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An Expat Has Time to Reflect, Now That the Party’s Over

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Re: An Expat Has Time to Reflect, Now That the Party’s Over

#3

Post by xiaoma »

Numberwang wrote: post #2

Interesting read. Good to see the police making sure laws are followed.

The article clearly talked of how they aren't.

Though motorbike taxis are illegal, they are ubiquitous except for temporary crackdowns. Though the raves were against the rules, they were advertised publicly for four years before any action was taken and there will be more publicly advertised raves that police ignore next year.

Re: An Expat Has Time to Reflect, Now That the Party’s Over

#5

Post by Numberwang »

xiaoma wrote: post #3
Numberwang wrote: post #2

Interesting read. Good to see the police making sure laws are followed.

The article clearly talked of how they aren't. Though motorbike taxis are illegal, they are ubiquitous except for temporary crackdowns. Though the raves were against the rules, they were advertised publicly for four years before any action was taken and there will be more publicly advertised raves that police ignore next year.

I don't really understand your point. Not every speeder in the US are caught. Would you say the police doing temporary crackdowns is not a good thing?

We should celebrate the police here for doing a good job trying to uphold law and order. Perhaps if they had more resources they could go after the other cases of lawbreaking mentioned, not as part of the main story, in the article.

Re: An Expat Has Time to Reflect, Now That the Party’s Over

#6

Post by gcb0 »

Numberwang wrote: post #5
xiaoma wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article clearly talked of how they aren't. Though motorbike taxis are illegal, they are ubiquitous except for temporary crackdowns. Though the raves were against the rules, they were advertised publicly for four years before any action was taken and there will be more publicly advertised raves that police ignore next year.

I don't really understand your point. Not every speeder in the US are caught. Would you say the police doing temporary crackdowns is not a good thing? We should celebrate the police here for doing a good job trying to uphold law and order. Perhaps if they had more resources they could go after the other cases of lawbreaking mentioned, not as part of the main story, in the article.

this is comparable to the police cracking down a club in the soho in ny then arresting everyone because of marijuana. not speeding tickets.

the middle class expect exemption from rules that are normally applied to poor and minorities.

see also how in the usa someone can be arrested and have money confiscated if they can't prove its origin to the officer searching the car. this is unthinkable for the middle class. but still the law.

this is the right comparison. nobody in China that has the means to participate in those parties expect to be subject to laws against it.

Re: An Expat Has Time to Reflect, Now That the Party’s Over

#7

Post by golergka »

Why did the author assumed that the party was illegal? The fact that police raided it doesn't mean that it as illegal; it just means that police decided to treat it like illegal.

Overall, this description feels like a very gentle slap on the wrist, compared to China's reputation; they probably got such a lax treatment — even given chairs to sit — exactly because all the expats. Nobody even got beaten by the police; I feel that a Chinese-only party would be treated much rougher.

Re: An Expat Has Time to Reflect, Now That the Party’s Over

#9

Post by sneak »

tormeh wrote: post #8

Reminds me of Berlin parties in S-bahn stations or beneath bridges, usually around Warschauer. Those cannot possibly be legal, but nobody bothers to stop them.

The police here are remarkably tolerant of most victimless crimes, thankfully.
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