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Q: Are uneducated/poorly educated people louder?
This is something I observe in China (and in other countries as well but much more obvious here due to the gaps in education).
Well educated Chinese people (often those who studied abroad or in HK) tend to be quiet and discreet, not only in the way they talk but also in the way they behave, while poorly educated people tend to be as loud as possible, and to be inconsiderate of their surrounding.
Are those people loud and by extent obnoxious because they otherwise have limited means to express themselves and to be heard? Where well educated people have influent positions and know how to use the tools at their disposal to be heard.
I almost cannot hear your question. My MIL is two rooms down talking on her phone. She falls into the better educated group, from a family of better educated people who've all held decent jobs until the very early retirement.
Could you repeat your question with CAPS lock on ?
Eorthisio:
Haha, maybe Chinese are the exception after all. But, your MIL falls into the better educated category? Impossible if she went to school under Mao. Even today any school/university in China (yes even Tsinghua) is far below the average back home.
I almost cannot hear your question. My MIL is two rooms down talking on her phone. She falls into the better educated group, from a family of better educated people who've all held decent jobs until the very early retirement.
Could you repeat your question with CAPS lock on ?
Eorthisio:
Haha, maybe Chinese are the exception after all. But, your MIL falls into the better educated category? Impossible if she went to school under Mao. Even today any school/university in China (yes even Tsinghua) is far below the average back home.
If I were to apply your question to another country, would the answer be the same?
Lets apply it to America. And don't worry, I'm not American bashing 
English are considered quiet, well mannered and subdued. Americans loud, brash and confident. Stereotypes of course.
Ask an American why they are considered loud compared to the English, and he will probably tell you it's because they have left the fuedal " know your place and shut up" class system behind. Hey, they even had a war of independence and wrote a constitution that says everyone is equal. There are no "cap doffers" in the States, thank you very much. And quite right too.
Chinese have gone through the same experience (almost !!! ) as Americans. They were treated bad in the days of empire, revolted and were told they were all equal.
No need to tip your cap to anyone anymore. Go out and be confident !!!
So it could be a freedom thing. Yes? No?
Alternatively, maybe it's just a traditional family value thing. The traditional British upbringing (in the not too recent past) was to rule the kids with a rod of iron. One squeek and it was the slipper on the backside and go to bed without supper.
Kid here seem to have a lot more freedom than that. So they grow up to be more confident?
On the freedom side, laws and rules tend to be enforced by western Governments. Do wrong and you will be arrested and be labeled as a bad person. And we all know bad people don't get good jobs.
Chinese don't really enforce petty laws. So maybe the people feel free compared to us.
Just rambling here really, but I reckon it's this stupid shame thing. We are brought up to feel shame for the slightest error we make. And we all know that was really an invention of the various Churches to keep the plebs under control and the clergy in jobs. Terrible thing this shame stuff. Destroys a lot of people's lives.
So there is my conclusion, at last. Chinese have not had this sense of "shame" instilled in them to the same extent as westerners. I for one am for that
Oh dear, does this mean I am not allowed to complain about someone speaking too loudly ever again 
Burak43:
Interesting point of view. But about the "not having shame" in China, then how come face is such a big part of Chinese culture?
Scandinavian:
Face = iPhone or knowing the city big-wig
No shame = Crapping on the street, cutting queue
would this be a correct analysis, and also conclude that the two are not mutually exclusive
ScotsAlan:
I agree with scan re face and shame. My answer was just a ramble really, I am ashamed to say :-o
Scandinavian:
You wrote long answer = you gain face
You wrote long ramble = you have no shame
Conclusion ???
ScotsAlan:
I lose face if I show shame. I gain face by having no shame. They are different things. You gain face by pointing out my shame :-)
ScotsAlan:
Ah. Sorry Scan. With respect to the question.....gain face by speaking loud.
Scandinavian:
sure, just putting your ramblings in perspective..... it would have been different had you had caps lock on. :)
Eorthisio:
I disagree with the idea that kids grow up to be more confident in China, local youth are the purest definition of coward, they feel strong when numerous but look down when alone, I know this is related to the social norms in China (and most of Asia) favoring groups above individuals, where you must be part of a group otherwise you are nothing, but that still make them cowards.
One e.g. in my previous place there were youth shouting "Hellowwwww!" across the street when seeing a foreigner (including me) before giggling with their friends, when walking past them when they were alone the same guys looked down or when they saw me early enough they crossed the street, probably scared that I would face them with their bullshit (I am not a violent person, but I am massive and very tall). If that is not being a coward then what is it? And by youth I mean around 20~25 not stoopid teenagers.
get earpiece already
My own experience is that people who grew up in countryside, or have been raised by people who grew up in countryside tend to be louder, vs city dwellers. I observed this in Vietnam too. In a village, speaking loudly is less of a nuisance compared to a city, due to population density. A large fraction of (half ? more than half ?) Chinese urban population is made of 1st ord 2nd generation city dwellers, so there, people tend to be loud. One more factor is that in China, you rather pretend to not see/hear what you don't like rather than being vocal about it.
I am not sure it is a question of education. Being "well educated" does not make one more secure. There are many "educated" people who are the loudest of loud. Substituting the word education with ignorance works well for me.
As said above, it is because half the city dwellers grew up on a farm. China can copy modern cities, but it can't copy civilization. That takes time.
