4 ms·

But its in Saudi Arabia, excuse me for saying this because I have lived in Bahrain where certain youtube channels are censored but still considered more open th

But its in Saudi Arabia, excuse me for saying this because I have lived in Bahrain where certain youtube channels are censored but still considered more open than other gulf countries, how do you access an open internet in neom?

microcolonel 9y ago
Not to mention, if there are any women in your life, they will be treated like children who must be under the constant supervision of the men in your family.
- JimboOmega 9y ago
  And I'm sure it will be super great for trans women and queer people in general...
  - pimeys 9y ago
    At least the video on their site was showing no sexual diversity. All I see is families with a mother and father. Gays, trans people or lesbians are nowhere to be seen.
- rtkwe 9y ago
  So the FAQ does give a little hope for that and stuff like gay/trans rights. > WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE JUDICIAL AND REGUL ATORY FRAMEWORK THAT WILL GOVERN ALL CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS IN NEOM? > NEOM will be the world’s first independent special zone spanning three countries, with a regulatory framework designed to adopt world-class investment laws that support the livelihoods of residents and the development of targeted economic sectors. The special zone will also adopt an autonomous judicial system subject to independent regulations and legislation, which will be drafted by investors in accordance with international best practice. The zone will be independent of the Kingdom’s existing governmental framework, excluding sovereign laws. Social norms in Neom will adopt leading practices to improve standards of livability for its residents and visitors. and clarifying 'independent systems' a little later: > The project will be developed within a specialized zone, independent of the Kingdom’s existing governmental framework, excluding sovereign laws, in regards to taxation, customs, labor laws, and other legal parameters pertaining to business. As such, a zone within an independent system gives industry the ability to manufacture and provide, goods and services at globally competitive prices So it sounds like they at least want to shed the more regressive parts of the traditional Islamic culture in Saudi Arabia to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc.
  - tom_mellior 9y ago
    > to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc. ... but who are still willing to work there and pay taxes to support this very system.
    - rtkwe 9y ago
      Yeah, there's definitely a decent set of people who won't go today because of the personal risk but would participate in the Saudi economy if the risk to themselves was removed. I wasn't talking about people with a moral objection though but even among that group there'd be a number willing to participate probably giving a 'show them that this is better and works' justification to themselves.
  - microcolonel 9y ago
    > So it sounds like they at least want to shed the more regressive parts of the traditional Islamic culture in Saudi Arabia to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc. It seems more like they're just dancing around the issue to me. Neom is still under the full control of a Sunni theocracy, it just has separate regulatory structures, like a SEZ in China.
    - rtkwe 9y ago
      Just taking the FAQ at face value it seems like they will have free reign to decide what the laws are surrounding issues like this inside Zeom. Just going by the language there they'll be able to set their own laws about those issues. Of course that could all be just fluff and come to nothing but I think they know it's in their own self interest to open up and give this area more autonomy than the special economic zones in China in order to appease and attract investors/tourism without having to change the culture of the actual country.
    - Udik 9y ago
      Is it easier to change the culture and the way of life of a country by introducing changes at a slow, steady pace, over a long period of time; or is it easier to do it by introducing abrupt changes in a small area, and then extend the area progressively until it covers the whole country? Might be what they're trying to do?

microcolonel 9y ago

Not to mention, if there are any women in your life, they will be treated like children who must be under the constant supervision of the men in your family.

JimboOmega 9y ago
And I'm sure it will be super great for trans women and queer people in general...
- pimeys 9y ago
  At least the video on their site was showing no sexual diversity. All I see is families with a mother and father. Gays, trans people or lesbians are nowhere to be seen.
rtkwe 9y ago
So the FAQ does give a little hope for that and stuff like gay/trans rights. > WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE JUDICIAL AND REGUL ATORY FRAMEWORK THAT WILL GOVERN ALL CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS IN NEOM? > NEOM will be the world’s first independent special zone spanning three countries, with a regulatory framework designed to adopt world-class investment laws that support the livelihoods of residents and the development of targeted economic sectors. The special zone will also adopt an autonomous judicial system subject to independent regulations and legislation, which will be drafted by investors in accordance with international best practice. The zone will be independent of the Kingdom’s existing governmental framework, excluding sovereign laws. Social norms in Neom will adopt leading practices to improve standards of livability for its residents and visitors. and clarifying 'independent systems' a little later: > The project will be developed within a specialized zone, independent of the Kingdom’s existing governmental framework, excluding sovereign laws, in regards to taxation, customs, labor laws, and other legal parameters pertaining to business. As such, a zone within an independent system gives industry the ability to manufacture and provide, goods and services at globally competitive prices So it sounds like they at least want to shed the more regressive parts of the traditional Islamic culture in Saudi Arabia to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc.
- tom_mellior 9y ago
  > to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc. ... but who are still willing to work there and pay taxes to support this very system.
  - rtkwe 9y ago
    Yeah, there's definitely a decent set of people who won't go today because of the personal risk but would participate in the Saudi economy if the risk to themselves was removed. I wasn't talking about people with a moral objection though but even among that group there'd be a number willing to participate probably giving a 'show them that this is better and works' justification to themselves.
- microcolonel 9y ago
  > So it sounds like they at least want to shed the more regressive parts of the traditional Islamic culture in Saudi Arabia to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc. It seems more like they're just dancing around the issue to me. Neom is still under the full control of a Sunni theocracy, it just has separate regulatory structures, like a SEZ in China.
  - rtkwe 9y ago
    Just taking the FAQ at face value it seems like they will have free reign to decide what the laws are surrounding issues like this inside Zeom. Just going by the language there they'll be able to set their own laws about those issues. Of course that could all be just fluff and come to nothing but I think they know it's in their own self interest to open up and give this area more autonomy than the special economic zones in China in order to appease and attract investors/tourism without having to change the culture of the actual country.
  - Udik 9y ago
    Is it easier to change the culture and the way of life of a country by introducing changes at a slow, steady pace, over a long period of time; or is it easier to do it by introducing abrupt changes in a small area, and then extend the area progressively until it covers the whole country? Might be what they're trying to do?