You assume wrong, Fury. Read your PMs.

I've also lived, to what is equivalent to, a few years abroad. I've seen the world. Love music, concerts. Have friends from different faiths... etc.

We're not that different. Trust me. I guess my upbringing is the only real difference between us. I have many female friends but have never dated and was not allowed to as a little kid. These experiences imprinted my life values. That's all.

Saudi,

how do manage to stay calm and friendly in the face of this constant, moral superiority infused, judgment aimed at you

pie-junior

Sorry, Pie. Kinda confused here. Are you asking or are you describing a Saudi?

If you're asking, it's basically because a Muslim is taught to be patient, first and foremost. And secondly, I grew up here. It's my life. I know how to deal with these situations. We're human, after all. We do get those moments where you think this is too much. But it depends on the person and his lifestyle.

For me, personally I'm used to it and I socialize with people who live this life with me everyday. I also love my country. It's basically patience mixed with making the most of what you have. Other people don't have money to spend on food, a roof to live under... etc. I thank God for what I have.

I know that, as a Muslim, this patience will reward me in the end. Be it now or in the after-life.

SaudiFury

FYI, alot of Saudis just like you are good friends of mine. Halfies who the worst they've done is butt-heads with other very conservative countrymen, date, and diss the PVPV any chance they get. But what they do realize is that, whenever they meet up with me, those characteristics get locked up and don't come out til after we say our farewells and call it a day. The worst kind, and the ones I generally avoid, are those who boast about it like ignorant people, piss on their own country, and proud themselves on it publically. Those Saudis I consider helpless and I don't want anything to do with them. From what I've read, you sound like the former. Which isn't a good thing overall, but atleast you come off as moral and decent. You date and stuff but you don't identify yourself by it and just keep it to yourself. I also take into account that you're a halfie.

And about Fize being schitzo, or your belief that he is. I dunno exactly what topics you disagreed on. But maybe he comes off like he's your best friend a second and an enemy the next because, like me, he loves you as a brother in Islam and wishes you the best. Yet he despises your loath of the PVPV, your insistence on dating, but at the same time prays to Allah that he will guide you to the straight path some day. I also wish you the same. Allah yehdeek ya rab.

I know Fize doesn't like me blaming the religion, or hating on the PVPV (the religious police, also called the haya for short). I don't like this institution at all. The same nonesense occurs in places like Malaysia where 65% of the population is Muslim the rest is everyone else (Christian, Buddhist, nons, etc).

SaudiFury

I also know your views on them as well (I've lurked long enough to know). And yeah, I'm not a big fan of the PVPV, they've done some stupid idiotic stuff, but I don't condemn them either. They've done alot of good in the country, especially with busting drug trafficking.

I'm similar to Fize, I don't like to blame everything on the conservativeness or the PVPV. Those who go through rejection and end up hating the country because of it I feel sorry for. But at the same time some were raised too liberal in a country that just doesn't fit them. Especially if the kid's a halfie (Saudi with a non-Saudi mother).

(The following paragraphs are related to Saudis. They don't represent My view or judgement of Westerners and other nationalities)

All Saudis, liberal or conservative, describe themselves as Muslims. They grew up in a conservative society. My generation were taught not to drink/date/and all that. So if I see a Saudi drink or do whatever they were taught by their religion not to do, I find it shameful and outright abnormal.

I'm not surprised you outright despise the PVPV. You date and all that, which is something I don't do, and loath getting lumped into or being labeled as someone who's close with those like-minded Saudis. I don't despise you guys. I respect you. But please don't ever drink or date infront of me. I will outright leave the premise and maybe even give you a telling. That Sunset Beach party you mentioned, for example. You will never see me in those kinda events.

On a side note, Saudis who hate on Islam are even worse than non-Saudi athiests. They piss all over your morals and have disgusting prejudices on their fellow conservative countrymen. I can't stand them.

Glad to see them condemning it.dramaybaz

Most of the stuff you see reported on here about these strange incidents is condemned.

I know for the fact that getting to mention as many details on a topic isn't gonna change OT perceptions. But I do it knowing that atleast some open-minded tolerant individuals on here will appreciate the added knowledge. The more you know.

And yes, if the party involved in this story is the far-right then the people blindly dismissing it as Islam's or the country's true nature and shoving their ignorant Western ideals on it are the far-left. Amnesty International and all those vocally abusive Human Rights groups can go f**k themselves for all I care. They're just as bad, if not worse than the girl's parents. Intolerance goes both ways and those groups are intolerant, disrespect/disregard differing opinions and just shove their ideals without giving a crap about cultural differences/sensitivities. Needless to say they are anti-religion.

Add another tally for users that enjoy novel style games :).

I'm still only on my first playthrough of 999, but I've made the point of not using a guide and to get whatever ending I do first. After that the story and puzzles shouldn't come as a surprise and I'll manipulate it for all endings (I think 999 has 6?). I bought Virtue's Last Reward the day it came out because I figured it would be harder to find over time, and can't wait to play it and get all the endings... all 20+:o.

Hotel Dusk is one of my all time favourites and have played through it probably 3-4 times now. I imported Last Window a little while back, but want to finish up the DS/3DS and PC games I'm playing first.

Trace Memory is just sitting there for now, but I'm told it is an underatted story driven game.

HowlingLotus

Nice! *bro fist*

You're playing 999 the right way. Use a guide after the first ending for the right ending paths. Though don't spoil on yourself. I looked up which door to choose (on the guide) only when I was prompted to make a choice.

And about VLR's 20+ endings. Most of them are actually game overs with no conclusion. There are 9 actual endings and one epilogue ending once you check out the rest of the 20+ (game overs). Though I YouTube'd the epilogue after viewing all the 9.

I wish I had the resolve to replay story/novel games. Once I play it and finish it I can't go back to it. Last Window's tale is much more emotional and personal, IMO. You'll love it.

Trace Memory's story is great but it's short and not as twisting as Cing's titles after it. Did you know a sequel for Trace exists on the Wii in English for Europe? You HAVE to check it out after the DS game. Great stuff.

And about Layton. Unwound Future's story and ending WILL make you emotional as it starts to wrap up.

"What a twist!" - M. Night

Trace Memory, Hotel Dusk, Last Window (Dusk sequel) - all made my Cing

Zero Escape 999 and, after that, its 3DS/Vita sequel Virtue's Last Reward - Thank me and whoever else recommended this later.

You're high on Star Ocean 3, aren't you?

This is strange. Wish I could get more details on this. As long as they were celebrating in their own private household then they had no right to arrest them.

Though I know that if the household has Muslims living in it along with those of other faiths, the Muslims tend to prefer not to celebrate so the rest of the group go to a diplomatic quarter or residence entirely occupied by non-Muslims. Same goes for any Asian expats working in the labor sector (Filipino, Indian... etc.). Maybe a Muslim reported the celebration and made it look as if they're celebrating in public. Them religious police are very hot-headed with these things and act without confirming. a simple rumor jumps them into action. Then they get public outlash within the country once, and if, the news that they wrongly acted is true. Incidents like these get alot of ridicule from the social media within the country. Trust me. the religious police's reputation got so bad last year that they sacked the chief and brought in a new one. It's just one of those things. I know alot of expats who celebrated Christmas last month here and were fine.

And given how it happened in Jouf, a rural area, just shows how it's more about the culture and norms of said area. Just like the 90-year-old marriage story.