8 Reactions From Tinder Boys When They Found Out I Was Arab
Start writing a post
Relationships

8 Reactions From Tinder Boys When They Found Out I Was Arab

What happens when an Arab logs into Tinder in a foreign country.

341
8 Reactions From Tinder Boys When They Found Out I Was Arab
pixabay.com

The Arab-Israeli conflict is something that has affected all aspects of life in the Middle East. It's a constant problem, noticeable through checkpoints, questioning when entering the country; all things involving the government, but dating has also become an infiltrated platform to discriminate or reject someone.

**Disclaimer, these are MY personal experiences and I do not want to overgeneralize/stereotype another group of people in any way, shape or form.**

During my time in Israel, I thought about hosting a type of experiment. As a future journalist and current Odyssey creator, I'm always wondering about aspects, and perspective is something that I thrive for. I wanted to witness how people from the country itself felt about each other as well as the constant conflict. I also wanted to see the effects the conflict has had on the people. Since I am an American Arab, I wanted to show the conversation and the directions it takes when talking to men on Tinder. Here are some responses from some men, both Arab and Israeli, after learning I was of Palestinian descent myself and briefly exploring opinions about the conflict.

1. The classic "talk to and delete once I mention it." There aren't any pictures for this one because they deleted me five seconds after responding.

2. "You're really interesting." He didn't seem to be very phased by it at all.

When discussing meeting, which never ended up happening (due to my major lack of interest), the paranoia directed towards Arabs/Palestinians and the "situation" between Jews and Arabs came to light.


3. "Ew" and then delete. Again, no picture for this one, as the "unmatch" button was pressed moments after the connection was made and message sent.

4. "That's kind of perfect." Little did I know that he was American and Palestinian as well.


5. The classic "no reply" after finding out. Even in other countries, boys do this.



6. After moving to WhatsApp, this guy showed me how the Arab-Israeli has affected his view on the Holy City, Jerusalem. Some background for you; he wanted me to come to his town and visit (that was not going to happen). I asked him to come to Jerusalem.

Then, when asked if he didn't like Arabs, his response dodged the question, but rang truth and he had a rather valid point.

Now, I'm not saying all Arabs are dangerous, because they are not. Here, however, it's shown that he was scared and assumed that Jerusalem was filled with a certain race, waiting to hurt someone.

7. Here, another person and I got into a discussion about the occupation. Note: He is Palestinian, therefore his views and opinions will be biased towards the Arabs when discussing the conflict.

Below, he doesn't seem to think Palestinians/Arabs and Israelis would be able to live without the conflict and that it's not a big deal.

He also shed light on the mistreatment/restrictions that Palestinians face daily, when discussing trying to re-enter Israel, after leaving for college.

It wasn't the first time I had heard a story like this one. My father, when visiting Israel this past Spring, entered Israel through the Jordanian-Israeli border. He waited more than four hours and then was sent back, due to his wife having a Palestinian passport. After a few days and a lot of waiting, paperwork, and stress, they were finally allowed to enter the country.

8. And finally, my personal favorite:"Wtf, bye;" as if being a certain race was a big deal?

Note: I am laughing at his question, as 99.9 percent of the time, when on the streets in Israel and in general, it was assumed that I was Jewish, due to my hair color, facial features, and skin tone.

This experience made me realize how "dangerous" Israel is. It also pushed me to see the Israelis side of the conflict, as at home, I had only seen the Palestinian/Arab side. The Israelis that I talked to were nervous, and frightened around Arabs and even mentioning them leaving their homes brought fear and over generalizations. To me, this was shocking, as the Arabs that I know, and love, aren't how these strangers depicted them.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

46640
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

120140
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments