| Forum Home | ||||
| PC World Chat | ||||
| Thread ID: 78618 | 2007-04-22 09:43:00 | Eye Contact = Culturally-inappropriate for Māori males? | Renmoo (66) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 543224 | 2007-04-22 16:06:00 | No, its incorrect. Your lecturer is wrong. Nope, you are wrong, lecturer is right - technically although whether the practice is applied in mixed company can be confusing. |
sam m (517) | ||
| 543225 | 2007-04-22 18:57:00 | Nope, you are wrong, lecturer is right - technically although whether the practice is applied in mixed company can be confusing. :thumbs: This is my understanding. Maori culture is not homogeneous, there are variations as in all cultures. Metla's experience of this in his own family and other contacts would be what most of us see - no difference in eye contact during conversation. But I have seen it myself a few times and particularly when talking with young people. From Otago University, www.cs.otago.ac.nz When speaking English, eye contact is maintained with the listener. How- ever, when speaking Maori, Kare avoids eye con- tact so as not to display aggression. Eye contact is avoided by looking down, looking up, or even closing the eyes; a choice made by the Id. And FWIW, this: www.youthministry.org.nz Take the way we use our eyes. My parents and teachers all insisted that I looked at them when they were talking to me. Looking anywhere else was interpreted -and jumped upon - as lack of interest, disrespect or a guilty conscience: shifting eyes were shifty eyes. When as an adult I began to work with Maori I often felt uncomfortable and confused by their response to me. Eventually I pinned this down to their habitual evasion of sustained eye contact. When I asked why they wouldn't meet my eyes, they said it had been drummed into them as children that "eyeballing" people is disrespectful, an attempt to dominate or belittle. Engaging and then disengaging glances respects another's personal space and encourages confidences. Now I can play it both ways - as long as I choose the appropriate setting! |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 543226 | 2007-04-22 19:32:00 | One side of my family is Maori, I semi grew up around Maraes and I was taught, from a very young age, that it is absolutely disrespectful to look a male elder directly in the eyes especially in formal situations.From my understanding this is quite correct. Only when about to hongi (during powhiri for example) is eye contact made (for a very short time) as you are deemed to be friendly. Other than that, one looks at the person, not at the eyes. Source of info: my g/f's family (who are Maori) |
Myth (110) | ||
| 543227 | 2007-04-22 21:19:00 | No. However in Samoan culture it is. Or was anyway. Don't know that a lot of NZ Samoans stick to it now. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 543228 | 2007-04-22 21:32:00 | Hmm. One of those exam questions where the answer has to be "All the above". Any answer you give is right or wrong depending on the background of the speaker. Rather like "Should a wall be painted up or down?" |
R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 543229 | 2007-04-22 21:48:00 | Hmm. One of those exam questions where the answer has to be "All the above". Any answer you give is right or wrong depending on the background of the speaker. (snip) As I understand it, the reason for this accurate observation is that given by Steve_L above: "Maori culture is not homogeneous, there are variations as in all cultures." One of the variations is in the degree of urbanisation of the people involved, and this may impact on whether or not traditional practices are followed. James, a useful text on this is Prof Joan Metge's book Talking past each other: Problems of cross-cultural communication. Wellington: Victoria University Press. Just a small book, but well researched and written. |
John H (8) | ||
| 543230 | 2007-04-22 22:07:00 | Thanks for confirming my suspicion. I knew that can't really be true. :) </thread> But as John H said, it is correct, during a challenge. |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 543231 | 2007-04-22 22:23:00 | So, it is impossible to formulate a rule, but sometimes essential to observe customs. - Thus giving and taking of offense is almost assured without goodwill and tolerance on both sides. Dang, why is it the scarcest commodities that are most needed? It is almost like asking for that rare and precious gift, common sense. | R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 543232 | 2007-04-22 23:35:00 | Screw it! We all live in the same country, and tend to look each other in the eye at times during conversation.. Some will blame culture, bit it's more of a confidence thing when people feel invaded by this, or unable to look others in the eye..... Actually, i just remembered something written on the T shirt of a female moari friend of mine. It said "my eyes are up there". Mind you, it appears to only be males who lack confidence and would rather have their bodies stared at, at least according to your lecturer. Most of us even live in this century. |
personthingy (1670) | ||
| 543233 | 2007-04-23 00:05:00 | Screw it! OK, I think I can see where you are coming from. Just keep in mind that if on a Marae or in any other Maori community or dealing with Maori that are traditional, then non-Maori should accept the custom of no eye contact, |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 1 2 3 | |||||