I never recall answering a question in such a way that it satisfied all my friends but we share our views and opinions with each other and so jointly, we produce an acceptable answer. It is surely the best course for no person to think he has all the answers since, in dealing with most situations, dialogue is the easiest way to reach an appropriate conclusion.
The famous 19th century writer and traveler, Sir Richard Burton, once wrote a description of Arabs engaged in ordinary friendly conversation. He wrote “If a foreigner approaches a number of Arabs conversing together, he may think that they are the worst of enemies or that they are engaged in a bitter quarrel. In a short time, however, the foreigner will realize that the loud voices and violent gestures are simply their normal way of conversing.” This is still, to a large extent true, though Burton traveled in Arabia and wrote some 150 years ago.
Interestingly, a number Arab writers including the Saudi Abdullah Al-Qassimi, tend to use the phrase “The Arabs are a verbal phenomenon” and this phrase was taken long ago from a French writer.
If you have a look at Al-Jazeera’s weekly TV show, The Opposite Direction, you will see support for this claim. Initially the guests begin discussions with smiles and pleasant words but in a short time, it seems as if a battle is in progress. In fact on some occasions, viewers would not have been surprised to see the guests hit one another.
I wonder what the viewers gain from such a performance except wasting time by watching an Arab-style conversation.