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Q: What kind of freedom do Chinese people have and westerners don't?
e.g. the freedom to interrupt other people's freedom.
They have the freedom to spit, litter, pee on the street or even in the hospital too.
Freedom to be xenophobic and to stereotype other races.
Freedom to cross the street anywhere anytime.
Freedom to drive on sidewalks.
Freedom to beat women.
Mmmmh, I am so envious now.
China affords a great deal more freedom in how you conduct yourself.
Standards of social behaviour, maturity, responsibility, honesty, and personal grooming are much lower than in the West. The degree of competence and professionalism expected at work is almost non-existent.
I think the personal restraint required to be a civilised Westerner is far beyond most Chinese people's comprehension. The behaviour of non-university-educated Chinese is more-or-less comparable to that of bogans (the lowest strata of Australian society). The only major differences are:
1. Chinese males aren't brave. Credit where it's due - a bogan doesn't require overwhelming odds before attacking.
2. Chinese women don't wear ugg boots and tights.
With all that said, I must confess to doing something that I would never do in the West: I habitually smile at Chinese girls who are with their boyfriends. I always get a reciprocal smile, often accompanied by inappropriately long eye contact. Wonderful.
rasklnik:
You are really pushing your luck...I mean you only need to get hit with one bottle and it ruins your whole day...
SpongeBob:
I agree with most part. But Chinese women don't wear ugg boots and tights? I know some do.
walk around in public having a cerveza or 10. The last I recall one may not chug the suds on the streets of the US. granted I haven't hung out in the US in over a decade ~
Drink in public, use the sidewalk as a toilet, use the sidewalk as a parking lot, use the sidewalk as a road, smoke in elevators and hospitals, make ignorant hateful statements about Japan without social condemnation, live in cheap apartments that wouldn't meet code in western countries, eat cheap food from restaurants that would be shut down in western countries, visit 30 usd hookers if one is so inclined, freedom to pay 2-3 times the price for quality imported products, live in some of the most polluted and congested cities on earth, the freedom to buy ones way out of most criminal offenses
China offers some freedoms that wouldn't fly in Western countries. You can discriminate. You can be being completely politically incorrect (ok, that's refreshing ^^) .... As long it's not against the party.
You can say ignorant crap, people won't debate and they will let you speak. Being self-coherent is the least of your worries. You can blissfully ignore the consequences of your acts like a complete psychopath : people might mumble about it, and that's it. If it makes you rich, you will be praised for it ! Serve yourself, it's all that matters. Responsibility does not bind you, self-reliance is not pressuring you. As a man, you are not bound by the same expectations.
earthizen:
The ultimate question with freedom is what you do with it (i.e. once you have it). The difference between good and evil is good knows limits, evil knows none.
You have the ability to walk down the street drinking beer without getting arrested. And almost everything is freer, unless it has to do with the CCP.
They have the freedom to spit, litter, pee on the street or even in the hospital too.
Freedom from dress codes. It's actually kind of liberating. Do you want to wear pajamas on the street? Jeans to a wedding? Ball gown on a plane? Swimming trunks instead of shorts? Hooker dresses to an office job? Have at it! It seems like no cleavage is the only rule.
earthizen:
That's the mainlanders' version of 'women liberation movement'. 
Not that they weren't liberated before (guanxi network to barter for favors), it is just that now they think they have money they figure they can be as nasty as they want, in public. Often enough a quick way to see what someone is really like is to give him or her plenty of money, or whatever he or she wants, then see what happens. 
dom87:
the no cleavage really sucks though...
guess its because many would not have, all padded bras to the max
Freedom to double prices when they see foreigners and gaining face by cheating them
-In china public intoxication, being a bully (if your father is Li Gang), and beating your wife are all legal.
-In the USA , guns, voting, and starting your own church or newspaper or political organization are all legal.
-Do you realize that even starting a Chess Club, with more than 10 members, would get you monitored here? CHESS!
Total and complete freedom from any form of responsibility.
Wow, received so many responses during the weekend. Seems like China is totally the land of freedom...
Just came up with some more
the freedom of talking loudly in the streets
the freedom of selling stuff illegally in the streets and block the streets
the freedom of stealing, robbing or cheating without being reported coz no one cares.
True chinese get away with everything, stealing, cheating, lying, pissing in elevators, shitting in the street or on the bus, spitting, spreading rumors about foreigners and RACISM.
When you tell them they get offended!!
First world country?? Very far from it. They lack in every department. If the world was divided into a body CHINA would be the asshole!
True chinese get away with everything, stealing, cheating, lying, pissing in elevators, shitting in the street or on the bus, spitting, spreading rumors about foreigners and RACISM.
When you tell them they get offended!!
First world country?? Very far from it. They lack in every department. If the world was divided into a body CHINA would be the asshole!
One thing I love about China is that one can buy any alcoholic beverages 24/7. Wonderful. I hate the alcohol laws in the USA. In my state, one cannot buy a bottle of wine or liquor in a liquor store on Sunday. Why? Because it's fucking Sunday! In my asinine state, one cannot buy wine or liquor (but can beer) in a supermarket. One has to go to a liquor store. The liquor stores in my state can only sell wine and liquor. Nothing else. No smokes, snacks, soft drinks, mixers, not even a corkscrew. And again, they have to be closed on Sundays.
Second, how funky and crowded the Chinese transportation system is, China has a pretty decent transportation system, and it is much, much better than in the USA. I have lived in China for 14 years, and i have never, ever felt the need to own a car. I can take the subway, city busses (which are crowded, but not bad, and 1-3 RMB is a great deal), or taxis, which are not near as expensive as taxis in the USA. In the vast majority of the USA, one has to have a car. It is a must because American public transportation sucks ass. I would not take the crappy transportation in my city, too ghetto. Taxis are expensive as hell. There is a government train company called Amtrak, but the majority of their routes are inconvenient.
I dont want or need a car. Buying the car costs $10-30,000 for an average automobile. Must buy insurance, which I hate. I hate insurance companies and do not want to give them my money. Maintenance, tires, oil changes, repairing damages. Being an attraction for police stopping people for tickets and fines. Screw cars.
Lastly, i do not have to worry about getting my head blown off here by a mutant with a gun. Almost no people in China have guns or really would want them anyhow. America is awash with guns. People think it makes society safer. That's insanity. If you need to tote a firearm to make yourself feel safe, this means your society is sick and violent, and guns do not help the problem. I do not like guns and glad i do not have to be worried about some thug robbing and shooting me.
To Daphne from New Jersey about dress codes.....
I love that I can teach in China wearing regular street clothing, wear T-shirts and shorts in hot weather at school, and most wonderful, not having to wear a goddamned tie. I HATE TIES with a passion. It is a worthless accessory, uncomfortable, and stupid.
Americans equate ties with respect for some reason. My first job in high school was working in a supermarket where the men had to wear ties but could wear blue jeans and most did. One day a schoolmate went in there looking for a job. Nice guy, good student and he dressed well. When he left, I told the manager that i knew him and he was a super nice fellow. Asshole manager threw away his application. Why? Because the kid didnt wear a tie! He also wore blue jeans! For the record, his pants were cleaned and pressed and he wore a nice, preppy button down shirt, and was clean cut. But he didnt wear a tie!
in Japan and Thailand, male teachers have to wear ties to work. I dont. Neither do my bosses up to the big bosses. There are lots of formal pictures with Xi Jinping and Hu Jintao without ties, either open necked button downs or Mao jackets. When i got married, i did not wear a damned tie! I hope to never have to lower myself to having to wear one!
Spiderboenz:
So... Does it get crowded in your mothers basement when you go home? Is that why you left for Asia in the first place?
chinaglenn:
I am going back to America tomorrow for the first time in almost 15 years. Yes, I did live with the folks on and off through most of my 20's. I was not very happy where I lived, i do not in particular like my culture or city, and if it were not for my aged parents and myself being an only child, the USA can honestly kiss my ass. I am very offended that I can come, visit and work in this so called evil, racist, Communist nation, but my wife (Chinese) has to go through a bunch of hoops and bullshit and then have to go to Shanghai for a fucking interview and get turned down like she did ten years ago. I want my wife to go with me tomorrow. Really, fuck America and fuck all these nation states with their stupid laws and regulations!
I see all this crap about spitting, peeing etc. I lived in Nanning for over one year and never saw anyone spit or pee in public?
Freedom from the police sweating me - watching my every interaction and move, waiting to bash my head in with their clubs..welcome to the US of A!
