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Q: What do the Chinese do right?
Let us put the negativity and criticisms aside. In a positive light, what do the Chinese do right? They do silk, all types of tea, and procelain really well. As a community they do come together and help eachother out. They take care of their old-folk and do not put them in geriatric day care centers when they are old. The young people can live at home after turning 18 and not be kicked out by their parents.
They don't put all their monies in the bank, and they don't trust the fiduciary too much. That's a healthy habit, though I don't think they do it out of awareness.
By the way, silk, tea and porcelain, I would have agreed with you a century ago. But since China chose brainless industrialization over craftmanship, most of what they produce is either crap, or overpriced decent stuff. Their traditional stuff is no exception. I drink better tea back in Europe. And sold by knowledgeable people, as opposed by small joints who want to rape my moneybag with leaves full of pesticides that come from last decade.
Prioritizing family and spending time together as a family -obviously within limits- i don't agree everyone should sacrifice all their happiness for their parents but we should focus on this more I think.
Old people rule the streets which is cool.
Food and food culture
Lack of general squeamishness
One thing I will say as a woman I've never felt safer- that's not to say that sexual assault doesn't exist or that there isn't a long way to go in terms of equality but it's the only place I've lived where I haven't felt intimidated walking around on my own at night...yeah
The best thing the Chinese do is take care of their own family and ones in their circle. There is a strong support structure in place which doesn't just involve the parents and children but all the relatives as well. Someone I knew recently was accepted into a rather pestigious master's program abroad but neither she nor her parents had money to pay but then a rich uncle just decided to pay for the program himself. I was quite amazed at his generosity. We should learn this kind of behavior in the U.S.
For, me the list is pretty short
* Care for the elders : family is less likely to park you in a shithole
* Food : they got good stuffs
* Letting you being a bit cranky without being overly judgmental (if you're an adult)
Scandinavian:
There are no shitholes to park the elderly. My wifes company is building some really extravagant shitholes for the elderly, more like a resort. Believe you me, this is coming, and it is coming fast, just only for the wealthier part of society.
ALL, families I know who are "taking care of an elderly" have in fact moved the shithole to their home. Some un-educated Ayi there to cater for the old person day and night, the actual relatives does nothing.
During spring festival I had to put my foot down hard as my grandmother in law was with us for a while. The MIL wanted to hire an ayi to help and I had to yell at her to tell her how much we would suck if we couldn't even take care of an old woman (who is fully functional although a bit forgetful) 3 grown up people all fully abled.
GrandMIL had a stroke some years ago, so I spent a lot of extra effort making sure the food I made for her was in accordance with what western doctors would recommend stroke sufferers to eat. (away with fat and salt) An ayi would mean extra fat and salt
Englteachted:
"GrandMIL had a stroke some years ago, so I spent a lot of extra effort making sure the food I made for her was in accordance with what western doctors would recommend stroke sufferers to eat. (away with fat and salt) An ayi would mean extra fat and salt"
No No No, Chinese bodies are different. Chinese people need Chinese food. Chinese food is healthy for Chinese people. Western food is only hamburgers and Pizza, not healthy.
I am surprised you are able to get her to eat it.
mike695ca:
There are definatly shit holes to park the old dudes. My wifes grandfather is in one. Not a resort at all. Smeels like piss. I foumd it the strangest thing that chinese would do that and asked about it. Aparently he was just an evil prick. Family tried to pass him around but no one could live with him. 5 kids and none would take him. So they visit on holidays. He seems alright to me. But aparently i dont know him.
I like the family solidarity i have experienced here of local friends - however it is excessive when it comes to children being forced to study as they do in schools. I come from a place where family is important too, but not in such an intrusive way.
Food variety is great.
I would agree about feeling safe here on the streets, but that is more to being a foreign woman and the fact that locals know the authorities come down a lot harder on crime against foreigners than against locals.
I would say that the only thing I can really think of is that they did not open up and fall apart as the former U.S.S.R did and allow rich gangsters to control the country (although there is something to be said for who and what is currently controlling China).
Think what China might be like today if what happened in '91 happened here.
Not demonizing male sexuality.
I worked at a kindergarten in the US, and was given the friendly warning that yes, I would be viewed as a pedophile until proven innocent. Same as working in a middle school. Male teachers were always viewed with suspicion, as though the only reason they took said jobs was to prey on innocent young girls (because, as we know, all men are rapists).
When I was taking classes in education, they went over the rules. Men needed to make sure the door to the classroom was always open, and never meet with a student in private, or else you will be suspected. It didn't get better at the university level, where poster campaigns reminded men that they need to be taught to not rape (the same way Mexicans need to be taught to not steal, or Jews need to be taught not to swindle, or blacks need to be taught to not murder).
Here, if I'm around children, people don't threaten to call the cops, and the Chinese universities I've worked at never (to my knowledge) painted all men as potential rapists.
In China, at least I know that if people view me with suspicion, it's due to my skin color, not gender (which is totally much better).
coineineagh:
interesting point of view. it seems that the increased awareness and vigilance in the west doesn't do much to reduce the occurrences, while the awareness is distressing for teachers and parents alike. but since the chinese attitude would change if people weren't poorly informed, it would be hard for the west to "revert", and i'm rarely in favour of ignorance.
mike695ca:
So you... Dont like western schools because they protect children and you like that chinese schools let you do what you please.... Could you be any more sleezy? What do chinese do right? And your first thought is " leaving children unprotected" Perhaps they were right to suspect you.
Mateusz:
I can't tell if you're legitimately dense, or just trolling, Mike. Since you reading comprehension is at the level of your writing ability, I'll assume you simply failed to understand what I wrote.
Either way, for the benefit of people who are serious, the point isn't protecting children. The point is stereotyping and using those negative stereotypes for sexist policies.
I like that China doesn't assume that all male teachers are rapists. I want children protected, but I don't want half the population suspected.
There are black people who commit murder, but I wouldn't want campaigns to "Teach blacks not to murder", or see all black people as violent thugs. The racist stereotype of "black people = gang members" is as offensive as "men = rapists". Police officers following or randomly searching black people aren't "protecting white people". They're being racist. Viewing men (and explicitly men) as rapists and/or pedophiles isn't protecting children. It's sexism.
This rather well illustrates my point http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/10669864/No-men-are-not-all-potential-paedophiles.html
I don't expect you will understand, but those with critical thinking ability can.
mike695ca:
Im not saying all men are rapists. Im saying you are. Im saying its disgusting that this is your first thoight to the OPs question. And in my opinion, anyone who agress with you is fucked. We are talking about children. We know that not all men are pedos but we also know that in documented cases the men are far more likely to screw with kids then women. So if you are suspected who cares? Earn your damn trust. Ill say it again THEY ARE KIDS. There are very few safety nets that i would find too severe in this. The very fact that your mind went to the fact that your not suspected of being creepy is the top benefit... Well it says alot.
Mateusz:
I’m not surprised that you’d make an unfounded accusation, or that you take the accusation of “rapist” so lightly that you toss it out as part of Internet name calling. Incidentally, when I called you dense, I was able to back that up. You failed to comprehend what was written. I never stated that I wanted children unprotected. I did state that I don’t want one gender singled out as a potential threat.
Your opinion counts for virtually nothing in this matter, as it is not based on anything except your obsession with flaming me, and your feigned moral outrage doesn’t impress anyone (I’m hoping it’s pretend, and you’re not really that ignorant).
People who are not sexist, and oppose sexist stereotypes care. Unfortunately, it was too complicated for you to understand.
mike695ca:
But one gender IS the threat you dumb shit. You said it your self. You were warned that you were suspected untill you proved yourself. So prove yourself! I guess you cant your just inherently creepy. Which is why you posted it in the first place. Your trying to turn the attention away from the fact that your happy that kids arent as protected in China into an argument against sexism which is stupid in almost any topic but especially dumb in this topic. Im not angry or feigning moral outrage. There are creepy teachers everywhere which is why you are suspected. And there are super creepy teachers in China. Your just another one added to the list.
Mateusz:
If you are a troll, then congratulations. I can’t tell if you are legitimately that dense, or faking it. You failed to understand anything I wrote, and respond with empty name calling.
I’ll put this plain enough that even you should be able to understand it. If you still can not get it, then there is no way I can dumb it down further, and I will just assume you are a troll.
Sexism was the argument to begin with, however, you decided to harp on sexually abusing children. I never said one gender was the threat, merely that the perception was that one gender is the threat. The view that men are inherently dangerous is a sexist stereotype. Also, I am not suspected here, since I give no reason to be suspected (other than by you, but I can’t stop projection). It's just as with the analogy of race (I know, analogies are complicated, but try to keep up). No one race deserves to be treated with suspicion, however, that doesn't stop racists from doing just that. No one gender deserves to be treated with suspicion, however, that doesn't stop sexists from doing just that.
That's as simple as I can make it. If you still can't understand, I can't help you.
Also, if you want to call someone dumb, it undercuts your claim if you lack a middle school level of language ability.
Shining_brow:
Mats, you get another thumbs up - but honestly, it's more in support of your argument against Mike, than any real comment on the topic (but I suspect you already figured that!)
I don't think Mike is a true troll, but certainly displays many characteristics of trolldom. Perhaps he's just an unwitting one! (hence the "Why I'm a dick" thread!)
I agree with your general sentiment - guilty until proven innocent is BS!!! And EVERYBODY ought to keep their eyes open on what may be abuse - and eyes on everyone - not just males. But some things are just ridiculous! What the suspicion does is tell children that men can never be fully trusted. How is that going to help life in the future?
Paedo's are out there.,. but so are rapists, murderers, terrorists... trolls and wu maos. We shouldn't be all under suspicion just for being able to breathe, walk and talk, just because a tiny percentage of people do those things!
Robk:
I understand both points.
Mats - Yes, it is wrong to be labeled before actually doing anything or under suspicion.
Mike - You are right, this is just the way the world works and people should ARE under suspicion whether people like it or not.
The reason why Mike is right is because that is just the way the world works and it is human nature to do our best to protect ourselves (and the ones we love) with the resources and information we have. If enough people from any given group wrong others,the consensus will be to always apply suspicion to that group. Why? Because we don't want to get murdered, our children raped or whatever... So we will use our best knowledge to try and prevent that and get that info from the media..
The reason why you aren't so suspect in China, Mats is because Chinese are still quite behind closed doors about that kind of stuff. If it is not known as public knowledge what is going on... then people won't perceive it as a threat. Although, with the internet that IS changing... as many schools are installing cameras in the classrooms (especially for younger children). So while they may not be direct in calling you a pedophile, the rise of cameras in the classro0m suggest otherwise.
Chinese are always indirect about these kinds of things... in America, they tell you to your face... in China they install cameras or make sure there are teacher assistants in the classroom to prevent loss of face. In China, teachers still have a bit of a halo in society (certainly more so than the West) but it is starting to diminish because there are those (as always) given the others a bad name and raising suspicion.
crimochina:
Thumbs up some one clearly does not understand the difference between taking precautions and treating someone as if they did something. In the states we are plagued with false accusations.
Cheap and reliable public transport.
Scandinavian:
you mean noisy busses with thick plumes of diesel exhaust coming from the back while the bus is broad-siding through junctions is better than slightly more expensive but safe busses?
There are two big sources of noise in the streets, city busses being one of them
Stiggs:
Where I am the buses are mostly modern now, I suppose they have been replacing the older ones. Whatever, when you have millions of people trying to go to work or school every morning I'm sure they appreciate having those buses running regularly and stopping close to where they need to go, and at a reasonable price, even if some of them are old clunkers.
Scandinavian:
sure. it is done, but is it done right ?
Zhuhai needs some transportation on rails, but doesn't have. busses solves nothing and all the new-rich drive their toyotas when they need to go a bit down the street.
KimOnach:
I'd say cheap and cheap you mean?
I have never seen what you actually could call "modern" buses. LCD displays on top of a dirty metal sheet box puking smog don't make for modern.
Stiggs:
@ Scandanavian.. Yes, I think it's done right. I take buses almost every day because I find them easy, cheap and reliable, and there is always a bus coming, I never need to wait long.
Yeah the roads are being jammed up by more and more of the new rich and their cars, the very rapid increase in car ownership is putting pressure on the system for sure but where I live they're building a subway and more roads to improve the transport system. I hear other cities are doing the same.
But, all those millions who can't buy a car still use the bus system and it gets them to work, school or wherever they're going every day.
Stiggs:
@ KimOnach.. That may be the case where you live, I really don't know. Not where I am though.
expatlife26:
I agree, it's nice not to need a car here, though of course I don't begrudge those that do.
Being able to take the subway everywhere lets me save a ton of money...so I can buy a nice car when I move back home!
Vyborg:
Cheap, yes. Reliable? The subway is, but buses... sometimes the bus that I don't need comes by 4 times before mine does, sometimes there are three buses at the same time. Hard to predict how long you'll have to wait, hard to predict how long the trip's gonna take. The same trajectory can take 40 minutes or one and a half hour, depending on the traffic. Within 10 kilometers, the bike is always faster that the bus and much more predictable. I wouldn't say this is one of the things they do right. But I admit the traffic part of the problem is not caused by buses. (but those horns...!)
Never forget they are providing cheap(may be of lower quality) and affordable stuff to the Asian and African regions. These regions cannot afford Japanese and US made products so China come up with their demands at a reasonable rate(According to the trade chart) for them. There are millions of houses around the world having Chinese products.
I like some of their customs stated above such as respect for family and elders. Its a great thing if I imagine myself as an elderly person.
JanSk:
Not only that, but the cheap manufacturing in China has lead to an amazing growth in real wages in many countries, including western ones.
KimOnach:
Yeah, sure, let's have another set of embarrassing questions:
Did we really need to be flooded with cheap crap?
Did it really improve the life of anyone?
Was it really an achievement from the Chinese? What have they done exactly, except accepting low wages and the complete destruction of their environment?
Was it really an improvement in the wages of buyers, in the light of unemployment?
Will this glorious business model keep going on for long now China's arrogance and total lack of ethics is in broad light?
Check out the components in your latest high end brand high-tech device. Yup, less and less made in China, more and more Thailand, Philippines, etc.
Shining_brow:
Kimo - are you saying when you grew up, you weren't wearing Made in China t-shirts? Or shoes? Or blankets, or toys or whatever??
China has made accessing many of life's "essential" cheaply available to a lot more people who wouldn't be able to afford better quality stuff.
The fact that other nations are now taking over from that is only an indictment on the Chinese government's policies and corruption. And that wages have risen in China, so other other countries are becoming a better option.
Has it helped those other people? Well, if you can afford clothes easier, then it means you can more easily afford food, electricity etc. And if that electricity is supplied from Chinese made generators, of using a large amount of Chinese made parts - then definitely yeah!!!
thefidu881:
India's population is about 1200 million. Of that more than 50 % are living under the poverty lines. Now if China do not come up with their needs in shape of cheap 'CRAP' they will get more miserable. Same is the case with other Asian and African countries. The 'Crap' means a lot to them as they are not born with a gold spoon.
By the way world doesn't end up at wealthy people like you since there are people you cannot just ignore and also they can't afford an expensive 'spoon' or a 'kitchen knife'. And why would they buy an expensive spoon just because it carries 'Made in US/Japan or else where if a Chinese one can work in affordable price.
http://space.echinacities.com/112751/blog/detail/1661
my current list of the good things…
Tea. I could never get enough tea, or good enough tea when I was back in Europe. Here in China it's a right tea-heaven, good variety, good quality and inexpensive. I estimate that 80% of my weekly fluid intake is by means of green tea.
Immigration is great except for the excessive paperwork. I wish the states kept better control over who enters the country.
I love how China does not allow churches to influence the government.
i think China does a great job of putting people to work, in the states we pay people not to work. Punish people who actually work for their keep. Reward those who make their money by investing out of the country (outsourcing jobs).
Public transportation.
The Chinese government is better organized than the American government and has direction.
My comparison is to my own government. I think it is silly to compare China to the entire west. There are so many differences among the countries.
Scandinavian:
Yup. That "guard" who walks the local park not lifting an eyelid when bad stuff goes donw, who's gotten the job solely because he is the son of a party member who didn't bother raising him properly to be able to take care of himself. He is on taxpayer funded lifelong salary. I think that is much much worse than just giving people some money to stay home. If he actually had to do his job to get his pay, maybe his job would get done properly.
ScotsAlan:
It's strange how the extreme right have many of the same policies as the extreme left
.
Englteachted:
Scan: You are going from one extreme to another. There is an obvious middle ground. Put hard working competent people to work.
Englteachted:
Scot: And would that be? And are there only 2 points of views (left right)?
They seem to have worked out this capitalist stuff well enough 
I have been here for 8 years and I will be leaving with my family this year. My answer to this question is simple......absolutely nothing! I have given this one lots of thought.....nothing comes to mind. Tea? Who cares? Family solidarity? Not at all - it's more like "forced labour". Food? Really? - its msg laden, greasy crap.
I see everyones thoughts here and my first reaction is - clutching at straws. There is legitimately nothing that they do well here. Every tiny thing is wrong in some fundamental way. Even mentioning something as safe as tea. Yes, there is some nice tea. Mostly though it's overpriced and tastes bloody awful. I can find better tea at my local corner shop back home.
Buses, some are LPG powered - great. There are still too few of them and being pressed up against a window with an ear in a smelly armpit is not my idea of 'doing it well'
The Government. Throws it's toys out of the pram any time anyone calls them over their bullshit. Oppresses the people. Has some vague ideas on how to keep themselves from going down the toilet.
Work. Jobs for the boys (and girls). Fourteen people doing the job of one person. Productivity virtually nil and people asleep at their desks during work hours????
Education. Come on. No inventive or creative thinking. An entire system dedicated to producing stressed-out drones.
Family. Indentured slavery until you are too old. Then you get to be a dick to all those around you.
Have I missed anything?
Paint trees!
Everywhere you look, there are trees with white paint on them. If you ever have a tree that needs painting, call a Chinese person. They are the world's premier tree painting nation!
having wonderful holiday work schedules. I can't wait for the next round of make up classes as a teacher.
The best qualities I see in China are the following:
1. tea
2. Food
3. How the family takes care of each other
4. women know how to treat their men good.
Ok, since I largely agree with Mike above, there is one thing that they've got ... well, if not 'right', then at least 'working' - better than any other country.
Being able to administer 1.4 billion people in a country. Let's compare it to the closest other couple of nations to fit the bill.... India 1.2 billion people - rampant poverty, starvation, begging, homelessness. Sure, China has its fair share of the above, but for the most, people have a home, and begging becomes a choice, not a necessity (and, they can make more money from begging than working in some of the really low paid jobs around!) I've never had dozens of people (esp kids) come racing up to me to beg money from me in China! If you want to get from one end of China to the other, they have an ok transport system to do it - without having to climb on top of a train or bus, or hang out the windows. Food is affordable to almost everyone, and those who don't have the money have the land to farm it on (speaking of which, look at the amount of home-grown food around!!!) And virtually everyone has a house to live in... homelessness just isn't the problem here as it is in many other countries (I mean, even back in my country, homelessness is a problem... but in China, they seem to have far more unoccupied places to live than homeless! Whether they choose to utilise it, though....)
US is next most populous, and has a similar country (land, resources, size, etc). And this one is obvious, so I'll just let it go....
Next in population is Indonesia - massive piles of islands scattered over a wide area, and the population with it. So not an economic powerhouse, and again, so many people living in poverty - shanty towns etc. with complete lack of electricity, water, education, etc! And has a strong religious influence in government and policy!
Brazil... TBH, can't comment. Although, again, there is a lot of poverty and the other problems associated with the country - perhaps due to lack of resources and development.
Pakistan - see India.
Bangladesh... really??
Nigeria....
Russia - possibly the next best comparison to China.... while Russia is a strong(-ish) country, it does leave its people with a scarcity of products all too often, and the quality of its products are also quite doubtful. Anyone flown with Aeroflot? Comparing Russia with China, I'd say China wins out fairly easily!
And next most populous nation is Japan... again, like the US, no comparison!
So, I'd say, relatively speaking with what they've got to work with, they aren't doing too bad. Could China be a hell of a lot better? Hell yes! But, for the moment, I'll put that down to a seriously corrupt government, and some nationalistic / historical pride that needs to be kicked in the butt (ie, face).
Vyborg:
Nothing wrong with Aeroflot. I use them once a year, they're cheap, offer good service and have one of the youngest fleets in the world. Russia as a country is a different story though.
diverdude1:
in the 1970's when 'Aeroflop' landed safely at Sheremetyavo passengers on board would break into spontaneous applause. i know because i was one of them....
Shining_brow:
I've never flown AeroFlop, I'm just going by what a Russian colleague of mine told me of her experience. Plane's fault indicators were flashing, but the Russian pilots wanted it checked back home. The Chinese air traffic control refused to let them fly... pretty bad when Chinese are saying something's too bad to do something!
She also said the flight attendants are really rude, incompetent, and the 'food' is really bad.
All this from only a couple of years ago!!
First thing I thought was 'nothing', everything is broken, polluted, ugly. Reading your "As a community they come together and help each other out" rung the 'excuse me?' bell. Selfish, inconsiderate, anti-social as I've ever seen a people, unless you mean within the family.
But... they have acupuncture. Now that really is something. I don't understand it and I hate to admit it, but acupuncture is the one thing that humbles me.
This is going to get me in trouble with virtually every other Westerner here, but the idea that a strong marriage must be built on mutual commitment and not necessarily mutual love seems to work in the long-run.
While the school uniforms are indeed aesthetically unappealing, they do serve to dilute differences between the different socio-economic levels.
Isolated instances of abusive or unqualified teachers notwithstanding, the lofty social status enjoyed by educators benefits the cause of education, from my perspective.
In addition, traditional family loyalty is, in my humble appraisal, superior to the Western idea that one may choose one's siblings and parents.
I could also note public transportation, a relatively low obesity level, and a relatively low divorce rate.
Spiderboenz:
Marriage is essentially a business transaction in China, and has nothing to do with committment. If that were the case, then it wouldn't be AN ACCEPTED FACT that the husband will have mistresses and visit brothels throughout the marriage.
Scandinavian:
China's divorce rates are skyrocketing. A loveless marriage is a dead marriage. I wouldn't want to be in one, then rather have a loving relationship and fail down the road than to be with a business partner.
Those marriages are arranged because the family want a sensible partner rather than the person to be happy. I find it cruel towards the victims.
I don't know...
Every time I think of one good thing, I can think of two to three bad things that come with it...
Their mobile phone system is pretty good.. but then again there is way too many spam adverts and information is not protected.
Transportation is pretty good... but then again why are there no laws to enforce regulations like taxi's abusing rainy weather to hike up prices or buses packed to the brim (couldn't they add another bus or two)?
The food is pretty good... but they overuse oil so much in most dishes and the quality of ingredients seems to be going down hill.
So, China is what it is... one thing right for two things wrong... that's just how it is...
Clean up all the litter every day, always amazes me. At home it would never get done that well and they couldn't afford the staff.
Shining_brow:
Back home, does everyone treat the place like their personal rubbish ground, alwasy expecting that someone else will clean up after them??
TedDBayer:
Back home electrity, property taxes are going through the roof, my municipality can't make a single decision without hiring a 100K consultant. They consolidated and now have 10 times the staff, not less. They charge for garbage pickup and that keeps going up, I feel this is a huge mistake, people are dumping trash every where and I don't blame them. I live rural, what real services do I get for my taxes. Heaven help me if my garbage can is heavy, they won't pull out the individual sealed plastic bags but will cover my can with warning stickers. I'm at the stage that littering is looking good. No one cleans it up, drive down isolated back roads and see couches and appliances in ditches.
TedDBayer:
Last time I was in Florida, every closed property was buried in garbage, almost every alley was garbage. US's infrastructure is falling apart, decaying factories everywhere.
