Talk:Doha

9. What is the capital of Qatar and the capital’s population?

Banned book

What is our policy on censorship? Apparently one of the books listed in the 'Understand' section has just been banned by the Qatari Ministry of Culture, per Doha News. The book itself is no literary masterpiece, but it does offer some insight into a culture that is generally closed to outsiders. –StellarD (talk) 10:04, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

I don't know if we have a policy, but in the interest of the traveler, it would be important to mention that the book is banned in Qatar. We don't want travelers taking a book we recommended into the country and getting in trouble because of that. Ikan Kekek (talk) 17:09, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

ALL Middle Eastern countries have similar rules. And it's more than one book that is banned. In Dubai airport they confiscate any "materials contrary to Islam". I don't see why this particular book should be mentioned. Le Grand Bleu (talk) 18:33, 20 October 2014 (UTC)

Going to jail for eye contact

Someone called StellarD (and now also someone called Ikan Kekek) is trying to push a very strange "fact" into this article. She insists, in Qatar, you can go to jail for making eye contact with other drivers. While I have to admit driving in Doha is an experience I'd love to never have had and road rage is frequent, it's still NOT a wild country run by lunatics. And there is no legislation (or facts of enforcement thereof) that says a driver making eye contact with others goes to jail. Her best argument (on my talk page) for posting this nonsense is "my friend of a friend was afraid he'd be detained in the airport..." for "being pushed off the road by a non-uniformed (SIC!) military officer". Or some other rubbish like that, see my talk page for details. So I'm starting this little discussion. Has anyone here went to jail for making eye contact with other drivers in Doha. Sharing your experience will be greatly appreciated. Le Grand Bleu (talk) 10:59, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

I would say driving in GC is almost of same style. I've been to GCC countries and in-fact lived in UAE for years but honestly speaking, I don't think any one can get to jail for eye contact. Yes, the driving is sometimes aggressive but I rarely seen people brawling. On the other hand, police of UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain are helpful. --Saqib (talk) 11:05, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

I never meant to imply that eye contact alone could lead to jail time, but rather that it can make a road rage situation much worse. However, I do agree that the first version was poorly phrased and ambiguous, and reworked it (which has now been deleted not once but twice). I fail to see what is now so ambiguous about the last phrasing: visitors should be aware that 'any' gestures made with another driver can lead to jail time: in short, just grit your teeth! Because in some cultures direct eye contact can be considered confrontational, it is best avoided.

Re: driving in GCC countries, I've driven in several and Doha has by far the worst drivers as well as the highest traffic fatality rate (just google it). I understand that the driving in Dubai has improved considerably in recent years primarily due to police enforcement, something which is sorely lacking in Doha. Yes the police can be helpful, but they are usually not around in such instances, and wasta will ensure that the visitor, regardless of who is actually at fault, will usually be the one to take the blame for the accident (or incident).

–StellarD (talk) 14:49, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

Seriously? You fail to see why we disagree with "ANY gestures made... can lead to jail time"? You seriously don't understand why we disagree with "direct eye contact... should be avoided"? You seriously don't see how incredibly generalized and offensive this is? I'd like to remind you that this project's main goal is "traveler first". You are telling the traveler to not look people in the eye. Which in ALL cultures, INCLUDING the Middle Eastern ones, is considered to be the sign of a person LYING or hiding something. On top of that, I have to say that your snide comments and broad generalizations both here and on my page show complete lack of respect to and knowledge of the country and the people of Qatar. I don't know why you hate that country, but you sure aren't the right person to contribute to this article. Le Grand Bleu (talk) 16:30, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

Le Grand Bleu, while I somewhat agree with you but please avoid strong words against Stellar and avoid insulting. --Saqib (talk) 17:20, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

I think this edit looks correct - barring some evidence to the contrary, the line being removed (about jail time for gestures and eye contact) seems likely to be highly inaccurate. That said, this discussion is made more difficult when personal attacks are levied against other users - please just stick to the facts without resorting to accusations about "hating" a country. -- Ryan • (talk) • 17:43, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

Would it be fair to say that "it's an unwritten law that foreigners (Westerners in particular?) should not even think of lecturing locals how to behave in traffic or questioning their manners elsewhere (including using gestures or unnecessary eye contact). Locals find it extremely insulting and police may put you in jail for it for "disrupting public order", "propagating foreign values" or some similar reason."

I've never been to the Middle East, but in most parts of the world locals indeed don't take it kindly if you criticize the local way of doing things. That's probably also how that military officer regarded it. ϒpsilon (talk) 18:04, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

Some gestures made from behind the wheel can be interpreted by other drivers to be insulting, even if they were not intended that way, and in certain countries, including Qatar, the person who feels they have been insulted can press charges. Drivers have gotten into serious trouble this way. –StellarD (talk) 18:40, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

Okay, I have to put a stop on that. Your friends have played a seniority card on me more than enough, so my turn now. While at university, I wrote an 40-page thesis on "Intercultural peculiarities of non-verbal communication" or, in simple English, how gestures are perceived by various nations. And I can tell you that the only gesture that differs significantly (apart from the world famous Bulgarians who nod to say "no" and shake head to say "yes"), is the famous OKAY hand gesture which among the Syrian criminals means "I'll kill you". So NO, there are NO polite gestures that can be misinterpreted as rude ones. Putting an end to that myth of yours. However, if you show the world renowned "middle finger" and you get the nuts kicked out of you for that (THAT did happen!), is it really the Qatari culture that's to blame? Le Grand Bleu (talk) 18:08, 20 October 2014 (UTC)

In the case of the military officer, he didn't like how the other driver looked at him. I don't believe the other driver lectured him (most people I know there wouldn't dare to). Subsequently, in order to avoid even potentially getting into a situation like this, my partner specifically avoided eye contact with aggressive drivers so that there could be no room for misinterpretation. –StellarD (talk) 18:40, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

Again, I don't believe this story. Especially the "non-uniformed military" part. If he was non-uniformed, how did your friend of a friend know he was a military officer? But even that is irrelevant. Your friend got scared over a road rage incident. Subsequently (and that's the only subsequent event), he decided to avoid eye contact. It's ONE occasion with ONE person. You can't turn this into a general rule for ALL travelers on a world-wide traveling encyclopedia. Le Grand Bleu (talk) 18:15, 20 October 2014 (UTC)

The concept of wasta is not confined to the Middle East, however for most Westerners it can take some getting used to. –StellarD (talk) 18:40, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

Stellar, you don't "listen" to others. I keep telling you over and over again that you generalize WAY too broadly. Even IF the story of your friend of a friend is true (which I doubt), it's just one occasion. You're trying to blow it up into a general advice to ALL travelers. An african american was recently shot in USA by the police. Can we now proclaim America is dangerous for black people? Princess Diana's death means it's dangerous to date Egyptians?

You run around the whole field trying to pull the discussion in all directions. You keep talking about someone being pushed off the road or afraid they'll be arrested at the airport or goodness knows what else. While this particular discussion is about one subject outlined in the title. Can you go to jail for LOOKING at another person on the road in Qatar? Are there proofs to that? Is there a legislation that allows that? Was it ever published in trustworthy media? If you are as experienced as your friends tell me you are, you should be familiar with Wikimedia policy about sources of information. Le Grand Bleu (talk) 18:21, 20 October 2014 (UTC)

User:Le Grand Bleu, I have no basis in knowledge for an opinion about driving in Doha, but I have plenty of basis for an opinion about how you've been treating StellarD. Restrict yourself to factual points only, and never again make any ad hominem or stereotypic attack on any user on this site. It's extremely important for people to be constructive on this site. Thank you. Ikan Kekek (talk) 07:09, 20 October 2014 (UTC)

Based on the discussion above and the current state of the article, I think this discussion may have run its course unless someone wants to see further changes. The relevant line about jail time for eye contact has been removed from the article, and unless someone can provide some decisive evidence that you really can be jailed for gesturing or making eye contact I think it should stay out since it seems unlikely to be fully accurate. Regarding the larger points about road rage, per WV:Obvious we don't need a discussion of the dangers of flipping someone off since that's potentially dangerous anywhere in the world. Beyond that, it seems like further updates are needed only if there is additional danger that isn't common to all Middle East countries, and if that danger can be corroborated via third-party sites or a source other than one person's bad experience. Does that seem fair? Can we move on now? -- Ryan • (talk) • 19:01, 20 October 2014 (UTC)

Yes, please. Le Grand Bleu (talk) 23:35, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

PO Boxes in "Embassies" section

We normally leave out PO Boxes from addresses, including only the street address that would enable someone to physically find a place. Is there a consensus to make an exception for embassies, or should we remove all the PO Boxes as not helpful for physically locating these embassies? I would suggest excluding them from the "address" field and maybe from the entries, but if it's felt important to include them, they could be put in "content" as in "If you need to snail mail the embassy, include PO Box xxxx in your address". Ikan Kekek (talk) 16:57, 31 May 2018 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion:

• Mosque at Katara in Doha, Qatar.jpg

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A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion:

• Qatar National Library.jpg

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Not a great photo and not super-interesting, IMO, so I don't care. Also not visible on the page. Ikan Kekek (talk) 05:38, 8 September 2022 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion

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Not visible on the page. Ikan Kekek (talk) 01:13, 21 November 2022 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion

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Not visible on the page. Ikan Kekek (talk) 20:04, 25 November 2022 (UTC)