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I was just watching on ViceLand an episode about the Indian (non-existent) sewage system. Millions of people there have no sanitation facilities and deficate an

I was just watching on ViceLand an episode about the Indian (non-existent) sewage system. Millions of people there have no sanitation facilities and deficate anywhere, where possible. And are living of a few dollars a month. It's really worthwhile watching, btw. So talking about "quality cars" for $4000 here seems totally surreal. And that that would be disruptive is even more of a strange observation. The author sure has an interesting story to tell, but the conclusions, title etc of the article shows of actual lacking good journalism/storytelling.

sxates 9y ago
should 'fornicate' be 'defecate'?
- 5_minutes 9y ago
  Right, I'm not a native speaker :) I'll update it thanks.
rokhayakebe 9y ago
Please keep in mind India has one of the, if not the, largest middle class population in the world.
- 5_minutes 9y ago
  Can you verify that with some sources/stats? And what's your definition of a "middle class" in India?
  - sien 9y ago
    Presumably using the definition of spending $4 to $6 a day. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/11/6-surprising-facts-about-india-s-exploding-middle-class/ https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/11/6-surprising-facts-ab... However, there are other estimations around that make India's middle class much smaller, say ~25M http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/indian-middle-class-is-24-million-not-264-million-credit-suisse-115102900181_1.html http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/ind...
- harryVic 9y ago
  Indian middle class would be below poverty line by western standards. People who can barely afford a car are not middle class by world standards.
walrus01 9y ago
> deficate anywhere, where possible. And are living of a few dollars a month. Yes, both of those are real problems but if you look at the economic data from India there is a rapidly growing middle class that can now afford something better than a $600 two stroke engine scooter. When you have a population of 1.2 billion, even if a large majority remain in relative poverty, the disposable income and buying power of the new middle class is not something companies are going to ignore. India is a fascinating study in contrasts, the gap between rich and poor is incredibly huge. There's a domestic space program that was capable of sending a probe to Mars, yet designated defecation streets are a real thing. It seems surreal because it is, but that's been the status quo there for a very, very long time.

sxates 9y ago

should 'fornicate' be 'defecate'?

5_minutes 9y ago
Right, I'm not a native speaker :) I'll update it thanks.

rokhayakebe 9y ago

Please keep in mind India has one of the, if not the, largest middle class population in the world.

5_minutes 9y ago
Can you verify that with some sources/stats? And what's your definition of a "middle class" in India?
- sien 9y ago
  Presumably using the definition of spending $4 to $6 a day. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/11/6-surprising-facts-about-india-s-exploding-middle-class/ https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/11/6-surprising-facts-ab... However, there are other estimations around that make India's middle class much smaller, say ~25M http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/indian-middle-class-is-24-million-not-264-million-credit-suisse-115102900181_1.html http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/ind...
harryVic 9y ago
Indian middle class would be below poverty line by western standards. People who can barely afford a car are not middle class by world standards.

walrus01 9y ago

> deficate anywhere, where possible. And are living of a few dollars a month. Yes, both of those are real problems but if you look at the economic data from India there is a rapidly growing middle class that can now afford something better than a $600 two stroke engine scooter. When you have a population of 1.2 billion, even if a large majority remain in relative poverty, the disposable income and buying power of the new middle class is not something companies are going to ignore. India is a fascinating study in contrasts, the gap between rich and poor is incredibly huge. There's a domestic space program that was capable of sending a probe to Mars, yet designated defecation streets are a real thing. It seems surreal because it is, but that's been the status quo there for a very, very long time.