Malta, most rude...

richard reece

Dec 18th 2012, 11:53

I agree Malta is most rude, when i was working downunder i used to work with a couple of Maltese & believe me they were the roughest, most Blasphemers and rudest lot i had ever had the misfortune to work with, i am not saying that the poms are any better, but yes the Maltere are rude i found that out when on holidays in Gozo/Malta, unless they see the colour of our money then their eyes light up.

Igota Schlong

Dec 17th 2012, 21:32

I have learnt one thing in life, if I upset people, because I think everyone is nasty to, it becomes a vicious circle, people could use their defence mechanism and shun me off. This is a self fulfilling prophecy. In normal circumstances, even the most evil, could answer you back with niceties, once they received some. I would say to this person, look within, rudeness could be inherent.

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Dec 17th 2012, 17:01

Are "Rude", "Bad-mannered" and "Arrogant" synonymous? I mean do we only have one fault or three?

David Borg

Dec 17th 2012, 14:47

As a frequent tourist to Malta, my impression would be this;
Rude:- Yes it certainly exists. In particular, drivers, and people in a queue. Every Maltese has to get in front of the tourist.
Friendly:- most definitely

Individually there are many who are polite, and many who are rude. However as a nation, I would say the Maltese are probably one of the friendliest in the world.

S Aculain

Dec 17th 2012, 13:41

Unfortunately, as a foreigner who spent last year living in Malta, I too experienced some of what Madam Perdu experienced - especially with the bus drivers. However, I will treasure the time I spent in Malta and look forward to returning.

Madam Perdu

Dec 17th 2012, 10:48

This has been an interesting experience for me. I thank the thoughtful people who have actually read my entire original post and whose comments reflect the knowledge that I didn't say everyone in Malta is rude. Whether you agreed with me or said I was wrong is less important to me. I knew that many would disagree, rightfully, but nontheless these comments were informed. Again, thanks.

keith perry

Dec 17th 2012, 09:41

I have to say the Maltese i have come into contact with have been helpful and pleasant and ive been impressed by their civility, not widespread in the Med as some say
likewise all maltese are not as a race all the above - bus drivers (old style and some new) dont score very high on the nice side and you can witness the other side of the coin right here, just look at any hunting item replies!

Robert Agius

Dec 17th 2012, 09:16

Understanding a culture in 8 day. I care not were she is from but judging a nation based on an 8 DAY trip is downright stupid and proof of the persons own arrogance and low level of intellect. Travelling for about a decade hasn't thought her much apparently.

Joe Falzon

Dec 17th 2012, 09:16

Well personally, someone who I have regular contact with the tourist especially when I receive complaints, they have never mentioned anything about rudeness. This specific story have been an exception for this lady and I doubt that she has nothing to do with this unambigous behaviour from all the Maltese stakeholders mentioned above.

Vic Phillips

Dec 17th 2012, 08:38

Guess she just got out of bed the wrong side one morning and decided to blab her mouth off abusing the Maltese people. I found this infuriaing and speaking as a British national who's seen a fair bit of this world during his life it's most unfortunate to read such nonscense about a nation who are exactly the opposite to the accusations she makes.
Vic Phillips

Peter Pace

Dec 17th 2012, 08:37

Malta needs a good education in Customer care and Driving skills & etiquette. Taking matters into their own hands in client situations often can make it much worse. In case of the bad and offensive driving by incompetent show-offs on the road - sure some people can make small mistakes while driving, but these people are potentially future killers and dangerous to innocent drivers and pedestrians.

Christian Falzon

Dec 17th 2012, 06:05

We are popular for our kindness how dare she says this comments about us???

Phil Zammit

Dec 17th 2012, 04:17

Your country and community are an exact replica of your perception and behaviour.

If you're demanding, rude and inhospitable, your community is demanding, rude and inhospitable.

If you're patient, friendly and hospitable, your community is patient, friendly and hospitable.

Always start at the mirror!!!

Nick Camilleri

Dec 17th 2012, 03:27

I agree with every word Louis Saliba said yesterday.
" The problem with some foreigners is that they come here with the attitude of "when in Rome, don't do as the Romans do, but make the Romans do it your way". For these people, the "if you don't like, go back home" attitude is the only answer. And perhaps you should note that if Malta has problems, so have all other countries, including yours.

Rupert Grech

Dec 17th 2012, 01:51

I have just spent six months in Malta and I'm seriously considering moving permanently, due in large extent, to the positive nature of Maltese society including the friendliness and politeness of Maltese people. My first reaction is that perhaps this woman needs to consider why people are treating her this way and if she is somehow contributing to it.

Pippo de Marco

Dec 16th 2012, 23:23

It's funny how happy, polite people seem to attract other happy, polite people ... And vice versa, of course.

Joe Bugelli

Dec 16th 2012, 22:36

I am a Maltese who emigrated fifty years ago, been back to Malta many times. We've always had a good experiences with local people, but, like anywhere else in the world, there are always exceptions. As Shakespeare wrote, "the evil that men do live after them, the good is oft interred with their bones". It behooves all to remember that we never have a second chance to make a good first impression.

Francis Grech

Dec 16th 2012, 22:12

Only one thing I have to say to all you lot that don't like the way some Maltese treat very demanding tourist is a very simple answer all you have to do is a quick left hand turn back from where you come from no body send for you you can always try Moscow at -30c temperature. Sahha.

lee murphy

Dec 16th 2012, 21:29

i dont speak maltese and iv been around the world literally... im not saying maltese people are the best but for me you'd struggle to find nicer.... must admit tho that the old bus drivers always used to give me a hard time or 90 percent of them at least..... other than that there Fantastic in every way

John Neville Ebejer

Dec 16th 2012, 21:11

Well commenting in this generic manner on a people whilst remaining anonymous is paramount of being rude if you ask me.

Angelo Polidano

Dec 16th 2012, 21:07

We should take the comment as a wake up call instead of trying to justify our rudeness if we want to improve ourselves. By comparing ourselves with other nations whom we think that they are more rude than us does not make us good.

Oscar Mifsud

Dec 16th 2012, 20:54

In my view, to utter such a general condemnation, so forcefully, and in the case of an entire nation, is the height of rudeness!
If my French serves me right, Perdu means: LOST! I agree!

Angelo Polidano

Dec 16th 2012, 20:41

We should take the comment as a wake up call instead of trying to justify our rudeness if we want to improve ourselves. By comparing ourselves with other nations whom we think that they are more rude than us does not make us good.

Bronwyn Cini

Dec 16th 2012, 19:55

I can see both sides. I have encountered many beautiful loving friendly people in Malta. I have also encountered some stuck up and extremely rude people as well. The only solution is if you don't like it say something and maybe it will educate the undeducated.

Iris Baitrman

Dec 16th 2012, 19:51

I do agree to an extent the Maltese are generally a> Rude Lot <, but then again a minority are really poilte and very educated speak perfect English &know how to treat customers, but unfortunily the latter are few & far between, most just do not like to be criticized & have a tendency to fight back with vengence, i too have travelled the world,& yes i do agree Malta is top of the list for Rudenes

M Schranz

Dec 16th 2012, 19:02

There are helpful people wherever one goes, as well as unhelpful ones. Polite ones, as well as rude ones. She may have been unlucky, or she may have a very particular definition of rude/polite. Or again, she may not realise that when she thinks Maltese are shouting at each other, they're really talking in a loud voice. Surely one review from one individual doesn't warrant so much attention.

S.M. Cuschieri

Dec 16th 2012, 18:46

She is right.....We are rude!!! And so are thefgermans, and the french and the italians......!! But yes we are rude, even among ourselves.

Gustav Svensson

Dec 16th 2012, 17:46

I guess she is right. I love the if you don't like it go home attitude...Malta seems handicapped to do something about it's problems..roads, service, pollution, environment, MEPA, low wages etc.i

Mr Stephen Borg

Dec 16th 2012, 17:25

I think that we better not generalize because not everyone in Malta is rude as no everyone in any other country is rude. There are rude people in Malta but there are also polite and educated people as well. One should never generalize.

Karl Consiglio

Dec 16th 2012, 17:04

Whats the problem? Indeed we are rude.

R. Cilia

Dec 16th 2012, 16:57

I do understand this lady when she said the Maltese are rude. A few weeks ago I was on a bus when a group of about ten youngters got on the same bus and they were so rude that everyone was complaining about them through the whole journey.Unfortunately the driver did not say a word let alone chastise them! Having said that. there are those who are polite too!

Philip Pryce

Dec 16th 2012, 16:36

The only blatant rudeness I encounter is on the roads. Mostly I think it is just ignorance of the rules, but a little bit of courteousy costs nothing!

Ruth Muscat

Dec 16th 2012, 16:25

i have been reading the comments where this woman has written hers.. i cannot believe what i have read from a 23yr old male who dubbs himself as xMaltese. If you are reading this Mr xMaltese, do not call yourself maltese anymore. You sound like you have had some problems(like some disillusion) and hating Malta because of it. Do not make sweeping statements. It is unbelievable!!!

Wil Farrugia

Dec 16th 2012, 16:19

To those that criticize the Maltese for being rude, have you never travelled to other countries? Sure some Maltese are rude but this is not different from any country in the World especially were tourists are concerned. The Maltese may be rude among themselves but most are not rude to tourists.

If you don't like it don't come but don't expect anything different anywhere else!

David Borg

Dec 16th 2012, 16:10

I can see it from both sides. Being half Maltese, I come to Malta at every opportunity. As a tourist, the only obvious act of rudeness I see every day while in Malta is people (women in particular) trying to queue jump. When I'm with my Maltese relatives, I see rudeness amongst Maltese everywhere. Whether it be shops, restaurants, in the street etc. As a tourist on my own, I see none of this.

Mario Borg

Dec 16th 2012, 16:01

This person never probably never visted Italy or most of southern Europe. In Europe service is always lacking, no matter how much you pay.

john grima

Dec 16th 2012, 16:00

Once being in Bugibba with my friend we were strolling along the promenade and came across the truck with vegs and fruits. My friend wanted to buy a melon. The guy selling fruits thought we both were tourists, weighted it and said to her - 'Madame, 10 eur please'. When I said to him I knew how much melon cost in Malta, then he said he made a mistake and said 2 eur.

John Briffa

Dec 16th 2012, 15:47

I disagree with this woman that Maltese are rude. Did she ask herself how she represents herself to foriegners (us) ? They say when you're in Rome you do like the Romans do !. I've been visiting Malta for 45 years, I had some rude brushes here and there but all in all I give Malta 4 stars out of 5.Two things I tend to stay away from is politics and religion.I serve both in the right time.

stephen mifsud

Dec 16th 2012, 15:45

we are a SMALL OVER populated island so the interraction with people is high not like say in England were u will find less people interracting due to the weather and society in general being not as social as in Malta ... Malta is a very social country due to its temperate weather and way of life and this makes us a very social population and highly interactive one so yes rude could happen ,,,

Mr R.E. Saliba

Dec 16th 2012, 15:27

Yesterday in Valletta, a complete stranger generously shared his slices of bread with my 3 yr old, to feed the pigeons. Later, my son dropped his new train near the Triton fountain - took us 30s to notice but by then someone had walked away with it.

Malta is unique, a Mediterranean island of extremes that you either love or hate.
Someone on the Fodors website accurately compared it to Marmite.

Pierre John Agius

Dec 16th 2012, 15:14

Indeed very true. As a nation we lack style, refinement and courtesy. And what is worse we do nothing about it - nine if our leaders have ever considered doing anything. On te cintrary ..... Blissful ignirance

Joseph Grech Attard

Dec 16th 2012, 14:44

More than rude, we are snobs and practically most of us are jack of all trades. If we were as big as Sicily we would try to conquer the world and tell all nations what they should do. But, then, we also do not see the beam in our eyes! Racism is also very high. And then we boast of being Catholic and venerate so many saints! Otherwise all is well!

Elvin Muscat

Dec 16th 2012, 14:31

Well she picked on the worst types anywhere in the world, taxi drivers face rude people thousands of times, and it rubs off on them, so do bus drivers, and most Government workers. Our exception are hunters, people walking through Republic street and drunken "festa" people. I agree, you need to be 6 foot something with a tattoo and a bad attitude to get your way in Malta. Otherwise get used to it

Joseph Bugeja

Dec 16th 2012, 14:20

Isn't rude somehow derived from the word arrogance?
NO WONDER!!!
It's catching!

Peter Murray

Dec 16th 2012, 14:07

in general I find Maltese are kinder to strangers then their own-providing, of course, that those strangers dont happen to be black-skinned or Arabs!It is debatable as to whether or not the Maltese are rude and getting ruder but there is one irrefutable and inarguable claim,I would suggest,in that the majiority of us are the most xenophobic and rascist.

Christian Sciberras

Dec 16th 2012, 13:53

Correct me if I'm wrong, but calling tourists "mother f...s" is plain rude, even if uttered in Maltese.

Did I mention that that is the Maltese way of welcoming tourists? I've lived most of my life here, I know what I'm talking about....

Conrad Edwards

Dec 16th 2012, 13:51

I am an anglo maltese living in the Netherlands and if this lady thinks that the malltese are rude; she should come and live or spend a longer period of time in central europe (Germany or the Benelux), I am sure will experience rudeness in its highest form

Mark Seychell

Dec 16th 2012, 13:25

I travel quite frequently and I have to admit that Malta does not have the friendliest people in Europe as we proclaim so often. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

phyllis butler

Dec 16th 2012, 13:22

In the last decade she spent a substantial portion of her time travelling much of the world, why didn't she use her round-the-world ticket and left the island as soon as she started encountering such terrible :) people. With all the jet-lag involved is she sure that she was in Malta or did she have a 'be very negative' sign on?

P Bonnici

Dec 16th 2012, 12:57

I lived abroad most of my life, I find people in Libya more friendly than the Maltese and they are very courteous and polite, yet the Maltese criticise Libyans.

Yes, the Maltese are rude, no ifs and buts.

Joe Scerri

Dec 16th 2012, 12:54

The Maltese may not be rude to tourists in general but they are extremely rude amongst themselves. Just read the comments under every news item, we just put politics in everything and insult each other for having differing opinions be they in politics, religion, football or the kazin tal-banda. Just watch xarabank , it says it all.

R ferriggi

Dec 16th 2012, 12:54

why are we being so hypocritical?!?!

we KNOW that we are a rude nation!!

and yes,,,, taxi men, shop owners and people in retail outlets and restaurants are the worst of us.

in fact,,, manners have goe literally down the drain. the youngsters are obscenely rude now as well.

well,,, the branches from the tree are coming out yes??

A A Camilleri

Dec 16th 2012, 12:46

i totally agree with this person, i never forget the time when i was sat near an english lady on plane back to malta, she was saying how nice the maltese people are, i said when you are on holiday you are spending money and giving tips, try and live next door to one, her reply was ..i never thought like that.

James Dewar

Dec 16th 2012, 12:41

Another valid point (not sure if it refers to the lady in question) is the demanding and superior attitude adopted by many tourists including British. I have witnessed many incidents where (particularly English) tourists have tested the patience and civility of hotel staff and others to the limits and probably deserved a little reality check of rudeness! The days of the colonies have long gone!

James Dewar

Dec 16th 2012, 12:35

The lady does have a valid point and whilst it is wrong to stereotype all Maltese there is indeed an air of rudeness running through certain sections of Maltese society and this has worsened over the past 30 years. Presumably the "rude Maltese" are also the same ones that constantly whinge and complain about "foreigners" at every opportunity! Most Maltese are welcoming and pleasant.

Michael Spiteri

Dec 16th 2012, 12:30

You want to know what rude is? Go to Kehl in Germany and politely ask if you could communicate in english. This was one of the mildest answers I got: Ja, ja – english – mosquitoes, blitz!
Go to France and declare that you cannot speak french - the most common answer by the locals: Mais je parle très bien français.
So there you have it. So much for a One Europe.

A M Bonello

Dec 16th 2012, 12:04

I went to a recently (this week) opened new foreign owned supermarket chain and the cashier was really really rude.No smiles,no please,no thank you.

Carmelo Aquilina

Dec 16th 2012, 11:54

Maltese people are rude - and getting ruder

Deo Catania

Dec 16th 2012, 11:45

She's simply right. I notice what happens around, lots of savages out there. Yes there are nice and kind people too but that does not mean there are no savages.

Philip Mizzi

Dec 16th 2012, 11:21

I feel sorry for this lady's negative experience on the island. It seems that she experienced more than 'her share' of having the misfortune to meet the worst part of our society.

Having said that I wonder if this anonymous kind lady ever travelled to London. Using the escalators for the first time in an underground station can have you 'coldly run over' by uncaring and stupid commuters!

Alexander Montebello

Dec 16th 2012, 11:20

As a people, we're loud and expressive. "Good morning - have a great day" said in Maltese could be misinterpret as anger to a foreigner.

A. Falzon

Dec 16th 2012, 11:12

Thank you J. Cundy and Jo Woodall, maybe this 'lady' has something on her face that all Maltese don't like. Weird if one may say. No she is not British maybe from central Europe who expect all Maltese to speak there language and not the international language, English. I went through that many times.
Alex Falzon

John Turner

Dec 16th 2012, 11:00

I live in the UK and have visited Malta twice so far and will be visiting many more times. I love Malta but have neither found the Maltese particularly friendly nor unfriendly. To stereotype in this way, positively or negatively is nonsense. I met some people I found rude, others polite but most I didn't have a view on.

Peter Murray

Dec 16th 2012, 10:53

Whilst I dont agree with this lady's comments obviously ,what are her motives for onpassing such?Whatever the reasons we mostly do not take kindly to criticism of any sort whether or not it is constructive or perhaps justified and attack such simply because foreigner has the" temerity "pass such comments.

Mr Marko Porenta

Dec 16th 2012, 10:52

I've been 5 times already in Malta and I have never had such bad experiences. I found out that people are very generous and kindly. They help you if you ask them. I really love Malta and Maltese people. This lady should come here to Slovenia then she could complain...

John Cundy

Dec 16th 2012, 10:24

One of the reasons I am finally coming to live permanently on Malta, after living and working there previously and having visited many times since, is because of the friendliness of the people I have met and observed.
I also love the passion of the people. Their passion often breaks through in discussions and should not be mistaken for aggression or rudeness.

Jo Woodall

Dec 16th 2012, 10:22

It's partly because of the kindness of the Maltese that we live here!

Mr Tony Gatt

Dec 16th 2012, 10:19

In my experience over the last 20 years the one thing I have noticed is that tourists get a better deal. By that I mean the Maltese are far more brusque to other Maltese than to toursts.

There is one thing where she is right though- queueing. If she's English, the surest way to annoy an English person is to try and push your way to the head of a queue.

V. Cauchi

Dec 16th 2012, 10:17

Very symptomatic of Malta, indeed. It must be our over-population, endogamic marriages (marrying within our own tribe), Phoenician DNA (a very large percentage of us have these genes). Yet it may be our permanent state of nausea, turning us bitter and nippy in warm humid conditions. There must be an academic reason for it and can form the basis of many well researched theses from various aspects.

Elaine Compagno

Dec 16th 2012, 09:57

"Is there a cultural prejudice against women? " .. to anyone who has lived in a proper civilised country, this is obviously the case here. Those who disagree with me will do so because they know no better.
Dear anonymous, you hit the nail on the head. A deep hidden prejudice not just against women but also against anything 'foreign' or 'different'. It's part of social psychology, I am told. ;)

Victor Pulis

Dec 16th 2012, 09:53

''Maybe it's me,'' That's right. Maybe it's you!