By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Why, even when caught red-handed, do they still deny it? Truly audacious
Another gym question. Sorry.
I had just finished my shower, towel dried, and mostly clothed. Wanted to step over a couple meters from my locker and use the hair dryer for a few seconds. LITERALLY for a few seconds....so I just left my locker open (still had my coat and bag inside). There was another guy using a locker right below mine. Middle aged, seem well dressed...not poor.
As I was drying my hair, I happened to look back and see this jackwagon rummaging through my locker. I kept watching and staring at the back of his head....waiting for him to turn around and realize he was being watched (and of course to make sure he didn't take anything!). When he did, his eyes immediately went to the floor.
When I went back to my locker, I told him not to touch my stuff. He flat out denied having done anything! WTF?! Only after I did a mock replay of EXACTLY how he did it, and maybe showed a little steam rising up in my head, did he utter a muted dui bu qi (sorry).....and, eyes immediately back to the floor. Why do people suck so much?
The other day, a local was following me with his eyes as i crossed the road. It looks similar to how people follow the tennis ball in a match, with the head turning. As I approached him, I decided to ask with a friendly smile: "shen me?" As expected, the reality check startled him. But I was immediately worried about my bike which he saw me parking across the road. Fortunately nothing happened, but I get the distinct impression that bad things could happen if you decide to confront the wrong person in this country. Every day is a test of character here, and I'd recommend that we all try to contain our irritation unless something truly objectionable is done, like the OP example.
it is curiosity. Pure and simple. And no sense of personal space.
An American colleague and his Chinese wife visited my last apartment with some other colleagues.
The Chinese wife immediately began rooting through all my books and things that i had tidied on side the table in the living-room. Thankfully there was nothing too personal there, but i still felt uneasy at the scrutiny on so short an aquaintance.
Jíliú.hé:
Guests are supposed to look at books on tables in the living room unless they are in locked glass cabinet that is why you put them out.
sorrel:
there is simple curiosity - glancing at titles etc. And there is more.
These items were not 'on display' they were work materials as this was also my work space. Followed up by intensive questioning. The foreign guests gave things no more than a second glance.
However i don't think opening my bag and taking a look was acceptable.
I would've beat his stupid ass to the ground and planted cocaine on him. I don't have coke, nor do I know what it tastes like, but I'd probably just plant baking soda on him and say he tried to sell me coke. I forking hate people who ransack my sheet.
This would mean insta-fury for me.
No cultural BS excuse here.
i wonder if its had something to do with you being white.
Jíliú.hé:
I meant why the guy was curious (Snooping).
Also can someone tell me if you people actually think I am Chinese?
Never had anything like that happen before, but I agree it's probably curiosity mixed with a lack of respect for privacy. Probably similar to the stare treatment many expats get on the street. When my apartment owner visits, I dislike the way his kid rummages through my stuff, but there's not much I can do about it. When visitors and new staff arrive at the school, occasionally there's one who will nearly push me aside so he/she can see what I'm doing on my computer screen. But the majority of people have some measure of self-containment, fortunately.
Chinese view that as 'curiosity' or 'not THAT bad', and we consider that as 'snooping on my private stuff', maybe 'stealing' or as 'dishonesty' ----> (VERY BAD).
Think, what would you do, if he would came with the gun in his hand??. Count your money, and move on.....
Before you moved to China, did you ever, when visiting friends in their homes, go through the bathroom closets to look what is hiding in there ? I am sure you did. Of course, between friends, it is OK, and smart people don't keep their biggest secrets in the guest bathrooms.
This guy, maybe he thought he could pick up a nice phone or something, maybe he knew you were right there, and was just curious to see how strange the foreign guy is. It could be pretty "innocent" comparable to those looking in your shopping trolley down in the super market.
I would certainly also feel he is violating boundaries. But as written above, it's probably simple curiosity. (it kills cats you know!!!)
CARLGODWIN1983:
Not often I down-vote people, but the guy is indefensible whatever he is doing in anyone else's belongings.
bill8899:
No, I don't. There's no excuse and no basis to compare his actions to clandestine rummaging through bathroom cabinets as that's equally indefensible. If you need a toothbrush, buy one.
Scandinavian:
@Carl and Bill: I do believe there are two kinds of people in the world, those who look in bathroom closets and those who says they don't.
cooter:
Only if I was looking for some extra toilet paper. Maybe that guy left his at home, and had some urgent business with the local squattie pottie? Scandi, you're a genius! Case Solved!
Many Chinese have some kind of a mental disorder where they think foreigners are there but not really there at the same time. I have never seen anything like it lol...
That's why they stare when they KNOW it is rude.
That's why they rummage through your shopping cart sometimes when they want to see what the foreigner has bought.
That's probably why he went through your locker as well.
I find many of them learned to deal with the overpopulation by pretending other people ARE NOT there... a foreigner sort of short circuits their brain... he's there but he's not there... what should I do? Stare? Rummage through his stuff? Talk about him openly with a co-worker while he is right beside us? Take a picture to capture the moment?
coineineagh:
Maybe it's from watching too much Hollywood. They're only accustomed to seeing white/black people on TV, so they expect to be entertained, and don't consider that we can see them staring in real life! :-D
Robk:
That's possible. I should come up with a business...
Stare at foreigners, pay 20 RMB. We would all be rich within a day!
Robk:
Yeah we went through this already Bill lol...
I make more money than you and you are spiteful, it's okay.
I have had it happen when I go fishing. Total strangers rummage through my tackle box.
I offer them a ciggie and a beer, but then I have to spend the next half hour saying " Wo timbadong" as they squat beside me and start to describe the fine art of mounting a shrimp on a fish hook.
Thinking about it, an experience similar to going to the Cave bar in GZ 
The other day, a local was following me with his eyes as i crossed the road. It looks similar to how people follow the tennis ball in a match, with the head turning. As I approached him, I decided to ask with a friendly smile: "shen me?" As expected, the reality check startled him. But I was immediately worried about my bike which he saw me parking across the road. Fortunately nothing happened, but I get the distinct impression that bad things could happen if you decide to confront the wrong person in this country. Every day is a test of character here, and I'd recommend that we all try to contain our irritation unless something truly objectionable is done, like the OP example.
In China it's not called a hair dryer. They left the "hair" out of the Chinese translation.
In my gym a lot of guys don't use towels, but the "wind blowing machine"(chuifengji) to dry their whole bodies. So yeah, they stand naked in front of the mirror for a full 10 minutes "blowing themselves dry."
Makes me not wanna use them, don't know, feels awkward
