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Arab Culture/Online Dating Etiquette

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Expert: Le Anne Clausen - 10/2/2009


Question
hi, i met a palestinian guy from an online chatting room and to make the story short after many months of chatting we've been into an online relationship. How do you view arabs when it comes to an online relationship? are they serious on this or shall taking this for granted only since i haven't seen him exerting effort to prove that he loves me like planning to see me here. Now, we are not seeing each other online because he is always offline or sometimes invisible, and yet he still sending some messages to my cp telling that he loves me.

Answer
Greetings Ann, and thanks for your question.  Basically, I haven't found a difference between Arab men and any other kind of men when it comes to the behavior you describe here.  It's a universally bad sign.  This guy sounds like he's sending the notes to keep you on the line, while pursuing other relationships in real life.  

I generally don't recommend people go looking for love online, especially if the other person does not live nearby in real life.  So few online long-distance relationships actually work out, and meanwhile you could be spending the time meeting real people face-to-face where you live.  Try a new hobby or class or activity group that will help you to meet people who share your interests.  This is the best way to find someone with whom you may be compatible.  

Good luck to you, and I hope this helps!

peace,

Le Anne

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Le Anne Clausen

Expertise

I can answer questions on Arab culture, including differences in cultures among Arab countries and sub-groups. I can also answer questions on Christian-Muslim relations, interfaith issues in general, and human rights and peacemaking issues in the Middle East.

Experience

I was a human rights worker for four years in the Middle East, and have spent time in Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. I speak intermediate Arabic; some Hebrew; and am starting Persian (Farsi, Dari). I have led a half-dozen educational delegations to the area for North American groups; and I have led trainings for nearly a thousand international human rights volunteers coming into the area over my years there. I am now working to launch an interfaith peace-teams based human rights organization, hopefully in the next two years. I am also currently editing the manuscript for my first book, a firsthand account of my time in the Middle East

Publications
"Be the Healers," (next steps after Abu Ghraib) The Lutheran magazine, July 2004. www.christian-muslim.net www.seminaryaction.org www.young-activist.blogspot.com Multiple press releases which I wrote from the field, as well as media interviews/articles about my work are also available via Google search.

Education/Credentials
I have an MA in Christian-Muslim relations; and I am now continuing my studies at Chicago Theological Seminary (www.ctschicago.edu). I also have a BA in Religion concentrating in global service, from Wartburg College, (www.wartburg.edu).

Awards and Honors
I received the Dell Award for Peace and Justice from Wartburg College. I have spoken and led workshops and trainings at over one hundred church congregations, colleges, schools, organizations

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