Comments on: Saudia Arabia: 70-year-old man marries 15-year-old girl for $20K http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 12:19:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623980 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623980 Wow, you <i>really</i> missed the joke.  Or you're at some level of meta that's beyond me. Wow, you really missed the joke.  Or you’re at some level of meta that’s beyond me.

]]> By: Architexas http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623903 Architexas Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623903  Granted. Something I had not taken into account. Also, as CNN has actually spoken to the man, in retrospect, it's believable. I didn't post the comment in order to dispute whether it happened at all (it happens all the time), but rather to point out the differences in the versions reported, which always gives me some pause for thought in re: journalistic thoroughness. But then again, in journalism, leaving out a single word in a sentence gives me pause for though, as I tend to distrust any source that doesn't properly copy-edit and proofread their material before it's published (in a past life, I was a newspaper editor).  Granted. Something I had not taken into account. Also, as CNN has actually spoken to the man, in retrospect, it’s believable.

I didn’t post the comment in order to dispute whether it happened at all (it happens all the time), but rather to point out the differences in the versions reported, which always gives me some pause for thought in re: journalistic thoroughness.

But then again, in journalism, leaving out a single word in a sentence gives me pause for though, as I tend to distrust any source that doesn’t properly copy-edit and proofread their material before it’s published (in a past life, I was a newspaper editor).

]]> By: benher http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623678 benher Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623678 Well, it may be cold comfort but nothing changes the concrete undeniable fact that OIL is all these regimes have and they can't drink it.  Another decade and it'll be all over for them.  Don't see the Saudis aren't investing very heavily in alternative energy R&D.  Well, it may be cold comfort but nothing changes the concrete undeniable fact that OIL is all these regimes have and they can’t drink it. 
Another decade and it’ll be all over for them. 
Don’t see the Saudis aren’t investing very heavily in alternative energy R&D. 

]]> By: benher http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623675 benher Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623675 I agree with you 100%. It surprises me that folks are so conditioned to react with knee-jerkery to "Teh Underrraage" while truly horrific terms like "human trafficking" resonate so little with them. I agree with you 100%. It surprises me that folks are so conditioned to react with knee-jerkery to “Teh Underrraage” while truly horrific terms like “human trafficking” resonate so little with them.

]]> By: benher http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623668 benher Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623668 It is not a joke. In case you were unaware of it, there is a term for people who hold such opinions - it is an agist. When you are 67 you will realize that the joke is on you. It is not a joke. In case you were unaware of it, there is a term for people who hold such opinions – it is an agist. When you are 67 you will realize that the joke is on you.

]]> By: Chip http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623552 Chip Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623552 That whirring noise you hear is the joke going over your head. That whirring noise you hear is the joke going over your head.

]]> By: info http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623529 info Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623529 So what's so strange about this? Here in Italy 70+ pigs (ex PMs and politicians, usually) usually have scores of minors as bedwarmers... and according to police wiretaps they are even cheaper at €2,500 per month. So what’s so strange about this?

Here in Italy 70+ pigs (ex PMs and politicians, usually) usually have scores of minors as bedwarmers… and according to police wiretaps they are even cheaper at €2,500 per month.

]]> By: Patrick McGorrill http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623504 Patrick McGorrill Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623504 Oh traditional marriage, you're always more evil than I remember. Meanwhile, in Dubai... Oh traditional marriage, you’re always more evil than I remember.
Meanwhile, in Dubai…

]]> By: Peppermint http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623500 Peppermint Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623500 Why, because you can't handle the fact that people might be interested in personality rather than age? Young people with 0 years of age difference can have relationships far more creepy than people with a huge age gap. Of course in this case since the girl was sold into slavery, it IS creepy, but would it really be any less creepy if the guy who "bought" her had been 25? Why, because you can’t handle the fact that people might be interested in personality rather than age? Young people with 0 years of age difference can have relationships far more creepy than people with a huge age gap.

Of course in this case since the girl was sold into slavery, it IS creepy, but would it really be any less creepy if the guy who “bought” her had been 25?

]]> By: Wreckrob8 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623446 Wreckrob8 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623446 Initially marriage seems to have been a contract between agnates and cognates to ensure/allow sexual and economic reproduction in which the whole society had an interest through incest taboos and the creation of inclusive trading networks. If the interests of society were safeguarded in the negotiations then so were those of the individual. The problem arises with the family which is opposed to the interests of the whole society, through the relaxation of incest taboos and the development of exclusive trade networks. As the interests of the wider society are neglected so are those of the individual and arranged marriages and buying and selling of brides becomes the norm. I do not see how love marriages are ultimately compatible with the family. What is all that squabbling about in Genesis and the Pentateuch if not the shift from negotiated to arranged marriages and the downplaying of cognate involvement in negotiations and the exclusion of society? Religious ceremonies and sanctions create the illusion of inclusivity. The family is the problem. Initially marriage seems to have been a contract between agnates and cognates to ensure/allow sexual and economic reproduction in which the whole society had an interest through incest taboos and the creation of inclusive trading networks. If the interests of society were safeguarded in the negotiations then so were those of the individual.
The problem arises with the family which is opposed to the interests of the whole society, through the relaxation of incest taboos and the development of exclusive trade networks. As the interests of the wider society are neglected so are those of the individual and arranged marriages and buying and selling of brides becomes the norm.
I do not see how love marriages are ultimately compatible with the family.
What is all that squabbling about in Genesis and the Pentateuch if not the shift from negotiated to arranged marriages and the downplaying of cognate involvement in negotiations and the exclusion of society? Religious ceremonies and sanctions create the illusion of inclusivity.
The family is the problem.

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623277 bcsizemo Wed, 09 Jan 2013 01:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623277 I'm with Antinous on this.  Historically, marriages have been arranged and brides "sold" for centuries. Even in western culture we have traditions that have been shaped by such things, like the brides parents paying for a wedding.  That doesn't happen so much now, but it was kind of a thing not that long ago. Besides is this really any worse than an arranged marriage (minus the creepy age difference...)? I’m with Antinous on this.  Historically, marriages have been arranged and brides “sold” for centuries. Even in western culture we have traditions that have been shaped by such things, like the brides parents paying for a wedding.  That doesn’t happen so much now, but it was kind of a thing not that long ago.

Besides is this really any worse than an arranged marriage (minus the creepy age difference…)?

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623237 Boundegar Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623237 I hate when that happens to me.  Teens are so fickle. I hate when that happens to me.  Teens are so fickle.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623218 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623218 <blockquote>the age of the groom varies vastly (the BBC says he's 90). </blockquote>Please meditate on the accuracy of record keeping in Saudi Arabia between 1923 and 1943. Particularly since this happened in the Saudi version of Bugtussle, not in a city.

the age of the groom varies vastly (the BBC says he’s 90).

Please meditate on the accuracy of record keeping in Saudi Arabia between 1923 and 1943. Particularly since this happened in the Saudi version of Bugtussle, not in a city.

]]> By: ocschwar http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623153 ocschwar Tue, 08 Jan 2013 23:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623153 The girl's family is Yemeni. There is honest-to-goodness famine in Yemen right now.  The girl’s family is Yemeni. There is honest-to-goodness famine in Yemen right now. 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623123 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623123 It's pretty much the social norm throughout human history. It’s pretty much the social norm throughout human history.

]]> By: Architexas http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623124 Architexas Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623124 I'm not advocating for selling children, but I doubt the reliability of the story, as of right now. So far, I've seen it reported in 3 different news outlets (BBCNews, CNN, etc.), and although the age of the bride in question is always the same, the age of the groom varies vastly (the BBC says he's 90). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20936800 In a side note In Re: Muslim Slavery - slavery was for centuries only permitted in Islamic cultures so long as the slaves sold were infidels (i.e. not Muslim or the "wrong" kind of Muslim). During the Ottoman empire (17th Century), the most valued slaves in Muslim harems were blondes from Russia and the Caucasus, and raids into the borderlands between the Ottoman Empire and Russia were carried out specifically to kidnap women for this purpose. I'm not sure if "modern" Muslim advocates of slavery use the same distinction, though. I’m not advocating for selling children, but I doubt the reliability of the story, as of right now.

So far, I’ve seen it reported in 3 different news outlets (BBCNews, CNN, etc.), and although the age of the bride in question is always the same, the age of the groom varies vastly (the BBC says he’s 90). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20936800

In a side note In Re: Muslim Slavery – slavery was for centuries only permitted in Islamic cultures so long as the slaves sold were infidels (i.e. not Muslim or the “wrong” kind of Muslim). During the Ottoman empire (17th Century), the most valued slaves in Muslim harems were blondes from Russia and the Caucasus, and raids into the borderlands between the Ottoman Empire and Russia were carried out specifically to kidnap women for this purpose. I’m not sure if “modern” Muslim advocates of slavery use the same distinction, though.

]]> By: Marc Mielke http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623106 Marc Mielke Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623106 "Liked" because that was pretty funny, and I assume that was a joke. Please tell me it was a joke.  “Liked” because that was pretty funny, and I assume that was a joke. Please tell me it was a joke. 

]]> By: Marc Mielke http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1623104 Marc Mielke Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1623104 What happened to the good old days where if you wanted to bang underage girls you had to be a rock star or ridiculously rich man who intentionally sets out to attract gold-diggers?  What happened to the good old days where if you wanted to bang underage girls you had to be a rock star or ridiculously rich man who intentionally sets out to attract gold-diggers? 

]]> By: frank rizzo http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1622965 frank rizzo Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1622965 I don’t understand people age is just a number. I am 67 and my girlfriend is 23 went to dinner last week people snickered and stared ruined our 10 yr anniversary I don’t understand people age is
just a number.

I am 67 and my girlfriend is 23
went to dinner last week people snickered and stared

ruined our 10 yr anniversary

]]> By: Zhasu http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1622808 Zhasu Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1622808 this is ok. these are the friendly regimes, so who cares? slavery? fine too, these people have oil and they are selling it to us. so basically, nothing wrong here. this is ok. these are the friendly regimes, so who cares? slavery? fine too, these people have oil and they are selling it to us. so basically, nothing wrong here.

]]> By: Annette http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1622766 Annette Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1622766 Who sells another human being? Who sells their child? I don't understand mankind. Who sells another human being? Who sells their child? I don’t understand mankind.

]]> By: vonbobo http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1622762 vonbobo Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1622762 That is exactly why the age of consent is important. That is exactly why the age of consent is important.

]]> By: Funk Daddy http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1622749 Funk Daddy Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1622749 Yes, "70-year-old man purchases 15-year-old woman, claims ownership via contract, demands refund or replacement with warranty claim based on contract when manufacturer revokes contract" The problem is mostly the slavery although the age is disturbing too Only the last paragraph of the article really addresses that, lady tells it straight Yes,

“70-year-old man purchases 15-year-old woman, claims ownership via contract, demands refund or replacement with warranty claim based on contract when manufacturer revokes contract”

The problem is mostly the slavery although the age is disturbing too

Only the last paragraph of the article really addresses that, lady tells it straight

]]> By: Christopher http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1622733 Christopher Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1622733 Excellent point. I really would like to see the headline rewritten as "70-year-old man 'buys' 15-year-old 'bride'". As it's written now it does downplay the fact that this was the purchase of one human being by another. Excellent point. I really would like to see the headline rewritten as “70-year-old man ‘buys’ 15-year-old ‘bride’”. As it’s written now it does downplay the fact that this was the purchase of one human being by another.

]]> By: Chip http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1622699 Chip Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1622699 All the quoted outrage stems from the age of the girl, but nothing about the fact that she was SOLD by her parents?  You can argue all day over whether or not a 15 year old is capable of consenting to marriage, but the slavery issue here is pretty cut and dry. All the quoted outrage stems from the age of the girl, but nothing about the fact that she was SOLD by her parents?  You can argue all day over whether or not a 15 year old is capable of consenting to marriage, but the slavery issue here is pretty cut and dry.

]]> By: vonbobo http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1622694 vonbobo Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1622694 Any sex outside of marriage is illegal in Saudi Arabia, including prostitution, yet you can arrange to buy a child bride. I was really hoping for the apocalypse. Any sex outside of marriage is illegal in Saudi Arabia, including prostitution, yet you can arrange to buy a child bride.

I was really hoping for the apocalypse.

]]> By: jandrese http://boingboing.net/2013/01/08/saudia-arabia-70-year-old-man.html#comment-1622663 jandrese Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204564#comment-1622663 Oh good, have we (well, Saudi Arabia) advanced enough as a culture that we consider this newsworthy now?  Or is it only news because the girl left him and returned to her family?  Oh good, have we (well, Saudi Arabia) advanced enough as a culture that we consider this newsworthy now? 

Or is it only news because the girl left him and returned to her family? 

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