Originally Posted by
Believer
Namaste EM,
You might be spot on in your observations and conclusions. But here is another point of view for the same situation:
To me a firm, respectful acknowledgement of the person who says hello to you, with a hello, how are you, is an indication that you mean respect for the person and are not thinking of him/her in base terms. Avoiding/non-acknowledgement is an indication that your mind either already has, or may develop ideas that you don't want it to, if you saw or acknowledged the person. It is a weakness that the person may either be trying to hide or trying to overcome. In either case, the person being ignored has been objectified and brought down a notch from a fellow human being who deserves respect. A timid ignoring at that age is a way of dealing with the hormones, and not necessarily an indication that one has gone past the allure. A Western kid striking up a conversation and making sure he is noticed is another way of dealing with the awkwardness of the age and the ideas that hormones induce at that age. These are just two different ways of dealing with the situation by Western kids or by these Hindu kids. Just another viewpoint. What do you think?
Pranam.
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