# East Africans more "civilized" than West Africans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 2, 2013, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/east-africans-more-civilized-than-west-africans/649107 "2013-02-02T07:09:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/east-africans-more-civilized-than-west-africans/649107/41 "2013-02-04T15:56:04Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I didn’t say Japan is the most civilized or the only country that is civilized. I said it was one of the most. Given that many Asian countries are quite familiar with third-world level poverty (isn’t there a thread over-yonder about cannibalistic North Koreans?), Japan stands out. This was especially true back in the days of the Nanking Massacre. > > I should have said “especially compared to some of its Asian counterparts”. Mea culpa. But that mistake hardly warrants a drive-by rolly eyes, like my greater point was incorrect or something. I am really quite shocked that you are surprised to have gotten the rolly-eyes. I mean, you didn’t say anything patently offensive, but it’s at least a little insensitive. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/east-africans-more-civilized-than-west-africans/649107/42 "2013-02-04T19:23:06Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > As I understand it, there were a lot of horrendous atrocities committed in Uganda (LRA), and in the Rwandan genocide (and in neighbouring eastern Congo). These are not in East Africa, but do show that such crimes are not restricted to Liberia and Sierra Leone. They are both in the [East African Community](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Community) - that pretty much makes it East Africa in my book. > [@Chefguy](#): > > The contrast between Mali and Uganda, where I lived for a year, was remarkable. Uganda is mostly Christian; alcohol abuse and crime are rampant, and I found the local people to be largely hostile to white faces. The LRA was already operating in the north, having spread into Uganda from their operating base in neighboring Sudan. Traveling outside of Kampala was a risk because of bandits. When were you there? I also lived in Uganda for a year, and didn’t find any of that to be true, aside from it being mostly Christian. The south of the country was extremely safe and friendly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/east-africans-more-civilized-than-west-africans/649107.md?page=2)