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Q: Does the average Chinese feel they are contributing to society?
Does the Chinese people you know (or is) have a feeling they are part of building modern China, or do they see themselves as people who are just on for the ride?
Edit: When I ask about society, I am talking about China as a whole. The economic growth, the high speed rails etc. The things that are obvious sources of pride for people, do people feel like contributers?
Anyone who looks on the concept of society favourably shows courtesy to people they don't know.
China has no sense of community. Nobody is prepared to go to any personal effort to make their society a better place. Chinese people have no notion of contributing to something without obvious, personal benefit.
In other countries, people have reached a social consensus - If we all treat each other with respect, everyone benefits. In China it’s a race to climb on top of each other. Everyone for themselves, and everyone loses. That's “Communism”.
Scandinavian:
True. But e.g. the small business man (you know the type, white shirt, black pants, swings his car keys in one hand and cigarette in the other hand) despite he is doing what he is doing for personal gain, his business is still generating jobs, maybe exporting some stuff or providing components for other industries. he could be considered to be a contribute as he is creating jobs and generating tax revenue. but, does he see that himself after having spent the majority of time thinking about how he can contribute to his own wellbeing ?
Samsara:
That's a romantic way of looking at it.
Chinese people love this kind of retroactive justification for their actions. If they can find any positive aspect of what they do, it will, in retrospect, be considered the motive.
Here's another example:
In Western countries, customers in McDonalds can help themselves to condiments. In China, the condiments are kept behind the counter. This is because in China, if you put free stuff in public, the first person to see it will take it all.
According to a Chinese book I was reading, however, the reason for keeping the condiments hidden is that Chinese customer service staff love to serve. They want to hand out the condiments because they are culturally conditioned to be considerate.
If offered two explanations, Chinese people will pick the favourable one, not the rational one. This is why Chinese people accept national myths so easily. They would prefer to put a positive spin on something than face the reality. This is why China doesn't overcome problems.
Returning to the topic - Chinese workers are treated atrociously, by western standards. You could try to fit "good intentions" or "community spirit" in there somewhere, but I wouldn't bother.
Anyone who looks on the concept of society favourably shows courtesy to people they don't know.
China has no sense of community. Nobody is prepared to go to any personal effort to make their society a better place. Chinese people have no notion of contributing to something without obvious, personal benefit.
In other countries, people have reached a social consensus - If we all treat each other with respect, everyone benefits. In China it’s a race to climb on top of each other. Everyone for themselves, and everyone loses. That's “Communism”.
Scandinavian:
True. But e.g. the small business man (you know the type, white shirt, black pants, swings his car keys in one hand and cigarette in the other hand) despite he is doing what he is doing for personal gain, his business is still generating jobs, maybe exporting some stuff or providing components for other industries. he could be considered to be a contribute as he is creating jobs and generating tax revenue. but, does he see that himself after having spent the majority of time thinking about how he can contribute to his own wellbeing ?
Samsara:
That's a romantic way of looking at it.
Chinese people love this kind of retroactive justification for their actions. If they can find any positive aspect of what they do, it will, in retrospect, be considered the motive.
Here's another example:
In Western countries, customers in McDonalds can help themselves to condiments. In China, the condiments are kept behind the counter. This is because in China, if you put free stuff in public, the first person to see it will take it all.
According to a Chinese book I was reading, however, the reason for keeping the condiments hidden is that Chinese customer service staff love to serve. They want to hand out the condiments because they are culturally conditioned to be considerate.
If offered two explanations, Chinese people will pick the favourable one, not the rational one. This is why Chinese people accept national myths so easily. They would prefer to put a positive spin on something than face the reality. This is why China doesn't overcome problems.
Returning to the topic - Chinese workers are treated atrociously, by western standards. You could try to fit "good intentions" or "community spirit" in there somewhere, but I wouldn't bother.
It depends on exactly what you mean by the question. In the Chinese countryside, there is a strong community spirit because, without pooling their combined resources, collectively they all collapse together. Farming communities rely on each other for survival. If a well is needed, several families will combine physical or perhaps financial resources to make it happen then share the benefit. However, in the cities, Chinese macroeconomic policies and "mind management" have combined to form the biggest rat race on earth. Then it becomes each for their own and the devil takes the hindmost. It is the Open and Reform Policy and the rapid expansion of the economy thereafter created all the selfishness and greed. Traditionally, community spirit is strong amongst Chinese.
Scandinavian:
I see your point. The question is about contributing to the rise of China as a country.
Kaiwen:
Sorry, that's me trying to do work on one computer and look at echinacities on another computer. No, I think most of the can only see as far as what is good for them and don't care as long as they see the benefits.
It depends, for the most part I would have to agree with Kai and Sam, even my wife, if I ask her to attend an important business dinner her reply is typically, why, how does it benefit her. I have noticed in the younger generations that they are trying desperately to change the image of China in regards to society and environmental issues, but the mass majority believe in me, me, me, and nothing else. I also see they heavily rely on Short-Term gains instead of Long-Term gains, they would prefer to cheat and steal and close shop in two or three years instead of relying on honesty and hospitality to make close relationships that could, in essence show the most profit over a longer period of time.
