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Q: In China...really?
My question is something I have thought about for quite some time.
In my 7 years here..."in China".....I have heard this expression so many times I want to puke. People regularly attempt to explain things to me by prefacing their response with the words, "In China.......". That in itself leads me to draw the conclusion that they think all Chinese people are the same with similar beliefs and reasons for doing whatever they do. However, when I call them on that they quickly pull a 180 and say that no, they aren't the same. So what is it? I suppose they could be explaining something to me without giving the subject much thought. There's that.
Growing up in Canada I doubt I have ever uttered the words, "In Canada..." in an attempt to explain my actions. Canada is diverse and geographically it has many different areas. Comparing the similarities of Vancouver to Toronto to Montreal to Halifax is almost impossible, so to say, "In Canada..." would sound ridiculous to me.
China too, is diverse. So why the insistence for the Chinese to say, "In China..." on a daily basis? Is that justification for any behavior?
In a theoretically homogenous society, people generalize about the people, the culture, and their beliefs.
Having traveled and lived in the North, south, East and West of China, I have been able to generalize about certain facets of the people and so tell my friends back home, "In China..."
I'll give you an example: in the north people generally are more concerned with face than money. In the south, people are more preoccupied with money...face comes second. now, you can argue that people generally appear materialistic in both parts of China, but in my experience, I discovered the money/face thing to be true. Exceptions? Sure! But my friends don't want to hear the minute differences. It's easier to generalize than to conduct a three-hour lecture on the nuances.
Look at the news: China Daily does not say, "The United States has hurt the feelings of Mr. Zhou in Changsha, Mrs. Li in Beijing, Mrs. Yang in Wuxi..." They say, "The United States has hurt the feelings of the Chinese people." Kids in the classroom do it too, "We Chinese...in China we..." It's all about appearing homogenous and the word that makes me puke 'harmonious'.
And so it goes.
Stereotypes are stereotypes and are often wrong, however, it is often a lot easier to use them than to point out all the exceptions.
I've lost count of how many times I use "In Britain...." or "In America...." in my lessons, especially those presentations I do on British 'culture' etc.
Xpat.John:
Everyone knows that British 'culture is like British cuisine. It just doesn't exist. 
dharma86:
Being British is about driving in a German Car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then on the way to your home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab to sit on a Swedish sofa and watch USA shows on a Japanese TV. And most of all being suspicious of anything foreign. Oh and Only in Britain... Can you get a pizza to your home faster than an ambulance. Only in Britain do banks leave both doors open and chain pens to the counter. Also supermarkets make sick people walk to the back of the shop for prescriptions whilst healthy people get their fags at the front of the shop.
and yet the same group of people compliant about Chinese people generalizing foreigners
mArtiAn:
I think what Siyingyuan is saying is that you are generalizing in saying the Chinese generalize, even though in general you don't generally like it when the Chinese generalize about you.
Yeh, it doesn't make sense to me either.derek:
I expected some simple replies that haven't been thoroughly thought out. Her/his reply was a rather feeble attempt that clearly shows the lack of depth of thought and when broken down is nothing more than "Don't criticize China"....My point was an observation but in her/his mind it was a critique.
China has launched policy which clamp down on smoking. But, I cannot see it works.Maybe paying fines will work wonders.!
