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Following are excerpts from a Saudi TV channel street survey, posted on the Internet on August 2011:
TV host: We asked various people a simple question. It is a very easy question that anyone could answer, but the responses we got were strange.
The question was: "What is your mother's name?" Take a look at the responses we got.
Reporter: Good evening.
Saudi man on the street (Talal 'Awafi): Good evening to you too.
Reporter: What is your name?
Talal 'Awafi: Talal 'Awafi.
Reporter: Nice to meet you, Talal. What is your mother's name?
Talal 'Awafi (laughs in embarrassment): Stop. What kind of question is this – and on TV?! I can't tell you.
Reporter: Say your mother's name, just for me.
Talal 'Awafi: I'll tell you in private.
Reporter: If I tell you my mother's name, will you tell me yours?
Talal 'Awafi: Not even then.
Reporter: Thank you.
Reporter: What's your mother's name?
Second man: My mother's name? What's it to you?
Reporter: I'm just asking.
Second man: No, it's not done.
Reporter: You're "old school" then?
Second man: No, no.
What's my mother's name?!
Reporter: The show requires…
Second man: No, absolutely not.
Reporter: What if I tell you my own mother's name?
Second man: I didn't ask you to.
No, I won't tell you.
Reporter: Come on, it's totally normal. I'll reward you if you do.
Second man: What will you give me?
Reporter: Whatever you want.
Second man: Okay, maybe I can tell you.
Reporter: Be brave, there's nothing to it.
Second man: I'm looking for a nice name…
Reporter: Thanks very much. Well done. Do you want to say it? Last chance.
Second man: I will say it. She is called Raisa, may God protect her.
[…]
Reporter: What's your mother's name?
Third man: Umm Abdallah.
Reporter: No, what's her real name?
Third man: Umm Sa'd.
Reporter: Her given name, not Umm Sa'd…
Third man: Eve.
Laughter among the group of young Saudis
Third man: Eve, daughter of Eve.
Reporter: But what's her real name?
If you tell me your mother's name…
Third man: I won't tell you. What am I, crazy?
Reporter: So I'm crazy then? Very nice.
[…]
Fourth man: The wife of Abu Osama.
Reporter: Okay, but what's her first name?
Fourth man: The same as I said.
Reporter: Exactly the same.
Fourth man: No difference.
Reporter: If I tell you that my mother's name is Fatima, will you tell me yours?
Fourth man: Your mother has a nice name, but I'll keep mine to myself.
[…]