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Q: Why do Chinese folks use Tu Quoque fallacy so much?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque
When talking to most people, some use of this comes up. Being an American, the evil stuff people did that I had no part in often can serve as an comeback to legitimate comments. That, or something situation specific turns to a kneejerk reaction to defend China. This isnt just with strangers, but close friends too.
Me: Why can't I use AliPay with Uber?
A: Why did your country pass the Chinese exclusion act?
Me: China is showing little tact with its land grabs in the South China Sea.
A: Iraq War!!!1!
Me: Jesus, I almost got ran off the road today by some jerkoff driving his scooter on the sidewalk at Gulou.
A: Every place has crazy people.
If strangers can ask me if the women in my country are sluts as soon as they meet me, why can't ask why folks spit on the ground without being told my country kills black people.
(Strangely, the atomic bomb attack on Japan has never been brought up as an American sin, hmm)
The problem with being american is that our human rights violations all happen out in the open.
As fucked up as our justice system is sending nonviolent offenders to jail for noncrimes it's all transparent in that you can go to a govt website and view the data. If people go to jail for a bullshit law, at least the law itself and the criminal proceedings are matters of public record.
Where there is a major protest the news will be there to cover it, where our police do fucked up shit on camera there is no mechanism for whitewashing it off the internet so it stays up there for all to see.
As it should be, i might add.
We don't really know what goes on here because none of that shit is transparent. China is officially a harmonious society with no problems that aren't caused by foreign forces.
America has TONS of problems, but at least there is a bit of hope for a solution or two because we don't try and pretend those problems dont exist.
It's a symptom of their communication style. When they communicate, they tend to use context to imply their meaning.
It makes sense that they would bring up some past experience to prove their point.
Chinese men educated by the system are programmed with a strong impulse to gain face and prove themselves. Any criticism of their culture becomes an attack on their values, and gets a defensive reaction. Many cultures have people like this, it's just the Mainland education promotes this hypersensitivity.
expatlife26:
It's just a way of avoiding responsibility. Saying you can't discuss my flaws because you aren't absolutely perfect and therefore a hypocrite with no moral high ground. Once you're absolutely perfect we can talk about what's wrong with me.
But of course it's total bullshit. It's like telling your neighbor his house is on fire and him saying "Oh no! You can't tell me my house is on fire because I know for a fact you burned popcorn last month so you're nothing but a hypocrite!"
The problem with being american is that our human rights violations all happen out in the open.
As fucked up as our justice system is sending nonviolent offenders to jail for noncrimes it's all transparent in that you can go to a govt website and view the data. If people go to jail for a bullshit law, at least the law itself and the criminal proceedings are matters of public record.
Where there is a major protest the news will be there to cover it, where our police do fucked up shit on camera there is no mechanism for whitewashing it off the internet so it stays up there for all to see.
As it should be, i might add.
We don't really know what goes on here because none of that shit is transparent. China is officially a harmonious society with no problems that aren't caused by foreign forces.
America has TONS of problems, but at least there is a bit of hope for a solution or two because we don't try and pretend those problems dont exist.
