>> I know the unspoken reason for my dismissal.
…
>> I felt blessed to be able to dive into Chinese data everyday exploring aspects that most in my position simply do not get to explore.
He worked/acted as a spy? (Maybe unknowingly)
I’m leaving China
171–180 of 219 posts
Re: I’m leaving China
#172Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am not sure why you find this odd. This could be locality specific - I didn't tell you where exactly my walk was. Nor did I imply if I walked the same distance anywhere in Oakland - anywhere in all 78 sq mi in it - I would invite the same reactions. In fact I do believe its locality specific, because in my other visits, which were to some of the theatres, the Oracle arena etc, I did see Indians. Also, not that it m…
I also found your anecdote odd, as a lifelong resident of the Bay Area. People everywhere in Oakland will have generally seen and interacted with many South(east) Asians before, (and without a doubt Asians in general, and also without a doubt near BART stations and along major roads). I also specifically say South(east) Asians because at least visually many people do not distinguish between them.
Two comments have made me curious - do you think this could be locality specific (no, I do note you said "everywhere in Oakland", but still ....)?
This was not a major road - I got off any major road, and walked quite a bit to this cafe (30 min walks for me are common - this likely probably greater than that via much smaller roads through residential areas).
Re: I’m leaving China
#173"There is a complete and utter lack of respect for the individual or person in China."
I found the same attitude towards Nature when I met Chinese breaking plants in a natural reserve. Not sure if it was representative.
Re: I’m leaving China
#174Even so [the western missionary] was stunned at how deeply and rigidly held the belief that making money was the entire meaning of life. There was no value system. Consider also how the national psyche and personal outlooks on the world have been impacted by a lifetime of propaganda celebrating Han-centric nationalism, expansionist foreign policy, and a self-appointed party leadership whose control and policies can n…
I can definitely see how a century of wars and conflicts can erode a society’s moral values. Expansionist foreign policy? How so? Perhaps the South China Sea?
Tibet, Taiwan, Mongolia.
Re: I’m leaving China
#175Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sigh. It was hyperbole. You took, the point, right? They were the poorest of the poor, and now their iPhones jiggle in their pockets as they dance on the world stage with the big kids. Also, "median".
Half their population, 700M people, can't afford the iphone. The annual income for rural residents averaged $1,797 last year https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2089654/chin...
And what was it 20 years ago?
Re: I’m leaving China
#176As someone who spent months in China recently the elevator experience mentioned really hits home among other points. Nobody expected me to understand what they were saying and trying to hide picture taking etc. I just embraced it. If I saw someone sneaking a picture I would just ask them: 你想和我合影吗？你会记得看到一个外国白人。
If someone started talking about me in an elevator or street cart or anyplace I would say: 你想问我关于我的生活或国家的问题吗？
Re: I’m leaving China
#177"There is a complete and utter lack of respect for the individual or person in China. People do not have innate value as people simply because they exist." I am imagining that is one reason that the Chinese government is so scared of Christianity, which in recent decades has won over a great many converts, since it teaches that all human beings are the sons and daughters of God, and so should be treated with dignity…
As a native Chinese, I want to say you are wrong. In our education from element school, we were educated as atheist, and actually I am proud of that. I don't believe God. And for Chinese Communist Party, they don't like any religion, as that the opposite of Marxism, which is core part of communism.
Re: I’m leaving China
#178"with money as God, all is permissible."
Did they overcompensate or is it compatible with communist doctrine?
Re: I’m leaving China
#179So what do chinese people think and feel about "德 dé" (moral)?
Re: I’m leaving China
#180Regarding the line-cutting/cheating he talks about. I like to distinguish between "culture" and something vaguer, which is what type of equilibrium someone is trapped in. I started to think this way when I lived in Argentina. Argentina is very corrupt, but just across the river is Uruguay...the least corrupt country in Latin America by some metrics. Argentines and Uruguayos are culturally quite similar (the relations…
I believe it's much more about tribalism. There's a lack of civic bond between strangers because the idea of nationhood sits above individuals. That's why you see people completely ignoring the existence of others, while being overprotective of their own kins.
On a scale of 1 to 10, what's the definition for 'overprotective' and what level of protectiveness would you recommend we adopt?