geez, I hate this hierarchy that's even between siblings!!! abi has special privileges, kardes is the little brother who looks up to abi.... grrrrrrr... this is sooooooo stupid!

Really?....You think we should immediately give up this terrible Turkish habbit?

How would we know which one of the brothers is the older?

I don't mind it...and I actually don't mind being called abla by people selling things. As long as they don't call me teyze everything is fine...

I don't have any problem with it. I used to but now I realise it is just a tradition and actually when a person calls you abla at least it is a respectful approach, rather than a oi you or hey lady!

I must admit though, I am way too young to be called teyze, and when some little boy called me that I felt terrible - but he was after all only about 8 and anybody over 20 to an 8 year old, is a dinosaur.

its a great hierarchy about love&respect,and its really nice for social control when used it in true way,for make more love&respectbut pity not easy to find old ablas,abis and kardeşs at the days,an awful social deformationso i think not all true look at this hierarchy as a pirivilage,its a great tradition of our people as a way to show our respect and loves to olders and youngers..it isn't possibile to realize goodness of an another culture without live or practise it.....