Wealth, or something like it.

An interesting thing I observed yesterday whilst strolling through Khanburgedee Department Store in central UB was the behaviour of a woman and the way she completely berated the sales woman like she was a five year old child that drew on the walls. Apparently the woman wanted two shirts and asked for them to be put aside over the phone and when she came to pick them up the salesperson brought out one. And so she was off! She wanted two but only got one! How hard is it to bring out two shirts not one?! Did the salesperson not understand her?! Why is it so difficult to get what she asked for?! Go and get her the second shirt for god's sake! As it turned out, there was only one left anyway, and before the salesperson got the chance to find out what happened and explain to her, she sounded like a headmistress that I'd rather not cross in the hallway. This woman was really well dressed, had the expensive hand bag and the blow dry, and yet not a single polite bone in her body. I couldn't believe her reaction and her plain rudeness. Honestly, it was just a shirt. 

Normally I accept that politeness in Mongolia is ranked pretty down on the chart of everyday life experiences. There was even a survey that listed Mongolia as the tenth most unfriendly travel destination recently which I personally think displays the vast difference in some people's opinion of Mongolia as the friendliest place to travel (countless travel guides please step forward) and the unfriendliest place to live (countless residents of Mongolia step forward). It may be simpler to think that those with wealth and opportunities are likely to have better, happier and more fulfilled lives and those living in relative poverty, with little chance of vastly improving their lives (in monetary terms) would be frustrated with life and what little it affords them, and thus display varying behaviours. Ofcourse this is a gross generalisation but I watched a video today also based on an extensive research which shows the total opposite.

Granted the research took place in the United States, it explained the behaviour of the woman in my story, where the wealthier you are the less appealing your behaviour in society and towards others. I encourage you to watch this video and maybe ponder for a while. My first question was how to further research and understand the changes in behaviour as the person goes through different stages of wealth in their lives. It's not necessarily the case where you are born poor and thus die poor. And same goes for the wealthy. In the case of Mongolia I think it'll be particularly interesting where wealth seems to be created as quickly as it is destroyed. At a time of economic development risky financial investments, corruption, inadequate legal systems can make or break a man/woman. Which makes me wonder, how this fluctuation in the wealth of Mongolian society is affecting society and social norms? Is it acceptable to be embarrassingly rude to those who happen to be in the service industry? Is it ok for those who serve to accept that the 'rich' are rude and thus be it? Further, is it ok for those standing by to think that it's normal? The stereotype of a successful business man/woman here is someone who drives an expensive car, talks on their mobiles when driving, barks orders even at restaurants and scowls, a lot. I wouldn't want my child to grow up thinking that being successful/rich/even famous gives them the liberty to treat others with little regard, but sadly it's a common perception. And I suspect that many of these wealthy Mongolians don't know any other way to react or behave in society because there is only one stereotype. By being polite, showing consideration and empathy may be seen as a weakness, and a sign of being poor(er). In a time and place where being wealthy is the primary accomplishment, I wish to see a future where accomplishment is personal and wealth is not entirely numerical.