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Q: Would you rather have been a German during WW2 or a Chinese person during Mao's time in power?
Simple question, but please rationalize any answers you offer...
A German during WWII so I could potentially get rid of dumb-ass questions and trolls on this site.
A German during WWII so I could potentially get rid of dumb-ass questions and trolls on this site.
A German, I'd have had access to the autobahn in my Beetle. (and despite it being downhill for the average Schultz towards the end of the war, it is a relatively short period of complete crap, assuming you were in the West German part)
German, they were less hungry and on average, WW2 might have been less lethal per capita and less destructive, than Mao's social experiments (because they let him fumble around several times...)
Dude.
This is a website for foreigners in china to give free advice to other foreigners looking for help.
Yeah, well, no. Actually it's a website the owners hope to make money from. Fair play to them. But a lot of people have knowledge they are happy to pass on, in exchange for a bit of banter and ranting now and then. We are all nutters and like a good spar.
Please play fair and abide by the law of the land so those of us who want to help answer questions can.
Yeah, the laws of China might suck. But they are what they are. And if you chose to come here you must abide by them. Same as any other country on earth.
Please don't be so political 
ScotsAlan:
Your two questions are at the top of the scoreboard at the moment. One mentions Nazi Germany and the other mentions the lack of Jewish athletes.
I'm not sure I like the improvements to society you proclaim China needs.
We have been there, done that, and we don't want to go back.
Yeah, every nation on earth is a bit slow to learn from it's own history. Every nation has it's own story.
If you want to change things, go home, publish your manifesto and pay your deposit in the election.
sorrel:
@ScotsAlan 
asking about a comparison between Mao and Nazi Germany is political.
OP would you ask the same question in Germany ?
OP, you say that your students ask you these kind of questions despite your requests not to.
simple solution - you are the teacher and should be in some degree of control of the content of your class.
if you are a Uni teacher, there are some Party members in your class. What sort of surveillance do you think you are under? You might laugh at that comment but remember that they will put any interpretation they like on your answers, so your attempt to be the 'cool' teacher could back-fire dramatically.
Even at that age Uni students don't have the objective capacity to process your responses as you think.
Shall we see you back here online with a serious problem with your employer?
ScotsAlan:
Yup sorrel.
Perhaps at the moment I am a bit over sensitive to the Nazi subject.
They do exist. I know one. In China.
I live in China and I post on this site. I am in no doubt at all that I am known to the authorities.
That's why I urge caution to people answering potentially inflamatory questions.
We don't know where the OP is.
There seems to be an attack by the CFTU at the moment to get this site shut down.
Or maybe it's Craig.
Go away Craig.
Yeah, it's probably Craig.
Don't take the bait guys
laowaigentleman:
No, it isn't Craig. I had a terrible day, that's all. I shouldn't say those kinds of things. At least you guys were right to cover yourselves.
My new job is shit, but I shouldn't take it out on the whole country. I have a good network of friends here.
Don't read too much into the German stuff. China certainly doesn't compare with what those people did.
@Scots: T. is not from Oz or NZ. He's actually from Vanuatu.
Sorrel and Scots for AoD! I didn't mean to click on this thread, but I'm glad I did. Sino made me ask for 02 'infusion'. Again!
Nazi uniforms were only 10 million times cooler looking !!!
plus an off chance of meeting Rick @ Cafe' Americain.
German for sure. For non-Jewish Germans life was generally pretty good until the later years in the war. There was a lot of glory and pride in their misguided sense of nationalism. In the Mao years.......... they people enjoyed Maonutrition.
I just want to apologize to my hosts for asking this in a way which might come across as provocative.
My grandmother in law is one such survivor from the founding days. She is the most frugal person in the world, but she is warm hearted and generous. As is her husband. I am fascinated about their lives, but when I ask questions, they're clearly uncomfortable about reminiscing.
My great uncle was a war correspondent and fought in both the battles of Crete and El Alamein. History fascinates me.
Let me be clear that I had no intention of comparing China's founder to Adolf Hitler.
Explaining is losing anyhow, but I've already lost, so meh.
Sorry if I offended anyone. This is why I'm not a member of the diplomatic service.
i would agree that many of the older people have fascinating life stories to tell.
Maybe wait until they are ready to talk about it, as they get to know you better.
If you share/show historical material from your family first and then don't push for their reminisces, they may become more comfortable with your interest.
I know being on the receiving end of personal questions from strangers is uncomfortable.
laowaigentleman:
I am so fascinated that I've been virtually bursting out of my skin in anticipation of hearing the stories. The problem is that my fiancee isn't interested in history or culture at all. She is a good person, we just have divergent interests. She is a designer, whereas I studied philosophy and English literature.
I think if she had some minute interest, she could have told me some things, so I'm feeling like I'm missing out on opportunities. They're also very old, and her grandfather is a smoker. I may miss out altogether.
Because of how harsh their life as farmers must have been, I've always had this question in the back of my mind. It just came out horribly insensitively because I've been under a lot of stress trying to get 600 primary school students to behave themselves in my 40 minute classes. I'm gradually getting there, but I had to ask for some help today from the management.
To my surprise they've given me tonnes of helpful solutions and have agreed to discuss the children's behaviour with all of the other teachers in their next meeting! This surpassed my expectations as some of the kids scream like crazy with excitement and I come away literally dazed. I was also lied to about my working conditions and I've been seething about it for weeks.
The last few weeks had been hell, but it's finally over and everything's resolving itself nicely.
