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I’m leaving China

baldingsworld.com

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Re: I’m leaving China

#81

Post by throwaway080383 »

throwaway37585 wrote: post #31
ShabbosGoy wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Patently and objectively false to anyone who read the article. It really makes me wonder what your motivations are for lying so blatantly. Wrong. He clearly didn’t, because he describes a caricature of a Chinese person, reminiscent of a Fu Manchu type character that is dishonest and untrustworthy. Your motivations were clearly revealed the moment you created a throwaway account my man.

> he describes a caricature of a Chinese person, reminiscent of a Fu Manchu type character Explain where you think this happens. > Your motivations were clearly revealed the moment you created a throwaway account my man. Explain what you mean by this. Careful, my account is older than yours!

I think you missed the year in Shab's account start date.

Re: I’m leaving China

#82

Post by GuiA »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #80
adventured wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's certainly the case, China is a country of vast differences between people. To the extent China has seen arguably the fastest dash of economic development in history, imagine what the corresponding, linked cultural & educational development has looked like. In the span of several decades, half a billion people shifted from an almost zero traditional education environment in rural, very poor third-world…

This isn’t true: at various periods during world history, China has been one of the richest and educated countries in the world. The potential of its people was already there and all that was needed was a peaceful environment with an enabling government.

> at various periods during world history, China has been one of the richest and educated countries in the world.

Do you have any further reading on this? It doesn't strike me as too crazy of a statement - but I'd be very interested in seeing how one would go about actually quantifying it.

Re: I’m leaving China

#83

Post by 99_00 »

lewis500 wrote: post #49

Regarding 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…

You should look into Richmond BC or Vancouver Canada. Lots of Chinese and lots of corruption associated with Chinese population, especially tax evasion, money laundering, immigration fraud, illegal business. The only line cutting however is when the fire department is giving away free road salt or there is a sale at the Coach outlet store.

Re: I’m leaving China

#84

Post by rconti »

duxup wrote: post #41
evmar wrote: post #22

Can anyone comment on the risks of posting such an essay while still living in China? Is this considered safely within the lines, a calculated risk, or something else? (Or has he already left China before posting the essay?)

His post seems very measured and I suspect he is small potatoes to anyone in power. Discouraging visiting educators would also be bad policy. He is leaving so they probably aren't sweating it and he serves as an example to others about losing your job.

If anything, a parting shot like this might make his contract non-renewal seem even more justified to outside observers.

Re: I’m leaving China

#85

Post by lainga »

GuiA wrote: post #82
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn’t true: at various periods during world history, China has been one of the richest and educated countries in the world. The potential of its people was already there and all that was needed was a peaceful environment with an enabling government.

> at various periods during world history, China has been one of the richest and educated countries in the world. Do you have any further reading on this? It doesn't strike me as too crazy of a statement - but I'd be very interested in seeing how one would go about actually quantifying it.

First 3 chapters of Kissinger's On China do a good job, but I'm certain you could find better sources.

ED: outside getting a book, the main characteristic to look at is China having the lion's share of historical world GDP, especially during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. The Spanish Empire gained much of its early wealth from Ming China's seemingly insatiable demand for the silver it found in South America - like thousands of pounds at a time.

Re: I’m leaving China

#86

Post by pascalxus »

peterwwillis wrote: post #78
pascalxus wrote: post #71

Being in other countries like China and France really makes me appreciate how world class the customer service is in America. Here in the US, you can tell a waiter that your not happy with a dish and they'll immediately replace it with whatever you want. You can make substitutions, you can alter the way it's cooked (within reason), etc, and they still greet you with a smile and deliver excellent service. There are ma…

American wait staff have to rely on tips rather than a living wage, which forces them to take unending amounts of crap, or else they can't pay the rent. American consumers can and do verbally (and sometimes physically) abuse wait staff, and if the staff don't sit there and take it with a smile, they get fired. I don't find this an endearing trait.

Go to france and try going to a restaurant. You'll see what i mean, right away. It's a world of a difference.

Re: I’m leaving China

#87

Post by thatfrenchguy »

linkmotif wrote: post #51

I really like this piece. So many good paragraphs. Especially the end, and specifically: > The United States has repeatedly failed and continues to fall short of its ideals but has shown a greater sense of self correction than almost any other. In China you cannot talk about most of history, while in the United States there are constant reminders about failures and how to apply those lessons.

Yeah, that really transpired during the Russian meddling debate when every media was reminding how the US interfered in everyone’s elections.

Re: I’m leaving China

#88

Post by rconti »

guscost wrote: post #56

> Almost like the wealthy who need therapy despite living materially comfortable lives, Americans are fighting with vitriolic rhetoric in seemingly unnecessary ways. The most accurate idea I’ve seen in years.

It strikes me as the opposite of a good idea, unless he's using it to justify why the rhetoric, while "seemingly unnecessary" is actually, in fact, necessary.

I really see no reason to believe the materially comfortable would suffer from mental issues at a lower rate than those who are not materially comfortable. And, if anything, they have the resources to afford it and the luxury of time to take advantage of it.

Re: I’m leaving China

#89

Post by MrLeap »

adventured wrote: post #74
msie wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And yet there is outrage in Chinese social media when that happens. So "not all Chinese"?

I think that's certainly the case, China is a country of vast differences between people. To the extent China has seen arguably the fastest dash of economic development in history, imagine what the corresponding, linked cultural & educational development has looked like. In the span of several decades, half a billion people shifted from an almost zero traditional education environment in rural, very poor third-world…

Lets not forget the Meiji Restoration! When it started Samurai walked around the streets armed with katanas. Japan was extremely isolated and had little to no industry. No railroads, no exports.. In ~30 years they put down 11,000 KM of railroad track, built 1500 steamships, and basically upgraded from a feudal society to an industrial one. They increased their annual coal production from nearly nothing to 20~ million tons in that time.

It would be like if the EU went from knights and castles to making fighter jets in half a generation.

Re: I’m leaving China

#90

Post by duxup »

iliketosleep wrote: post #70

It'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…

It seems like they went from pragmatism back to authoritarianism.
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