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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Would you consider yourself a tolerant person?
China can be a very trying place on the values and views of the Western minded-person.
I, myself, have gone through a decade in China and I plan to return... because of my wife.
During that time I have went through many instances that I would consider ridiculous, offensive or even downright wrong. However, after having a sort of obsessive compulsive disorder in trying to understand the viewpoint of others... I have come to realize a different perspective on many circumstances that "foreigners" may view as unacceptable... may be simply just an opposing logical perspective.
I can explain it to others and I can explain Western views to Chinese people. I would like to believe this a good thing and can bridge a gap that otherwise is usually filled with hatred and contempt.
Nobody said it was going to be easy... but I asked for a different way of viewing the world and that I what I got.
So, when you run into situations that just seem ridiculous or frustrating... Do you handle them well? Would you consider yourself a tolerant person? Do you spew toxic hatred or do you actually try to help others understand the differences between the two cultures?
me,,, intolerant. just last nite I stopped a punk kid riding (fast) his ebike on the sidewalk and made him get off. the way I look at it is that gross, dangerous, inconsiderate, offensive behavior is just that, no matter who is doing it. Do Chinese do it a lot? Yep. Should they get called on it? Yep.
Robk:
I agree with your actions. Doing something that endangers others should never be a tolerant part of any culture... but taking the time to understand the meaning behind the actions can help you to solve them.
Like bad parenting, selfish-ness, not understanding the dangers... and generally being a little self-entitled prick lol
me,,, intolerant. just last nite I stopped a punk kid riding (fast) his ebike on the sidewalk and made him get off. the way I look at it is that gross, dangerous, inconsiderate, offensive behavior is just that, no matter who is doing it. Do Chinese do it a lot? Yep. Should they get called on it? Yep.
Robk:
I agree with your actions. Doing something that endangers others should never be a tolerant part of any culture... but taking the time to understand the meaning behind the actions can help you to solve them.
Like bad parenting, selfish-ness, not understanding the dangers... and generally being a little self-entitled prick lol
'while in rome, do as.....'
Englteachted:
So should we lie and cheat?
Should we ignore rules and laws?
Should we shit on the street?
Should we harass females at work, buses and our students?
Should we stare at Chinese and point and laugh and take photos?
Should foreign teachers be lazy, and don't plan classes carefully?
awaiting your answers!
Curiousdude:
fool ted, its useless answerin’ as obviously logic confuses a colossal waste like u livin' in a 'hate all abt china' world.
Timtimtim:
My Chinese friends are much more genuine and likable than the foreign people here that's for sure. Ted is just racist ignore him.
Englteachted:
You say all of that but yet you can't answer these simple relevant questions based on your statement.
This is very true. I have often said that the Chinese have a very different perspective and history than most of us. Many puzzling things they do can be tracked down to a simple matter of perspective. To be tolerant often means we need to be empathetic. Of course, rudeness and uncleanness is always wrong, but most often the issue is more than a simple matter of right and wrong. We need to ask the question, "why?". Knowing the reason why will help us to be more tolerant of bad behaviour. If you think about it, Chinese people have many reasons why. They are not long out of the Cultural Revolution, one of the most dehumanizing events in their history. To give some perspective, if you were to interact with a former field slave (the pre-American Civil War variety), how "civilized" do you think he will behave to you, especially if you are white? Everything in life is a matter of perspective. This is not an excuse for the Chinese (very few of them would be so thoughtful of our perceived bad behaviour), but a good way in general of dealing with other cultures. We really dont know or understand what they've been through.
estern:
I was going to write almost the same as you before reading you post, so have an up-vote. It's a shame that by far the most sensible post here has more down votes than up.
xinyuren:
LOL, you've been here for awhile so you know common sense and introspection have no place in this forum. This place is about bashing the Chinese.
estern:
Yep! I had a fairly long break from this forum as I found it to be all just a bit depressing. I feel another one coming on soon...
Robk:
This is a good answer. But it just takes time for people to start to comprehend differences rather than just quickly demonizing them.
Let's take an example and go with the Chinese birthday.
We all know that on that date, a Chinese person normally takes out his/her friends for dinner and activities and pay for all of them.
When a Westerner heard this, they answered "That's just weird... a great way to go broke and having a horrible birthday..."
But then I told them... well actually, I kind of like it better. Why?
1) Because you know your birthday is coming and you can plan your expenses for the occasion, unlike for friends and family that commonly come up as surprises (can't remember everyone's birthday) and you feel guilty if you don't get them something.
2) For the entire year, you just have to worry about YOUR birthday celebration. Simply just worrying about missing everyone's birthday and not getting gifts can be stressful... don't need to worry about hurt feelings.
3) Since you are paying for it, you can better control who shows up at the event. Most likely it is just close family and relatives rather than a bunch of people you don't know that feel obligated to get you a crappy gift or just freeload on the event. This would make it a more special event for me.
It is too bad that many people are so quick to judge and stamp situations or events with either "approved" or "denied" instead of genuinely trying to understand.
xinyuren:
Thats a good example and I have also had several similar "revelations" about common Chinese behaviour. Sometimes if you think Chinese thinking is backwards, we should try turning our head upside down and see what their view is about. We might learn something.
Tolerance = it only gets worse for you/it only gets better for them
No, why ?
I wonder, what's the proper intonation here .....
Why would I care less? It's not my country and who am I to tell someone they are impolite, crude or point out whatever other annoyance occurs.
Sure, things annoy me from time to time but in the scheme of the universe, how does it really impact your life? Oh, it's dangerous/offends me/dirty, I hear you cry! A bit of personal responsibility goes a long way in this world.
I keep myself to myself and and am happier for it.
Robk:
That's true... it really isn't your place to be a crusader for good manners. People aren't going to just change because some crazy lao wai yelled at them in the streets.
They will change due to see an example set and decide for themselves.
Shining_brow:
"I keep myself to myself and and am happier for it."
lololololololololololololol...
<gasp>
lololololololololololololol...
Shining_brow:
I post one comment about your post, and I'm a "stalker", "sad" and "sucks to be me".
How must it be if you (and sock puppets) devote and post on threads dedicated solely to insulting someone....
http://answers.echinacities.com/question/sex-chinese-jail-30-day-sentence
I use to be tolerant but not any more,China has turned me into this.
RobRocks:
smoking and bad driving makes me intolerant,but Im pretty tolerant of most things.I have survived here for 16 years.
my 1st answer is a little wrong sorry I rushed in to that.
The only reason why you cannot tolerant is THAT YOU ARE NOT MINDFUL. You should read more, study more and feel more. LIFE IS THE REAL BOOK.