is sure is Kuwaiti Parents behaviors on Expats reflects on the Children too. When Parents treat their maids,drivers badly …their children dont just look down upon them but also other Expats outside the house. This is a Shame and continues for Generations despite being a muslim nation !
I have been to many other Muslim/ Arab nations (outside GCC) and they do not have this problem and generally respect foreigners. In GCC nations this problem is to Epidemic proportions.
is this related to your Snapchat ??
Lawyer files case to ban Snapchat
KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti lawyer filed a court complaint asking that “Snapchat” be banned in Kuwait, saying that users of the popular smartphone app have insulted the country. According to the lawyer, some of the material that people posted Thursday when Snapchat went live in Kuwait City under the hashtag #KuwaitCityLive were offensive and ‘damages’ the country’s image. The lawyer did not elaborate on the nature of the offensive snaps.
https://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/lawyer-files-case-to-ban-snapchat/
Guess I should give lessons on how to rise above bate now. It’s beyond ridiculous to even consider shutting down the comment section, it’s a huge aspect of the success of this blog. Don’t let them get to you. Rise.
Hate*
I really have nothing to add after all the comments above. The standouts were the comment about “shame culture” and the comment about people hiding behind their screen personas and not having the guts to criticize you in person.
Keep it up Mark, you’re allowed to have the occasional meltdown now and then. Haters gon’ hate!
Potatoes gonna potate.
tomatoes gonna tomate.
مارك انا متابعك من اول يوم من عشر سنين
واتابعك سواء كنت بالكويت او بره
واخر تعليق حقي كان من جم سنه
بس موضوعك خلاني اكتب وخصوصا للب يكتبون لك اطلع بره الكويت … احب اقول شغله
-انا كويتي وولد الديره واقولها لك .. احد الاسباب اللي تخليني احب الكويت .. مدونتك .. لانها تعرض لي الفعاليات الحلوه والمبتكره الي تحطها واللي محد يكتب عنها لا من صحف ولا مدونين .. وتعرض صوره ايجابيه متفاءله عن الديره .. ولاني متابعك من البدايه .. فانا اعرف انك ولا تكلمت عن شي سلبي لمجرد التشهير .. لكن تبي هالشي السلبي يتعدل ويتصلح.
و٩٠٪ من المشاريع اللي تتكلم عنهم كويتيين .. واعرف شخصيا وايد شباب انتشر بزنسهم وفتحوا بيوت لانك تكلمت عنهم.
– انا وايد ربعي اجانب لما اييون الكويت ويبون دليل عنها .. اول شي اقولهم دشو مدونة 248am .. It got it all
– من اكثر الشغلات اللي احبها بمدونتك .. محافظتك ونشرك لارشيف الكويت .. ماعتقد في مدون كويتي او غير كويتي .. نشر صور حصريه حق الكويت وماضيها والغزو والتحرير مثلك .. وهالنقطه خلتني اعتبر مدونتك مرجع اساسي لي بهالجانب.
وانا ادري انك موجود بالكويت من قبل لا ينولد اغلب متابعينك الكويتيين. الكويت مو بس محل اقامتك .. الكويت وطنك
اتمنى ماتلغي خاصية التعليق … ماشاءالله عندك عقول جباره نستفيد منها بالتعليقات .. مانبي تحرمنا منهم عشان جم اثول قط كلمه مايثمنها .. التعليق اللي مايعجبك صكه بلوك وباند من المدونه … عشنا عشر سنين حلوه مع مدونتك .. نبيها عشر سنين ثانيه يا كابتن مارك
مع تحياتي الحاره
سالم ولد بوسالم
Very curious as to who the cupcake whore is :’)
Dont worry about Haters mate… Just keep doing your thing.
and
maybe change the title of this post to “Feel free to hate on me :)”
Mark, don’t know who you are personally but I can tell you that it would be an absolute honor if I did. And I am Kuwaiti. I haven’t commented much and I am not a daily reader but I feel connected to your blog every time I stop by. As a matter of fact, I use your blog to find out what’s real…because I have seen it. And this world, including Kuwait can’t handle realness. They know the truth,but they’d rather mask it. I feel that narcissism is at an ultimate high. I know more Kuwaiti nationals that have migrated to other countries just to sever ties with the ugliness. That is not to say all Kuwaities are monsters and all expats are great. Just goes to show that weakness has no specified definition. Hate, jealousy, anger, superiority and the like are everywhere. I’ve been told to go back to Africa while I was in the States by people who I assume, felt like they owned the country. So homie, keep writing b/c you have a ton of fans & do your best to ignore ignorance….funny those two words mesh so well! If you decide to leave us one day…Thank you! Thanks for your realness! Your support! Your valuable information. Good luck. (Glad to see you are still writing though, since it’s the 19th today😆)
‘To lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back on the crowd.’ ~ Max Lucado