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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Do you feel guilty when breaking the law in China?
The fresh of the boat laowais tend to be more careful. Those who have been here longer know that many "rules" in China are loosely enforced and can be openly bypassed without the enforcers giving an damn.
It ranges anywhere from casual infractions such as crossing the street randomly to more serious ones like working for a different company than the one that processed your working visa (or using a visa agent). Everyone including those enforcers seems to think it is normal, maybe they are not paid enough to care?
Is it hard to re-adapt yourself back home? Such as using the zebra crossings (that only exist for aesthetical purposes in China). My relatives in Germany thought I was crazy when I crossed the street randomly. I didn't even give it a second thought, it was "normal" to me.
Have you ever gone outside without your passport upon your person? Congrats, you're a criminal!
As for my self, I try to live after my own moral rules, the law isn't worth anything in China afteral.
Is there law here? FFS, you learn something new every day
gouxiong:
I am of the opinion that one of the most typical and lasting feature of Chinese traditional culture in the current China is ‘superiority of the morality over the law’.
Unfortunately it brings certain confusion into the system and this especially from the Western person perspective.
I also find the Chinese system lacking a lot on formality and especially on 'predictability' of the outcome.
But it apparently works well in current Chinese society ...
gouxiong:
I am of the opinion that one of the most typical and lasting feature of Chinese traditional culture in the current China is ‘superiority of the morality over the law’.
Unfortunately it brings certain confusion into the system and this especially from the Western person perspective.
I also find the Chinese system lacking a lot on formality and especially on 'predictability' of the outcome.
But it apparently works well in current Chinese society ...
RiriRiri:
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Ah seriously gouxiong you went so over yourself on that one.
"Superiority of the morality over law" with a straight face. You're golden.
Chinese judicial system is the most steady and predictable in the world: whoever has more money wins. Confusion only comes from the pile of excuses required to justify the resulting bullshit.
expatlife26:
Come on Gouxiong you know damn well that's crap.
At best you're being naive and at worst you're ignoring all the evidence to the contrary.
DrMonkey:
@gouxiong "it brings certain confusion into the system"
Understatement of the year ^^ Law based on an informal, understated code of morality in practice, is a conveniently malleable law that can be bend as it suits. Usually, it is bent favorably to the strong and the wealthier. It is extremely sensible to pressures and self-indulgence. You're right actually, and that fits very well with reality.
Nope. but then I don't break any laws that amount to anything. I work on the side illegally, I drink and perambulate in public, of course I jay-walk, but that's not really a law here.
I do benefit from endemic corruption, and just wish I could figure out how to benefit a bit more.
Nope.
mike695ca:
HAha whats with the edit? I didnt notice anything so incriminating.
Robk:
Decided it probably wasn't smart if I ever got into an issue with the government or some foreigner here... that decided he wanted to be an ass and point out the post lol.
Driving is an interesting one....in China I drive like a local....when I'm back in the UK there is a mental switch...triggered by driving on the opposite side of the road...all of a sudden I'm a polite driver, letting people out of side roads, driving politely, using my main beam only when necessary!
For the most part i work really hard not to break laws. Traffic and that stuff i mean. Not out of fear or anything. But i feel i cant be morally superior if im acting like the Chinese. I dont run red lights, i wait at the crosswalk every time. I never take shortcuts just because I am in China. Its aggravating being the only one. But it gives me free reign to curse others out.
I try my best to act like I am in Canada. Which is perhaps why i am so pissed off all the time. People back home dont disrespect others in the street. And if they do they can expect a beating.
mike695ca:
Yes! It almost never happens. But if you did almost any of the rude shit the people do here to people in not hust Canada but any normal.damn place there would be trouble. So people dont do rude shit and this equals much less conflict. But if someone in Canada was rude id tell him to suck it and if he challenged me then yes, id be forced ( by my pride) to act. Try going to Canada and even littering. You will have someone in your face.
Spiderboenz:
Forced to fight... by your pride...
Isn't that similar to the whole "face" concept? Are you SURE that you aren't acting like Chinese do?
mike695ca:
You wouldnt understand. You lost any sense of pride a long time ago.
BHGAL:
littering in Canada,,a moment I remember.
My sister and brother in law giving me a ride.
pulled over on the highway to switch drivers. sis giving up the wheel to bro.
I'm in the front passenger seat and opened the door, dropped a banana peel on the road shoulder.
sis, says pick it up .... I say wtf, it's biodegradable, she says pick it up.
I picked it up and lost a lot of "Face" that moment, on the Trans Canada Highway.
fast forward to today... my wife drops stuff on the floor in the halls at home, I say pick it up, she says the cleaners clean every day, I say pick it up. she picks it up and finds the garbage can 10ft away.Robk:
Hahahaha...
Nothing pisses a Canadian off more than a litter bug.
Usually people are like... "Oh Canadians, they are laid-back, overly polite and calm people... they... don't kill me man! That paper just fell out of my pocket! Oh god, no!"
Eorthisio what laws have you broken? I'll call the police ASAP. Wow just made myself a quick Y300 for turning over a criminal. Pizza's on me.
dongbeiren:
How does that work? I wasn't aware of such a policy. Does the crime have to be serious?
ironman510:
If you report illegal foreigners or criminals in China you get Y300 in big cities.. Last year and 2013 guys made some big money.. I knew some guys who did this, they asked me if I knew anyone. But I don't get involved in that sh*t.. Everyones my brother from another mother.
dongbeiren:
Illegal and criminal as in working on a tourist visa, drug trafficking, paying for sex at a KTV, running a school in an unlicensed location, unpaid parking tickets? Just wondering what kinds of foreigners the powers that be would be after to be offering rewards.
I guess it all depends if you are a Ralph or a Jack. I personally want to be more like Ralph. I try to follow the rules I do back home, and feel guilty when I don't. Maybe you are a Jack.
Have you ever gone outside without your passport upon your person? Congrats, you're a criminal!
As for my self, I try to live after my own moral rules, the law isn't worth anything in China afteral.
I only violate the thing about not carrying my passport at all times. It is very much on purpose. The trick is, if you ever get picked up by the police, you can say "hey, let's go to my place and pick up my passport" instead of going straight to the station.
expatlife26:
I also don't. I bet on my good judgment and charisma to avoid any police issues. So far so good.
Eorthisio:
I have never ever been checked by the police in 8 years though.
expatlife26:
Yeah same here Ive never been stopped just not something I worry about
royceH:
You get stopped and checked here whenever you enter or leave another town.
Tensions can run pretty high out here.
I flash them my drivers license. Before I had a Chinese one I handed over my Australian one. The responses were often funny. But they always waved me on, eventually.
I never carry my passport as to do so would be extremely stupid.
You mean there are laws here in China? I just thought they were suggestions. Damn! I have been doing it all wrong.
My city has barricaded all the streets and so I ride my bike up the wrong way. Do I feel guilty? No. Because of the incompetent and delusional drivers I have been forced to ride the wrong way.
Is drinking beer in the public domain illegal in China? B/c if it is I'm guilty of that one too.
And I have a few private classes and have sex with wildlife.
Damn!
fada:
Just for a second i thought you said wild sex life, then i looked closer! :)