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Q: Why we join forums like echinacities......
As a foreigner, I join forums like this to seek assistance from old timers as well as tell others of my own experience. Some of us use this to rant but all for a good cause because other foreigners who've been through similar experiences can help. However, there are some who don't feel the need to share, which is fine by me but I'd rather they don't talk about not sharing instead. Even if we are not from the same country, we have one thing in common, that is, we are aliens here. I'm not suggesting we band together and start something but simply holding out your hand helps a lot, especially for newbies. I'm sure someone helped you when you first landed here in bewilderment, culturally shocked and lost. We can all pay forward a little by helping others get over the hump during their initial months here. Is that asking a lot?
I agree with OP.
As I joined the site with Qs of my own, I received many helpful replies, which I try to return few years later with my own expiriences.
I also joined because of the 'rain coat (s)'
, and unlimited US 'bashing'!
I am JOKING! 
Maybe someone should start listing the phone numbers of SAFEA in each province. This would be a good why to help many FTs
sorrel:
a good idea, but it is still good to go to your 'difficult/problem' boss and ask the same question 
SAFEA's contact numbers in different Provinces:
icnif77:
I posted as Q, but search doesn't give me post with SAFEA web link. Why?
Q might need to be approved by 'pug' first. Post is added to 'search' now!
Honestly I think each person is free to do what the wish with this site. If some want to poke fun, at others problems who cares. If some don't want to share at all, I can understand that. Sometimes letting others know how you get things done can come back to bite you. Many epats on these forums don't have a full understanding of China. They do not understand that they should not blab their mouths about how we could send money out of the country or what vpn we can use. If I told someone what vpn I used and they posted it online to everyone else and the CCP got wind of it and pulled the plug I would be pissed.
I'd agree with you about VPN details Ted as that is the easiest way to get them shut down. If I thought someone wasn't an obvious wumao I'd share that information by PM.
As as for other advice to all of us visitors living in China I'd freely give information if I thought it would help others & not get any options blocked for us all. Forums like this have helped me in the past so I've no problem, so long as I'm careful, in paying that help back.
a bit of everything. i'm far from the coastal cities, and didn't get much advice from the few expats i met in person. my wife views my expat interactions with almost as much suspicion as speaking with women.
discussing ethics or politics with anyone here will make you no friends. i come regularly for the intellectual stimulation, which is hard to find with locals for more reasons than just the language barrier.
i like to rant about the farcical legal, educational, medical and other institutions here. i like to share what i know, though perhaps some things are best said in PMs.
perhaps i like to convince myself that i can make a difference. i was raised to believe that problems should be tackled head-on, while chinese believe denial and covering things up is the safest option. i want to believe i have more to offer than "make parents and children happy" so some bossuh can climb on my back to collect tuition and gain rep.
i'm reminded of the song Something Inside So Strong: "if people keep telling you you're just not good enough, i say i'll do it anyway"
This forum has provided information, debate, insanity, entertainment and laughs, and is a good way to keep a sense of self in a sometimes contradictory country.
it would be easy sometimes to go off the deep end after a BCD, so here at least is a place that can bring back perspective to what happens.
in recent days it has shown that it is also a good place to show support to those who might be in trouble, and alert people to possible dangers.
Yes, we are all adults, but
'no man is an island'
donnie3857:
I agree, sometimes shit happens. Even at home talking to someone who is on the same page is a great affect on helping you deal with a problem in a professional manner. In China it helps FTs to chat with other FTs (you would think we might be on the same page).
a level headed somebody like 'Sorrel" or in the past xpatjohn etc.etc...keep me coming back.... sometimes I can get a little angry at the world,. I just have trouble understanding why there is so much trouble in the world, when every person I meet is so nice...
I come here to vent!!
I come here to ask serious questions.
I come here to find relevant answers
and I come here to find a bunch of BS (feihua) and just to "giggle" .. need more of this please..satirical BS is good .....
