A Survey for Non-Muslim Europeans: How do you view Turks and the Turkish Government?

[Cornelius Plautus]

I am writing a short paper on the wars of the Ottoman Empire against European nations and how they negatively affected modern European-Turkish relations, and so I would like to know first how non-Muslim Europeans view Muslim Turks. While this is better if it is completely anonymous, I'd appreciate if those who answer this pole include:

1. Nationality
2. Personal Opinion of Muslim Turks EDIT: and/or the Turkish government
3. Any observations of Muslim Turks you may have noticed from those around you.


Thank you in advance for taking the time to do this and know that your answers are greatly appreciated; however, I would also be grateful if anti-Islamic sentiments were not too bold or offensive: I would rather this thread not get locked until after I have sufficient data!

EDIT: On suggestion of some replies, I've decided that I would appreciate any new results to be based also off of your opinions of the Turkish government.

Thank you again!

[removeduser_4536284751384]

Voted Negatively

1. Ireland
2. Nothing wrong with Turkish people, but their government has commited a lot of abuses, particularly against kurds. The Muslim invasions of Europe from the middle ages have no affect on my opinion.
3. Turkey is a very popular tourist destination.

[Cornelius Plautus]

Voted Negatively

1. Ireland
2. Nothing wrong with Turkish people, but their government has commited a lot of abuses, particularly against kurds. The Muslim invasions of Europe from the middle ages have no affect on my opinion.
3. Turkey is a very popular tourist destination.

Great! Now, I'd really appreciate more feedback...

[Agisilaos]

Voted Negatively

1. Hellas/Greece
2. Nothing wrong with Turkish people, but their government has committed a lot of abuses, particularly against Kurds, Armenians, Cypriots and Hellenes/Greeks. The muslim invasions of Europe from the middle ages have no affect on my opinion.
3. Turkey is a popular tourist destination, but not for me.

[removeduser_052420]

What does the actions of Turkey's government have to do with your opinion of the Turks themselves? that's like me hating jews for the actions of the Isreali Government.

[RomanSoldier9001]

What does the actions of Turkey's government have to do with your opinion of the Turks themselves? that's like me hating jews for the actions of the Isreali Government.

Well normaly they are conected like and I know this a long shot but Germans were hated for the actions of their "goverment" in WWII ; I mean of course not all germans were to blame ,not all soviets were to blame for Stalin madness especealy when most of his victims were their own citizens but hell thats life for you. I will point out that those two countries Turkey and Israel are democracies so people have responbality maybe isnt fair.

[General Nuisance esq]

English

Negatively

Don't want them in The European Union as they would all swarm over here and be a Romania Mk II as far as hand in europes pocket goes
Don't think their sporting teams should play in European competitions as they are not in Europe really
Have always been sympathetic towards Greece and think that the Turks destroyed a great culture in Byzantium and put nothing in its place

[white-wolf]

English

Negatively

Don't want them in The European Union as they would all swarm over here and be a Romania Mk II as far as hand in europes pocket goes
Don't think their sporting teams should play in European competitions as they are not in Europe really
Have always been sympathetic towards Greece and think that the Turks destroyed a great culture in Byzantium and put nothing in its place

I think 557 years (or 939 years) is toooo long to held a grudge.

[General Nuisance esq]

I think 557 years (or 939 years) is toooo long to held a grudge.

Its not a grudge and I don't hate turkish people, but I am more sympathetic towards Greece and I don't want to see them in the EU

[Cosmicgaunt]

Turkey's Ataturk Dam, has damaged my opinion of their government. But in regard towards the people, I'm indifferent.

[Admiral Piett]

I wish you had made a thread about the Turkic government, not Turks themselves. Beings as I have had no experience with them in person I am rather indifferent.

[Fluttershy]

I think I represent the vast majority of people when I say im indifferent to the Turks, they are people like anyone else.

[Thorn777]

1.Germany
2.Overall "positively".
3.I've coming to know hundreds of Turks on a personal level over the years, and overall view those as good people like any other people. Otherwise I think there are some distinct negative and positive characteristics with any people generally speaking. Ive coming to learn Turks are often very proud and outspoken, which is a good thing, but on the other hand some have nothing to be proud of and should just shut up sometimes. 90% of the time I had confrontations in life it was with Turks, not Arabs, Africans, Caribbeans, Surinamese, Russians, Polish, Yugo's, etc but somehow almost always Turks. Thats maybe because I'm very proud and outspoken as well and don't take shite from no one who didn't earn my respect earlier, so I guess thats what caused allot of these confrontations.

Been to Turkey too, and it was nothing but nice there.

[Adrian]

Firstly im romanian

Voted indifferent because I have't really met a turk, a better question would be about your government.

So ill answer that, I consider turkey one of the few civilized muslim states, that being because its mostly secular.

[Ex Tenebris Lux]

1. American, because I can.
2. In my view Muslim Turks happen to be much more down to earth than many others. Seems they have grasped a certain level of "seperation of church and state" that is very endearing to Americans lol
3. Those around me seem indifferent.

[Kjertesvein]

1. Nationality
Norwegian.

2. Personal Opinion of Muslim Turks
No special personal opinion on a whole people I know little to nothing of. This guy is/was a turk, but that is as close as it gets.

3. Any observations of Muslim Turks you may have noticed from those around you.
My family was in Istanbul last year (not me), but I can't remember them telling me anything special about the people living there.

This is the wierdest survey I have taken in a long time.

1. American, because I can.
2. In my view Muslim Turks happen to be much more down to earth than many others. Seems they have grasped a certain level of "seperation of church and state" that is very endearing to Americans lol
3. Those around me seem indifferent.

He said "Europeans", not "white" you imperial invaders!

[Ex Tenebris Lux]

1. Nationality
Norwegian.

2. Personal Opinion of Muslim Turks
No special personal opinion on a whole people I know little to nothing of. This guy is/was a turk, but that is as close as it gets.

3. Any observations of Muslim Turks you may have noticed from those around you.
My family was in Istanbul last year (not me), but I can't remember them telling me anything special about the people living there.

This is the wierdest survey I have taken in a long time.

He said "Europeans", not "white" you imperial invaders!

i know what he said, thus the "because I can" qualifier

anyway, everyone roots for The Empire!

[removeduser_487563287433]

I have practically no experience of Turkish people.

[Manco]

1. Belgian

2. What experience I have was mostly positive, and they brought us the kebab for which I'm eternally grateful.
Whether or not they were actually Muslim Turks or other Turks, I don't know. I have this habit of not asking people's religion when I first meet them.

3. I'd say Turks are on the whole more accepted than North-Africans here. It helps that they've established themselves in the food-business (kebabs, Turkish pizzeria's, fry shops,...) which has both given them a reputation of enterprising spirit and nullifies the complaint that immigrants don't contribute.

[Каие]

1. British
2. Indifference. Ottomans don't effect my belief of modern Turks.
3. Suppliers of Kebab and Shisha (hooka).