Comments on: Bribing the Police - a first time for everything http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/ Blog of P. Clint Rogers, PhD: Culture, Training, and Technology Specialist Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:51:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: jeremy http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2494 jeremy Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:37:17 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2494 I was in Cairo gathering footage for some online Arabic modules. We were always expected to bribe people, but we never did. We would just back up and leave. Granted, they never accused us of already violating the law, so it's not exactly like your situation. We also found that the size of the camera made a difference in how much the "authorities" would interfere with our filming. A bigger camera meant we had more money. Eventually, I think we upset someone, and our local contact got an "official" visit from the police. We left Cairo and finished filming in Alexandria, which was a much more welcoming environment. I was in Cairo gathering footage for some online Arabic modules. We were always expected to bribe people, but we never did. We would just back up and leave. Granted, they never accused us of already violating the law, so it’s not exactly like your situation.

We also found that the size of the camera made a difference in how much the “authorities” would interfere with our filming. A bigger camera meant we had more money.

Eventually, I think we upset someone, and our local contact got an “official” visit from the police. We left Cairo and finished filming in Alexandria, which was a much more welcoming environment.

]]> By: brooke http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2498 brooke Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:49:30 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2498 c - i meant to leave a comment yesterday but just got caught up in my own mind and forgot. anyhow - the comment was that for some reason this post made me laugh out loud, in a moment when i really needed the laugh. thanks :) c -
i meant to leave a comment yesterday but just got caught up in my own mind and forgot. anyhow - the comment was that for some reason this post made me laugh out loud, in a moment when i really needed the laugh. thanks :)

]]> By: Melissa http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2499 Melissa Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:06:03 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2499 Just a few days ago, I was taking my niece and nephew swimming in their new home in Beijing- a very western, gated community. When the front desk told me I had to pay to swim with them because I was a visitor... I found myself bartering my way out of paying. And I didn't have to pay. Later I realized that I would have never even thought to barter about something like that... and I guess living in China I have adopted this view that everything is negotiable. Might be problematic now that I'm home in the US... Pizza solves problems- universal truth. Just a few days ago, I was taking my niece and nephew swimming in their new home in Beijing- a very western, gated community. When the front desk told me I had to pay to swim with them because I was a visitor… I found myself bartering my way out of paying. And I didn’t have to pay. Later I realized that I would have never even thought to barter about something like that… and I guess living in China I have adopted this view that everything is negotiable. Might be problematic now that I’m home in the US…
Pizza solves problems- universal truth.

]]> By: Lennon http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2500 Lennon Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:24:32 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2500 Clint, I believe your stay in Russia was too short :) In Russia, you can bribe just any person that has authority... well, really almost ANYONE. And it is commonly known that by bribing it is easier to achieve what you need. For example, in order to get accepted to university you may bribe head of the department. In order to pass some exams you my bribe professors. In the latter case, professors usually tell their "price list" in the beginning of the semester. However this is not going on in major universities. Well, another thing. In Russia, there is a special police department that monitors traffic. They are commonly known for their bribing. They may even create a situation for you in which you are violating traffic rules in order to get bribed. The alternative to bribing is relations. If you are a relative of someone powerful or you are in a good relationships with such person, then you bribe is usually just saying "I'm a relative/know very well Mr. X. I'll call him right now and he'll come and kick you arse." I myself had to bribe someone only once - the head of dormitory in university campus, so she did not give me a room-mate. I gave her a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates :). I felt so uncomfortable doing that, that now I believe this is the thing I don't like doing most. I think that bribing exists in every country. But in countries with less average income it is more common. I think you may bribe just anyone, it only depends on the amount of money/skins of dead alligators/other goods you offer. And I think the only thing that can resist bribing is higher morality of the person. So that in order to fight corruption, authorities should be sent to complete quests and when they gain +XP, they need to spend it only on "morality" instead of "strength", "charisma", "luck", etc. Clint, I believe your stay in Russia was too short :)
In Russia, you can bribe just any person that has authority… well, really almost ANYONE. And it is commonly known that by bribing it is easier to achieve what you need. For example, in order to get accepted to university you may bribe head of the department. In order to pass some exams you my bribe professors. In the latter case, professors usually tell their “price list” in the beginning of the semester. However this is not going on in major universities.
Well, another thing. In Russia, there is a special police department that monitors traffic. They are commonly known for their bribing. They may even create a situation for you in which you are violating traffic rules in order to get bribed.
The alternative to bribing is relations. If you are a relative of someone powerful or you are in a good relationships with such person, then you bribe is usually just saying “I’m a relative/know very well Mr. X. I’ll call him right now and he’ll come and kick you arse.”
I myself had to bribe someone only once - the head of dormitory in university campus, so she did not give me a room-mate. I gave her a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates :). I felt so uncomfortable doing that, that now I believe this is the thing I don’t like doing most.
I think that bribing exists in every country. But in countries with less average income it is more common. I think you may bribe just anyone, it only depends on the amount of money/skins of dead alligators/other goods you offer. And I think the only thing that can resist bribing is higher morality of the person. So that in order to fight corruption, authorities should be sent to complete quests and when they gain +XP, they need to spend it only on “morality” instead of “strength”, “charisma”, “luck”, etc.

]]> By: Clint http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2501 Clint Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:26:33 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2501 I like everyone's thoughts. I have specific things to say, that I have learned since the incident and in response to your comments, but I'm on a time limit for this computer and about to run out. So, I guess I will respond more once I get to Ethiopia... Great thoughts though. And yes, Lennon - it sounds like if I did stay in Russia for longer I might have had my "first" there. I'm surprised you were able to grow up there without much of it except that one incident you felt guilty about. Cool. Brooke - I'm glad I made you laugh :) Melissa - sounds like they come in handy so I hope you keep your bartering skills...just not with the police, k? :) I like everyone’s thoughts. I have specific things to say, that I have learned since the incident and in response to your comments, but I’m on a time limit for this computer and about to run out. So, I guess I will respond more once I get to Ethiopia…

Great thoughts though. And yes, Lennon - it sounds like if I did stay in Russia for longer I might have had my “first” there. I’m surprised you were able to grow up there without much of it except that one incident you felt guilty about. Cool.

Brooke - I’m glad I made you laugh :)

Melissa - sounds like they come in handy so I hope you keep your bartering skills…just not with the police, k? :)

]]> By: Rob Barton http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2502 Rob Barton Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:17:39 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2502 This didn't exactly happen in a foreign country, but in junior high I went to a Spanish Conference at BYU, where students would recite poems they'd memorized, visit all types of cultural booths, etc. They had "policia" that would put you in their jail if they heard you speaking English, and you had to pay them in the fake pesos that were used at the conference. This didn’t exactly happen in a foreign country, but in junior high I went to a Spanish Conference at BYU, where students would recite poems they’d memorized, visit all types of cultural booths, etc. They had “policia” that would put you in their jail if they heard you speaking English, and you had to pay them in the fake pesos that were used at the conference.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2505 Jeremy Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:53:42 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2505 Rob, that's funny because I worked the French side of that conference (Language Fair) at BYU. I ran the prison for people who were caught speaking English. We never accepted bribes - instead we made them answer some questions in French, or complete some language activities. But maybe the paying fake pesos to get out of jail was just a nice authentic touch put in place by some knowledgeable TAs. Rob, that’s funny because I worked the French side of that conference (Language Fair) at BYU. I ran the prison for people who were caught speaking English. We never accepted bribes - instead we made them answer some questions in French, or complete some language activities.

But maybe the paying fake pesos to get out of jail was just a nice authentic touch put in place by some knowledgeable TAs.

]]> By: VeNicia http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2507 VeNicia Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:59:40 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2507 My dad always says that 'in life, birth and death are inevitable; everything in between is negotiable'. I'm really excited to see him bartering his way around Greece next year! Every time he senses a situation where he can pull out his negotiating skills he gets this mischievous gleam in his eye and I can tell he's having fun with the person as he gives them a run for their money =o) I've always been amazed at the things he can pull off and "work out". Good negotiating really is an art! I never had to bribe, but I quickly learned that bartering in the marketplace is a standard in Guatemala and Mexico! Any American who doesn't, or feels guilty doing it (which I did at first!) will frequently get taken advantage of. (I understand enough Spanish to notice a Mexican bragging to his friend about how much he got out of my friend, much to the chagrin of my friend's wife...=o) ) I got better at it by the end of my trips, but it doesn't come naturally! I always think about their families and how little the amount of money really is in USD and just want to give it to them anyway. My dad always says that ‘in life, birth and death are inevitable; everything in between is negotiable’. I’m really excited to see him bartering his way around Greece next year! Every time he senses a situation where he can pull out his negotiating skills he gets this mischievous gleam in his eye and I can tell he’s having fun with the person as he gives them a run for their money =o) I’ve always been amazed at the things he can pull off and “work out”. Good negotiating really is an art!

I never had to bribe, but I quickly learned that bartering in the marketplace is a standard in Guatemala and Mexico! Any American who doesn’t, or feels guilty doing it (which I did at first!) will frequently get taken advantage of. (I understand enough Spanish to notice a Mexican bragging to his friend about how much he got out of my friend, much to the chagrin of my friend’s wife…=o) ) I got better at it by the end of my trips, but it doesn’t come naturally! I always think about their families and how little the amount of money really is in USD and just want to give it to them anyway.

]]> By: VeNicia http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2508 VeNicia Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:04:47 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2508 PS I didn't bribe him, but I did talk my way out of a speeding ticket last week...He even had it all written up. Wheew. Close one. =o) PS I didn’t bribe him, but I did talk my way out of a speeding ticket last week…He even had it all written up. Wheew. Close one. =o)

]]> By: Clint http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2527 Clint Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:34:55 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2527 VeNicia, I'd like to know your strategy for talking your way out of speeding tickets? Maybe I told you already, but I always thought it would be funny one day, when I get pulled over, to do this. Usually the police officer says something about how you were really going 14 miles over the speed limit, but he is going to do you a favor and only write a ticket for going 9 miles over. At that point, I want to ask the officer for his badge number, and tell him that I really don't feel comfortable with the way he is manipulating the law like that. I want to tell him that I want the full penalty or else I am going to have to turn him in to the authorities. Can you just imagine? It is funny for me to think about, but I'm sure the reality of paying the full ticket price might not be equal to the amount of amusement received. VeNicia, I’d like to know your strategy for talking your way out of speeding tickets?

Maybe I told you already, but I always thought it would be funny one day, when I get pulled over, to do this. Usually the police officer says something about how you were really going 14 miles over the speed limit, but he is going to do you a favor and only write a ticket for going 9 miles over. At that point, I want to ask the officer for his badge number, and tell him that I really don’t feel comfortable with the way he is manipulating the law like that. I want to tell him that I want the full penalty or else I am going to have to turn him in to the authorities.

Can you just imagine?
It is funny for me to think about, but I’m sure the reality of paying the full ticket price might not be equal to the amount of amusement received.

]]> By: Becky http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2564 Becky Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:18:56 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2564 That story is HILARIOUS!!!! And the picture that the guy walking past took is what makes it even better!!!! That story is HILARIOUS!!!! And the picture that the guy walking past took is what makes it even better!!!!

]]> By: roman http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2579 roman Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:06:44 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2579 While in Kenya, we were not expected to bribe police; instead, you secure your way to get safely and comfortably through the road blocks by a small fee (sometimes every 20km or so). While in Kenya, we were not expected to bribe police; instead, you secure your way to get safely and comfortably through the road blocks by a small fee (sometimes every 20km or so).

]]> By: Clint http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2585 Clint Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:33:36 +0000 http://www.clintrogersonline.com/blog/2008/07/31/bribing-the-police-a-first-time-for-everything/#comment-2585 That is nice to know that there is not so much bribery and corruption in Kenya, and that the police are so accommodating to help you get through those road blocks that they set up. :) That is nice to know that there is not so much bribery and corruption in Kenya, and that the police are so accommodating to help you get through those road blocks that they set up.
:)

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