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Posts: 67

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Q: Why are some foreigners to smear China's culture

Chinese not discredit your culture,every country have there own culture.

12 years 29 weeks ago in  Culture - Chengdu

 
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Posts: 371

Shifu

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The Chinese don't discredit other cultures because 99% of them are not allowed to leave China.
Those who do leave live seperatly from the culture of the country in which they reside, making their own small China away from China. If that isn't discreditable then I don't know what is because it is extremely disrespectful.

As far as China goes: most people know that the liberal west will never keep it's mouth shut. Even when we have it good we will complain. Lucky for us we are in China and China provides us with a lifetime of complaints.

If ever China decided to evolve from the 16th century and modernise itself we would get bored, that, or we would slap you all back to the Ming dynasty.

tonyjimenez:

Well Said.

12 years 29 weeks ago
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12 years 29 weeks ago

Tired of dirt and lies.

 
Posts: 1197

Shifu

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Every time a Chinese person makes the assumption that all foreigners are playboys who came to China to have sex with Chinese girls, our culture is insulted. Every time Chinese people argue that China is better because it has 5000+ years of history compared to the West's 3000+ years, our culture is insulted.

Chinese people insult the West and its people all the time. Most of you are just too ignorant to realize it. Sad, hard truth.

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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questions to you. which comments do you think are smears? how come you dont argue a specific point? to you anything negative about china is a smear?

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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How do we smear your culture?? If nose picking, street shitting, chain smoking, phone yelling, bad driving, poor hygiene, horrible fashion sense, rude behavior is part of your culture ... well yah then I attack it!!! As a civilized person I must! No apology.

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 371

Shifu

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I actually don't think that foreigners smear Chinese culture.

Most foreigners actually like China and Chinese culture.

The thing that ruins it all for us and what we dislike the most are the Chinese people.

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12 years 29 weeks ago

Tired of dirt and lies.

 
Posts: 960

Shifu

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I do not smear the culture of the past, because it is what it was. I at times question the logic behind some of the past customs that have not evolved as they would in a country with more freedoms to question those customs and I do also question some of the habbits/norms that many of the people exhibit and why they still exist. But what you need to inderstand is that those same questions have been and still are being asked in my own country of my own people and should always be asked so that society can hopefully improve and evolve.
Yes there are a few on here who are pretty ruthless in some of their criticism and when I am a guest in your country I chose not to be as severe in my criticism. This does not mean that I dont share their thoughts though but I try to be more tolerant and understand that these behaviours such as Njord highlights will slowly improve now that there is a more open society.
These things though are not culture and so please dont accuse anyone who questions behaviour as criticising your culture.

On the other hand at times I think that the reaction of locals to those on here who are questioning peoples dress, behaviours and beliefs etc is not disimilar to the reaction I have when the dress codes and behaviours of Australian women for example are questioned by those of the Islamic faith who visit or now reside in Australia.

So I think the answer to all this is to take the middle road. That is that anyone has the right to politely question these norms/behaviours/culture/beliefs and to peacefully debate the matter. But no one has the right to coerce/force/disrupt/attack/discriminate or constantly whinge about what people in the country they reside in do as long is what they do is within that countries laws.

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 461

Shifu

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If really some many foreigners smeared Chinese culture, then you wouln't see any foreigners attending all the Chinese New Year celebrations organized in most part of Western countries (US, France, UK, Germany, etc).

As a foreigner and married with a Chinese wife, I can tell you that foreigners have a great interest in Chinese culture (arts, movie, festivals, literature, language, etc), but they may tend to "smear" Chinese people, because the few things they can tell about their culture or China are : China has a 5000 year-old-culture, we are the founder of martial arts, Tibet is part of China, Taiwan is part of China, Paracels islands are part of China, Vietname invaded China, etc....

While most part of Chinese can't even write traditional Chinese characters, they have no interest in their own culture (martial arts, caligraphy, painting)......I don't know how many read Confucius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Liezi or other classics (if not forced by the school to read them). If you ask them questions about the Cultural revolution, Tiananmen, the Great leap forward, etc, they will barely know what you're talking about....

Due to propaganda in China, they are taught only what is officially approved by the government, a bit like in Europe, when they teach students about Nazism and the tragedy of 6 millions jews killed, but without mentionning that many US soldiers were hanged because of raping British and French civilians before and after the invasion. More than 200'000 German women were raped during the German invasion.

Culture, history, politics have not only one version, there is always the other side of the story that needs to be learn and taught.

Then foreigners may smear much less Chinese people or Chinese culture.

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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I doubt YOU insult other cultures, you're probably a rational human. But, tons of Chinese do. It's sad.

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Look, some things are different in different places. We can all agree on that. But in no way will I ever agree that certain behaviors are acceptable.

I personally wouldn't count those things as Chinese "culture", although given the prevalence of much of these behaviors, I suppose to an extent it is.

I don't think anyone is here to "smear China's culture", we just tell it like we see it. You want to see some trash talking about stuff? Go visit a US political website. See what Americans say about their own country. We smear it all the time.

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 371

Shifu

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I believe this is confusing for our Chinese friends who visit this website. They would never dream as being as open or loud mouthed as us westerners.

We can try and explain it to them but I'm afraid it is beyond their comprehension, at least for now, that we don't just accept things, follow our 'leaders', follow the rules, without saying anything, without complaining and without expressing our feelings.

I apologise on behalf of all westerners and I promise that we do not smear Chinese culture but rather there is a big misunderstanding or misinterpretation of what is said and why it is said.

Most foreigners here are well travelled people and have the ability to contrast various different cultures. Unfortunately very few Chinese have had the benefit of such experience and can only know and understand within the scope of Chinese education and culture.

I would like you to imagine a colour, one that doesn't exist.
It's impossible to imagine until you see it.
The same way it is impossible for you to understand why we say the things we do and what reasons we have, if it is not just to smear Chinese culture and I promise you it is not.

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12 years 29 weeks ago

Tired of dirt and lies.

 
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Well said, goldenboy.

I hope to see the day when the Chinese can freely travel the world and see other cultures with their own eyes instead of through the filters of their government. Then they will truly understand what we are saying and why. Until then, they are veiled. They are like children who have never been outside of the house. I really despise some of the things I see every day in China, but when you think about it, it's hard to blame them. They have no frame of reference. They almost have no choice. It is a pity, really.

DaqingDevil:

You hit the nail on the head with that one - 'no frame of reference'. That's it!

12 years 29 weeks ago
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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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So how do you explain the Chinese like wenna7 that defend their ways although they have traveled and know different?

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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decades of brainwashing, anything bad must make an excuse for it or say it is not bad

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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As i have said before I am tolerant of most things when I am in China and mostly only get anoyed when others try to tell me that the I should also just push in or be rude etc. But I think that the local readers on here may be given the wrong impression by a few posters that all Westerners just love smear their culture. It is more of a fact that most Westerners I know who live in or travel to China are quite respectful of many aspects of Chinese culture, but like they do when they see things in their own country that are out of the ordinary, they like to have a laugh, or complain or get angry depending on their way of looking at things. What I have found really strange though is the amount of abuse that Chinese who are now residents or citizens of Australia heap on their country of birth. At times in discussions with work collegues, some of who are Chinese, I find myself defending the country to some extent.

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Because they have not learned that being polite includes the following logic "sometimes if you have nothing nice to say, try saying nothing", Most often they are BIG mouth Yankees, who think the USA is the only place that has human rights

giadrosich:

Yes, and the United States actually practices them, which is a novel concept in China. The Chinese Constitution labels all kinds of rights, which the government and the courts diligently ignore most of the time. However, there are a few foundational rights which it conveniently leaves out, like: the right to peacefully assemble. How about the right to redress the government for real or perceived grievances? How about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Freedom of the press, anyone? Freedom of speech, anyone? Freedom of religion, anyone? Let's ask the students who gathered at Tienanmen how far they got with some of these rights. Oh, we can't. Why not?

12 years 19 weeks ago
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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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phil: so according to you americans think america is perfect?????????? have you talked to any americans???????? americans would be the first to tell you of the problems in usa??????? and most people who complain about the bad behavior of people here are american????????????
what do you think of the crapping any where and everywhere? spitting and blowing your nose on the floor of a bus or in a mall? nwhat do you think of the lack of health and safety practices when it comes to food? what do you think of chinese refusing to help save the life of a fellow chinese person because the person they save would lie and blame them in order to get money? what do you think of the total disregard for the lives of children allowing them to play in the street , driveway, parking lot in a country that is known for drivers not looking where they are going or following traffic laws. what do you think of the high accident fatality rate, simly because the country as a whole refuses to make a change in their culture or enforcement of the laws?
your thoughts .. because according to you mostly americans complain about these things , thanks for the compliment.. i complain about these things because i dont see chinese as yellow people in a third world country. every life is precious especially children. i dont sit back and accept the unnecessary waste of life that happens here (sickness, death and injury) because it is happening to "them"

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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crimochina... Phil's a white guy using an avatar of a Chinese guy... Do the math, save the effort, me thinks he's gone native. Wink Whatever floats yer boat I say... But I am proud of where I come from and I am proud of my own people Smile

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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I have no experience in China (yet), but plan on living in Chengdu and teaching EFL by this time next year.

I do know, however, that westerners, in their own cultures, have certain expectations of humanity. When those expectations aren't met, we question them. It isn't always meant to be a "smear"m but more of a curiosity. We want to know why some things are accepted in some areas of the world, that wouldn't be tolerated in our native homes. One of the beautiful things about most western cultures, is that we have the freedoms to question things that we aren't happy with, that seem... dangerous, unsanitary (handling food, public pooping). If China takes any western influence, freedoms to question and make positive change by the people would be on the top of the list.

I am looking forward to living in Chengdu and making new friends who think differently, live differently, work & play differently. I also know I will question things I see, and wonder why the chinese natives tolerate certain things (like the defecating in the streets - I'm gonna have to post a question about that).

I will say, there are ignorant people, in all parts of the world, who get their kicks and cure their boredom by being rude and/or closed minded. Please don't think all westerners are like that. MOST of us are respectful of different cultures, even if we question some of the things tolerated by that culture. I've spent the last couple of hours reading some of the questions and answers on this site, and the responses by a couple have already proven those very few to be the rude/bored type, that you either ignore or laugh AT. Wink

Njord:

Right sunshine, I look forward to hearing your opinions about a year and half from now then... when you're "bored/rude"....

12 years 29 weeks ago
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zengpingjiang:

well ,welcome to chengdu and i believe you will love here . now I and Mr. Watson made friends, I hope I can make more foreign friends. When you come here I can be with you as a guide, and let you know more food and play the chengdu place .

12 years 29 weeks ago
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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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"Chinese not discredit your culture"

AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH that is the funniest thing I have ever heard. You are the most xenophobic people on earth right now. Pretty much every day I walk down the street in China, people say something to smear my culture, just based on my skin. Then you go to our countries and demand equality and keep civil rights lawyers on the speed-dial.

I hate Chinese culture because the men are so sensitive, like little girls. You know how much criticism Americans get? (before you start, I'm not American) Way more than China. But most of them shrug it off. Same goes for the Brits, Japanese, French, Germans, Russians, even people from India, god's sake. China is actually relatively ignored. Maybe because no one wants to see you embarrass yourselves when you get angry and defensive.

But if someone suggests you aren't perfect in every way, you cry like little girls, and stomp your feet, and have a little tantrum, like a small female baby.

Here's my question: why are there no men in China? Genetic, or something in the water? Grow a thicker skin, Nancy.

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12 years 29 weeks ago
 
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