Off topic: "If there is one thing the world needs to do more it is laugh."
I always pondered about 'humor' being discouraged on HN being a GOOD thing, because it saves real good humor from reddit-like automatisms.
I’m leaving China
181–190 of 219 posts
Re: I’m leaving China
#182I don't know the author but I think it's very cynical to talk about issues in China and love for freedom, once they are no longer your employers.
And this
> In a way, I sympathize with Chairman Xi’s emphasis on rule of law because in my experience laws/rules/norms are simply ignored
My understanding is that kids with strict parents are most liable to misbehave. And same applies to people. If you run a restricted system people will find other outlets to misbehave. So, I don't think Xi requires any sympathies for what is happening.
Re: I’m leaving China
#183Off topic: "If there is one thing the world needs to do more it is laugh." I always pondered about 'humor' being discouraged on HN being a GOOD thing, because it saves real good humor from reddit-like automatisms.
"However, equating Beijing to Washington in many of these specific [surveillance] issues is simply non-sensical authoritarian apologetics."
Here is where you[1] are dead wrong. Collecting the data is the original sin. Once our profiles are created it is only a matter of time before they will get abused. Yes, by a (future) evil government.
[1] (the author, probably the only one reading through those 100s of comments)
"I always ask people where they are from."
How about: "What do you DO?"
Re: I’m leaving China
#184Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yup. No horror quite so horrid as dining in French restaurants.
Not sure if you're being sarcastic. The very best and most pleasant restaurants I've ever been to are French. Alsace, to be precise. Wonderful people, absolutely amazing food.
I should have winked. It's a problem I'd love to have much more often.
Re: I’m leaving China
#185Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not an American, but I am used to being able to modify an order. I don't think of this as being entitled as I am after all paying for the meal and depending on the restaurant it's not exactly a cheap meal. That being the case I don't see any reason for negotiation if I'm not happy with the meal. The only thing I'd agree with is that it'd be absurd to request another meal for free simply because the one you chose…
From my European perspective, US customer service is simply too much. Hovering over you, with that unnerving fake-feeling politeness. It makes me feel sort of like an errant child that needs help finding his mommy. I don't need to be coddled, it's actually rather condescending. I much prefer the European way of letting you look for yourself and then asking simply "can I help you?", if you look like you don't quite kn…
You can say that in the US and they also leave you alone. I don't know what you're talking about.
Re: I’m leaving China
#186About the line cutting thing, does that lead to fights? If someone cuts in front of another, do they mostly accept that, or is it like the big fish eat the little ones? Do most people still stay in a semblance of a queue or does it just evolve into a pushing/shoving throng?
Re: I’m leaving China
#187Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are also a lot of news reports in China about the opposite happening. Where groups of people will get together to save someone. There was even one incident where a group of people lifted a car up to save the girl that was run over. Or how a taxi driver jumps into a manhole to save a girl who fell in. Or how a group of delivery guys caught a child that was hanging on a several story perch. However, those news re…
As witness to an accident in China I've seen how reluctant people are to help the injured. I've heard there can be liability for anyone who gets involved and that there's many scams, which could explain why people behave as they do. The default behavior in China seems to be "ignore and keep moving" while everywhere else usually at least one person will help immediately. I couldn't believe that so many people could lo…
And I've seen the same in the USA, and other places.
It's a big city versus small town thing. In the remote wilderness everyone helps each other. In the city it's assumed you are gong to get help from someone else.
Re: I’m leaving China
#188Earlier quoted context omitted.
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).
It could be locality specific - which cafe was it?
Re: I’m leaving China
#189"with money as God, all is permissible." Did they overcompensate or is it compatible with communist doctrine?
It is not compatible, but communist doctrine is not applied in life beyond parroting it in exams or at CCP functions.
Re: I’m leaving China
#190It's interesting that prior to Xi's leadership, you could have a conversation about almost anything in China, so long as you didn't attack the Party itself. Now, as the author points out, mere discussion of economy, business, and financial markets can put you at risk. What's especially ominous is the banning of Winnie the Pooh from media; when even harmless cartoon characters are see to be a threat to the party, you…
Well, Winnie the Pooh is an "attack" on the Party, insofar as people were comparing Xi Jinping's appearance to him. :-)