Tell me about Iran

[Genius Gone Insane]

I caught some of Anthony Bourdain's CNN show last night. In this episode, he visited Iran and he seemed to love it. He portrayed it in a light very different than we here in the States see it. Anyone been there? Is it really not the hell hole that us Mericans think it is?

 

[mva801]

I think it's just like any other country. 95% of it's residents just want to hang out, have a job, have some drinks, chill with their friends, start a business, go on vacation, start a family and be regular human beings. But the hive mentality of fanatical governments and religious influences shows up far more through the lens that we see Iran through. I think most of the places we see as "evil" or crazy are like that. Mostly filled with normal people, but misrepresented by unconscious hostile governments and our own bias.

And they of course see the same negative spin on us. I talked to an Iranian guy at a bar a week or two ago. He was super rad. He basically said exactly what I wrote above. They all just want to chill, but it just doesn't work out that way. Cuz the people who have the guns make the decisions.

 

[~BURNY~]

I'm no specialist, never been there but Iran is somewhat modern and the population is highly educated compared to other countries in the region and the country was very openly influenced by Occident until the Islamic revolution and the Mollah's regime. It's definitely not a hell hole like Irak or Syria but it's still an extremely authoritarian repressive regime with a strong antisemitic rhetoric and you don't want to deal with the basij militia and that sort of shit.
Also a lot of Iranian women are veeeerry hot.

 

[Terminus]

From what I've seen, Iran is one of the more modern societies existing in the Middle East. I knew a local guitar player from Tehran and he told me alot of young people like metal over there.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Tehran's a really progressive city, unless you're thinking about women's rights.

 

[SocialNumb]

My first "best friend" was from Iran. His family was great and just wanted to leave that life behind. I have no clue what it's actually like in the country though.

Edit: They where nuts about watermelon! Holy crap did they love watermelon. I don't know if they have that in Iran but that family would eat crazy amounts of watermelon. Dudes dad could eat a whole large one in one sitting. Fucking crazy. Big dude though.

 

[He's Dead, Jim]

I'm no specialist, never been there but Iran is somewhat modern and the population is highly educated compared to other countries in the region and the country was very openly influenced by Occident until the Islamic revolution and the Mollah's regime. It's definitely not a hell hole like Irak or Syria but it's still an extremely authoritarian repressive regime with a strong antisemitic rhetoric and you don't want to deal with the basij milice and that sort of shit.
Also a lot of Iranian women are veeeerry hot.

This, basically. The Economist has a great special report on Iran this month. The basic hypothesis is that growing up under a radical revolutionary government has numbed young Iranians to political radicalism and instead made them want to settle down and lead normal lives without the bother of sanctions, terrorism sponsorship stigma, etc. I don't usually have a lot of feelz about how international politics works out because things are so shitty most places, but I'm really hoping all this makes the nuclear deal with the U.S. turn out well. Iran has so much potential to be a driver for peace and stability in the Middle East.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Here in Dhaka I know this Iranian vet who's got his own clinic, and he also provides veterinary services for the Iranian High Commission (Embassy). The dude loves cats.

 

[SocialNumb]

What kinds of spices does he use? How is the texture?

 

[Fox Mulder]

Spices? Felines aren't in their culinary tradition, that's sick dude.

 

[~BURNY~]

Spices? Felines aren't in their culinary tradition, that's sick dude.

He was joking obviously dude.

 

[indecizo]

I don't understand what's so "sick" about eating cat (or dog) meat.

 

[~BURNY~]

I don't understand what's so "sick" about eating cat (or dog) meat.

Nobody cares about the fact that you don't 'understand' why people don't want to eat their pets, in a pathetic attempt to derail the thread and get some undeserved attention... Again...

 

[SocialNumb]

Spices? Felines aren't in their culinary tradition, that's sick dude.

Sorry, I mixed them up with the south-eastern Chinese people.

 

[MultiM]

Tehran's a really progressive city, unless you're thinking about women's rights.

You're right, but still better than saudia Arabia