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Many countries have other order for an adress writing not similar with yours. Chinese people not perfect, maybe. But modern Western people hate everythin/body other ( Muslims, Africans, Chinese, Russians, Indians, Latinos).But really know too little about other countries and themself too.
Feb 18, 2015 03:27 Report Abuse
Yeah, although not perfect, those who flew planes into the twin towers in New York, pee and shit in subways, restaurants, streets....everywhere they crawl, manufacture gutter oil, wall-plaster filled medicine pills, throw boiling instant noodles at flight attendants, SHIT on the floor inside airplanes, give/take bribes amounting to USD billions, get drunk every day to the extent that alcholism becomes a crippling problem for their whole country, kidnap and gang rape their own women in public including foreign female volunteers working in their country....... are far more perfect than modern Western people. They really know so much more about other countries and themselves too.
Feb 18, 2015 12:04 Report Abuse
@Sergg A Hong Kong shop owner took this. What would you call this mainlander, maybe imperfect? Haha, enjoy~ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xs2c_TEbIg
Feb 18, 2015 19:05 Report Abuse
I assume you used the address writing system as illustration only - right? I can also just guess, as you did, that it can be connected with writing system as such (from left to right and top to the bottom) and other culturally and administratively governed aspects. But we can probably agree that majority of the people in the west have no clue why. It's actually not that different from situation in China. In my country there is a popular TV show where they are asking random people on the street the questions which you would expect 10 years old child should not have a trouble to reply. Well the amusing part of the show is that apparently a lot of adult, and may be even educated, people have real problems to reply them correctly. I assume it's similar for majority of the places around the world - including China. I tend to agree with you that majority of the people around the world are quite ignorant and that what was in the last century in Europe known as 'general overview' is less and less present in the current society. I assume it's similar in China but here the matter gets more complicated. Certain part can come on the account of different approach towards the topic. So called culture difference. And I do not find so surprising or shocking that if you want to get to know wise persons opinion so you will most probably end up with the necessity of learning the country language - what's wrong with that - wise does not mean the person can speak a foreign language ... Coming back to your point that the article lacks the reasoning behind - well it certainly uses the simplified generalization. But unlike you I do not think it's because Chinese people are not interested or capable of understanding the problem in depths. I assume it's by nature of this article. I do not understand it as the approach to analyse foreigners behavior - I understand it as brief description of the main differences for the people who have little to no interaction with the foreigners.
Feb 19, 2015 15:58 Report Abuse
"But modern Western people hate everythin/body other" ?! Wow.
Feb 20, 2015 11:33 Report Abuse
And I think the article is not bad for its purpose. China has about 1.3 billions inhabitants. In 2010 there were 685,775 registered foreigners - let's say it's currently 1.3 million. It makes it for about 1‰ (one per mille) of the population. In majority of the European countries the figure would be somewhere between 5 and 10 % - what means your chance to meet the foreigner (living in the country - not the tourist) is 50-100x bigger for you in Europe in comparison to China. That basically explains that for vast majority of Chinese people it's a bit difficult to have the first hand experience with dealing with foreigners. The article was written in Chinese for Chinese readers and in my opinion expresses some of the main differences in behavioural pattern in its simplified form quite well. I assume the article did not intend to provide sociological research but just wanted to entertain and partly enlighten its readers. What's wrong with that? And why such a wave of negativism and arrogance? To all of the readers 恭喜发财！
Feb 17, 2015 14:48 Report Abuse
Get your math skills straight.......1.3million would be 0.1 percent of the Chinese population. lol
Feb 20, 2015 16:22 Report Abuse
Apparently somebody who 'disagrees' with current mathematics or even education as such ... - I am almost tempted to say that, based on reading some of the comments, such people are not just few on this site ...
Feb 22, 2015 14:52 Report Abuse
I am not sure that the persons who 'hate'to admit that one per mille equals to 0.1 percent are Chinese. I would more dare to guess that these two will be members of that active, hopefully small, expat group shouting the loudest how superior is their Western education to the local Chinese one. But of course, I can be wrong - anything is possible ... Anyway I think it's a good illustration of what I wrote above - some people on this site hate even the simplest 'innocent' math rule taught in the upper elementary school math class just because ...Well I really do not know why and one of the likely option is that they may need a professional treatment in some of the clinics...
Feb 24, 2015 13:38 Report Abuse
Yes, this articles is receiving exaggerated criticism here. It's not written with bad intentions, it's just simplistic in the way that much Chinese commentary can be (for instance failing to distinguish between "foreigners" and "Westerners"). Most of the points made are basically correct, except for the one on the word "laowai", which I hope is a joke
Mar 02, 2015 21:56 Report Abuse
Liars and cheats, not to be trusted. Filthy grubs, totally lacking in hygiene, manners or decency. Guiltless parasites who'll suck you dry, no matter who you are. Soulless obsequients without a shred of intelligence or curiosity. They nod as they say no. They shake their head as they say yes. Effing liars. Sorry, but this is what I see from such a large proportion of Chinese people. So called 'mainlanders'. Tell me, do I need to get my glasses checked (I did, recently. Got ripped off.)? Am I wrong? I don't effing think so!
Feb 17, 2015 11:21 Report Abuse
At the beginning I thought that some of the contributors simply had a bad day. Sure, crying about it loudly to the world is certainly that smart but hey, sometimes we all do not that smart things ... Apparently I was wrong as many these contributors are acting in this way for quite some time. I leave out the cases which apparently need a professional assistance - but a lot of comments here indicate that such people are also contributing here. A lot of these people are repeatedly writing that they hate majority (if not all) Chinese. Concurrently majority (if not all) of everyday situations makes them feel uncomfortable. What a horrible situation they are in ... They remind of a person swimming in a lake of clean fresh water but shouting:"Give me water as I am terribly thirsty!". These people everyday witness the supermodern infrustructure in all big cities, see a lot of happy people around themselves and watch the English speaking programs in the TV (or watch the movies with English subtitles in the cinema). But they conclude out of this is that majority of the.people around them are liers and cheaters with no education and manners. And all of this just because the people around them respect different values and have different opinions. Well, I do not envy to these contributors their situation ...
Feb 22, 2015 10:47 Report Abuse
living in shanghai for some years, I do not see supermodern infrastructure. is not newer than was the old in my old hometown. I do not go to cinema to watch movie with english subtitles. english speaking programs on tv ? the cctv-ccp propaganda translation ? shhh. I see people spiting on my feet. I see taxi driver open back doors of cab and piss "hidden" on the floor between the cab and doors. I see doctors in hospitals giving you medicine for "shan huo" because it is cause of every illness. I see Lambos and Ferarris, I do not hate the drivers. you cant buy them without proper driving lessons. I hate those in VW and audis and bus drivers, for their lack of driving skills.
Feb 24, 2015 00:26 Report Abuse
Nothing wrong with it. Generally all expats here have the right of the free choice. If any person concludes for himself/herself that the negative part exceeds the positive one so they may go opt for a change - whatever it is.
Feb 24, 2015 13:30 Report Abuse
The English speaking programs on Chinese TV are only to be found on one channel, and they are mostly boring documentaries and propaganda masquerading as news. Some of the infrastructure is indeed "super-modern" in some Chinese cities, but so what? Does that mean that the people are all modern and educated? When it comes to that most places in China still have pretty outdated infrastructure which is falling to pieces.
Mar 02, 2015 21:53 Report Abuse
Yet another idiotic article perpetuating the idea that everything not Chinese is part of a homogenous lump known as "foreign". Adding to that is the lack of awareness of the author about the world outside China. "6) Calling Names When foreigners hear Chinese people call them “laowai,” they often not happy about it. They do not feel that they are “lao,” or “old,” but young and healthy!" They are often not happy about it, because they often don't like racial slurs. And "foreigners" aren't called that. Non-yellow people are called that. People don't check your passport before shouting at you. It's all based on physical appearance.
Feb 17, 2015 11:18 Report Abuse
If you want to straighten them out, next time a mainlander calls you laowai call them 'da-lu-ren' back (pronounce something like 'dai-look-ren'). It means mainlander, three chinese characters, 大-陸-人. (mainland = 大-陸, people = 人) See how they respond. It can be nothing. Regardless of what's going on in their coconut they won't be able to say anything as that's what they're called, globally for decades, at least by all chinese living outside of china, in books, newspapers, TV news, articles.....etc. When you call them that the underlying message is "I know who you are". Heck, a few morons may actually be very pleased thinking you're paying them a compliment, as THEY think highly of themselves. LOL It isn't a good idea to address any chinese beyond china as that though....if you understand what I mean.... Some people only learn when they taste their own medicine. So mote it be. :)
Feb 17, 2015 20:42 Report Abuse
If we accept the notion of China and all the rest this article is saying that the rest all act the same. In that case it is surely China out of step with the rest of the world and that does not mean China is better. How long will it take for this insecure, childish, xenophobic, badly behaved nation to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of civilised behaviour, I really have no idea. Don't criticize me for these comments, when they have their own government telling them to shape up when travelling abroad and health and safety warnings being shown as a cartoon for five year olds what would you call it?
Feb 17, 2015 11:01 Report Abuse
'...whereas Chinese people are more subtle.' Manipulative would be more accurate. • 'When Chinese people go to someone's home they often like to look around, like they are shopping....their salary...' This is the favorite pastime of Mainland 'Chinese' (Mainlanders. Chinese outside of China e.g. Taiwanese, Singaporeans, Hong Kongers (despite the fact politically they are now China's territory which many of them have problems with, especially lately) rarely, if ever called mainlanders, chinese....any seasoned expat here instinctively know why). The truth is: I). Spy/CCP/Criminals 101 -- a. find out where the target keeps his assets, b. evaluate worth c. decide what and how much you can grab. Don't forget the guanxi network. Find out who s/he knows then determine how much/what you can use him/her for. II). Control freaks' mentality. Slave culture. To control slaves you need to know every single detail about them; the more the 'merrier'. 5000+ years of expertise in this area. No, it is not a game! • 'When Chinese people give a speech in public they generally do not make eye contact with the audience.' What if the emperor or someone higher than you is in the audience? i.e. Slave mentality. Play safe, keep your eyes to the floor, anywhere but the audience. • 'if the audience begins to applaud, a Chinese speaker will usually pause and begin to clap along with the audience.' A CCP invention. You don't see Taiwanese, Singaporeans, Hong Kongers...etc. do this (if you do know the ones doing it have a CCP background or an CCP's asskisser). No, they aren't clapping for themselves! It is a mass tactic. It means you are part of the crowd. To rise above the crowd is a very dangerous thing given china is full of jeolous little people. So you need to be a hypocrite and pretend 'we are all one'. This is mainlanders' 'team spirit'. It also means you are applauding them for applauding you. Smart move, right? LOL • 'When foreigners hear Chinese people call them “laowai,” they often not happy about it.' Only mainlanders use this term. You never hear chinese (including Hong Kongers) outside china using the term laowai. Ask any genuine Hong Konger, Taiwanese, Singaporean chinese, chinese all the way from Alaska to Brazil to Lebanon to UK to Zimbabwee, many of which escaped from china before CCP closed the border, some even earlier, 'how do you address people from other countries?' None of them would say laowai. If you hear laowai for sure you're talking to a mainlander (probably an illegal immigrant, a few on work visa) from china. Then ask them, 'what do you call, among yourselves, those living in china?' :) Mainlanders! There are nasty hidden meanings with the term laowai, literally translated as old-outsider, as another commenter had pointed out. • 'In order to show humility, Chinese people often “reject” the praise of others.' Humility is a cover-up. 5000+ years of slavery taught them when your master praises you something hideous is cooking. At the very least the ulterior motive is to have you work harder; there is no free lunch as they say in the West. Mainlanders take this to a new level ---- 'there is no free praise, even'. In today's term, the relationship becomes BOSS-EMPLOYEE. Bear in mind what communism is about.....your boss is your enemy. What if the person isn't your master/boss and s/he praises you, e.g. your 'friend'? There must be something s/he wants from you and that's his/her way of relaxing you, get your fences down for the kill. i.e. it is a bait/trap. Don't believe a word of the praise. Also other slaves/bystanders/'friends' may see/hear about it and that makes you a jeolousy target; a no-no in guerilla warfare. So even if you are pleased pretend you aren't. To be absolutely safe act as if you reject the entire praise. If bystanders are, unfortunately around immediately tell everybody, "I'm a piece of shit. I don't deserve ANY of that praise". Then QQ/Wechat this unfortunate incident to everyone you know; standard disaster control protocol these days. Hopefully that would neutralize their jeolousy and aggression down the line although in reality you know that's not going to happen. Yet you can hope; those laowais said being positive is good! LOL In a nutshell, facades, fakes, a pathological society filled with filth, hypocrisy, greed and violence at the core.
Feb 17, 2015 10:22 Report Abuse
The 'ghost' term came from the wars china had with western powers dating back to the 1800s. As a result of technological superiority, faster ships, guns...etc. western soldiers suddenly appeared out of nowhere and with guns they sure were fast in wiping out chinese soldiers. That got them scared to death, like ghosts did. So they called them ghosts. It's sort of a backhand compliment. They worshiped their ancestors traditionally (the ching ming festival, not in mainland china though, CCP forbade it) who were none but ghosts! So the original intention wasn't meant to be an insult but rather feared and respected. Indeed the "lao" in laowai was meant to be an affectionate, 'I've known this bloke for a long time', as in "lao peng you" (peng you = 朋友 = friend). Of course they have that. But they wouldn't call you that, ever wonder why? I would say every culture has its equivalent expression of old-friend. BUT, have you heard of any society calling foreigners old-outsiders? The trick is in the combination. When you combine it with a "wai" (outsider), it subtly means no manner how long you've known each other you're still an outsider, i.e. caution warranted. The derogatory sense is actually more than ghost especially if you understood that chinese traditionally has a low opinion of outsiders, anything beyond the middle kingdom they looked down upon as savages and did their best to keep out. This was why they built the great wall of china in the first place, more than 2000 years ago. The full sentence is thus "we've known you for a long time, laowai, you savages'.
Feb 23, 2015 14:11 Report Abuse
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