You couldn't make it up.

[elizabeth]

We had a Russian lady ( I use that word loosely) to view our property today, she arrived with the agent and I opened the door to greet them. She didn't even acknowledge me, nothing at all, I asked them in but she just walked round to the garden, went to the top of the garden then turned round and walked back to her car without a word to us. The agent was most embarrassed when she told me that this woman didn't like the fact that the neighbours were Turkish Cypriots, what did she expect, Chinese or German.
She is without doubt the rudest person I have ever come across, such arrogance.

[13roman58]

Don't let them in your house again, for some reason they are RUDE.

[elizabeth]

I wouldn't inflict such ignorant people on my neighbours, she was disgraceful, obviously lacking in social skills.

[Saddique]

WoW thats damn rude.

What on earth is she doing in North Cyprus if she does not want / like Turkish Cypriots neighbours....My mind Boggles, and the Blood Boils.

Advances in Science, Technology and civilisation should eradicate prejudices , rather it seems like the opposite effect.

I congratulate you for being tight lipped.....Her behaviour deserves to point the obvious. She is in the wrong country.

[mish]

From my long experience of living and working in Russia and Belarus as well as NC, you may be pleased to know that Russians mostly want to live next to Brits. Having British neighbours and acquaintances gives them great kudos amongst their community. They see Brits as being the straight and honest people that we mostly are, and not out to scam them in any way, and also offering good neighbourly advice on property ownership. legals etc in NC. Brits are seen as preferring a quiet conflict free life . Or in other words we are also very agreeable neighbours, with one or two inevitable exceptions of course.
m

[frontalman]

We have two of these 'non-Cypriot' neighbours in close proximity. Nicolai and Elena are a really nice couple, bring us food and gifts at religious festival times and are very polite and thoroughly good sorts. We have another neighbour

[iancrumpy]

The agent was most embarrassed when she told me that this woman didn't like the fact that the neighbours were Turkish Cypriots.

What on earth is she doing in North Cyprus if she does not want Turkish Cypriots neighbours.

Much of this thread is based on what the estate agent said to Elizabeth ... ie. Elizabeth didn't actually hear what the lady said. Hasn't anyone thought that the estate agent, so as not to upset Elizabeth, didn't want to tell Elizabeth that this lady's first impressions of the house weren't to the lady's taste, It was then thought advisable not to waste any more of anyone's time.

[elizabeth]

The agent was most embarrassed when she told me that this woman didn't like the fact that the neighbours were Turkish Cypriots.

What on earth is she doing in North Cyprus if she does not want Turkish Cypriots neighbours.

Much of this thread is based on what the estate agent said to Elizabeth ... ie. Elizabeth didn't actually hear what the lady said. Hasn't anyone thought that the estate agent, so as not to upset Elizabeth, didn't want to tell Elizabeth that this lady's first impressions of the house weren't to the lady's taste, It was then thought advisable not to waste any more of anyone's time.

Whatever she thought of the position of the house and whether she liked it or not that is no excuse for such rudeness. Would you go to view someone's home and not say hello or even give some eye contact, that to me is just common courtesy. Incidentally the agent said this happens quite a lot with Russian clients, her words not mine.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

I've dealt with a few Russians and some have been rude but not noticeably enough that I would think of it as a trait of theirs. I did find that they are very black and white and literal and un-trusting of strangers.

To give you an example, one place I was working the Russian girl who was very sociable and polite took a phone call for me. The person asked whether I was there, she said no and hung up, no good bye, no can I take a message nothing.
When I spoke to the caller later he was asking about the ignorant rude girl etc. I was confused because this girl wasn't like that. When I asked her about it, she was upset she had upset him but as far as she was concerned she had dealt with his inquiry. She had said I wasn't there, click.

Maybe with your woman she wanted to look at the house and didn't see the point in entering into superficial social niceties? Not excusing her but I think if you was to stop her and say that's extremely rude I bet she would be confused and then apologetic.

[elizabeth]

Russian or any other nationality, she was extremely rude, well to my standard she was but each to their own.

[erol]

I do think there can be 'cultural' differences in rudeness and apparent rudeness. As an example TC will invite you in to their homes and offer you 'dainties' , like pickled walnuts. Now 'old school' British politeness would say you take one and express your appreciation but you do not 'gorge' on them and take 3 or 4 and then ask for more. Old school Cypriot custom would say it is rude to just take one and say thank you and not 'gorge'. Now I am not saying that Elizabeth's experience IS a case like this. I am just pointing out that such things can happen in those ways.

Nor do I have any shame or embarrassment in saying that in my opinion that often a negative trait is ascribed to a specific race, ethnicity, gender, age group, class , sexual orientation or just about any other way to 'classify' groups of people it is a reflection of a form of prejudice in the person doing the ascribing as it is a reflection of an underlying reality. I know that such statements will sooner or later inevitably lead to accusations that this is my opinion because I am a 'Guardian reader' but that really does not bother me. I know that it is my opinion because that has been my personal experience and that I will always know what motivates me better than what someone who is not me thinks motivates me.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

I do think there can be 'cultural' differences in rudeness and apparent rudeness. As an example TC will invite you in to their homes and offer you 'dainties' , like pickled walnuts. Now 'old school' British politeness would say you take one and express your appreciation but you do not 'gorge' on them and take 3 or 4 and then ask for more. Old school Cypriot custom would say it is rude to just take one and say thank you and not 'gorge'. Now I am not saying that Elizabeth's experience IS a case like this. I am just pointing out that such things can happen in those ways.

Nor do I have any shame or embarrassment in saying that in my opinion that often a negative trait is ascribed to a specific race, ethnicity, gender, age group, class , sexual orientation or just about any other way to 'classify' groups of people it is a reflection of a form of prejudice in the person doing the ascribing as it is a reflection of an underlying reality. I know that such statements will sooner or later inevitably lead to accusations that this is my opinion because I am a 'Guardian reader' but that really does not bother me. I know that it is my opinion because that has been my personal experience and that I will always know what motivates me better than what someone who is not me thinks motivates me.

Being unaware of cultural differences can lead to confusion as to rudeness for sure.
Other problems can be language differences. With my limited Turkish I might have memorised enough phrases about my air conditioning to get my problem across but won't be able to freestyle and compliment the person's new car or ask after their family. I guess that could be viewed as indifference.
Another problem could be shyness. I worked with a guy who was seen as cold, superior and rude but what it was masking was a painful shyness. Throw in a lack of confidence in your language skills and that can be viewed as rudeness.

Generalisation is a common habit many of us are guilty of. If your only interaction with a group was negative then that would be your view. Technically you couldn't call that prejudice because you are not prejudging because you have met a sample and that is the impression you have.
Obviously you haven't met every Russian, Samoan etc but out of those you have that is the impression you have.

Personally I haven't, or anyone I know, have had any positive interactions with travellers. Do I hate travellers? I havent met them all so I can't dislike all of them but I have met a fair few and it hasn't been a wonderful experience so far.
That can only effect my future relations with them as I will be on my guard.
Am I prejudiced against them? No before I met any I had zero opinion on them. Now I have met some I can say they haven't charmed me so maybe I am postjudiced.

[iancrumpy]

... language differences .. throw in a lack of confidence with your language skills and that can be viewed as rudeness.

Unfortunately, an inability to communicate is often considered by the individual themself as a failing. As you wrote ETS, embarassment of this perceived failing, can often be interpreted as rudeness.

[Saddique]

Putting the thousands of cultural differences and language barriers that exist aside , the least a fellow human being can do is to greet or acknowledge the other whether it is verbally ( if possible ) or by a simple gesture . Race , culture , nationality , ethnicity Blah Blah Blah should not be an excuse.I agree with Elizabeth.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Putting the thousands of cultural differences and language barriers that exist aside , the least a fellow human being can do is to greet or acknowledge the other whether it is verbally ( if possible ) or by a simple gesture . Race , culture , nationality , ethnicity Blah Blah Blah should not be an excuse.I agree with Elizabeth.

Wouldn't argue with that.

[elizabeth]

At last, somebody has got the point.

[Dalartokat]

I think we should blame the Agent. None of this wouldn’t have happened had the Agent told the Russian woman before they went, that Turkish Cypriots lived next door. Classic case of an Agent not doing their homework

[Deniz1]

Most agents that i have dealt with in the past know nothing about neighbours or the area in general.Some dont even know much about the property they show. Commission interests them though.

[Dalartokat]

Most agents that i have dealt with in the past know nothing about neighbours or the area in general.Some dont even know much about the property they show. Commission interests them though.

Deniz, I was not being serious. EJS got it. Hence the emoji, but understand what you are saying.

[deputydawg]

I had similar experiences to this when, with my wife. we were trying to sell our villa in Alsancak some 8 years ago. A Cypriot estate agent came to view the villa with a Russian who walked straight past us without a word and proceeded to go from room to room with a camera taking numerous pictures including opening cupboards and wardrobes for flash photography. I told the estate agent to remove him from the villa but after I had witnessed all his filming being removed from his camera otherwise he would not be leaving with it. On an earlier occasion an American couple visited with an agent and said that they loved our villa as it was Mexican style with a rotunda and they would shortly be making us an offer. A week or two later the agent who had accompanied them told me the offer was "£50,000 cash immediately when they would move into our villa and the balance of £100000 to follow if and when they sold their home in the USA" ! The agent was quite put out when I told him I cannot believe that you agreed to pass that offer on to us so my reply is "tell them to rev up and go away with quick jerking movements". I am not sure, but I think it is folk from the North of England who have a saying which is "there is nowt as queer as folk" !