User Comments - bababardwan

Posted on: Asking for a Raise

"it's my opinion that there's very little truly 'esoteric' language to learn, that you are in fact learning common words, expressions and patterns which just happen to be presented in a colourful 'frame'."

...my thoughts exactly but I couldn't have expressed it so eloquently as tal can [I love the colourful frame bit ..well described].I think the point of having some whacky or out there lesson titles/themes is to make it interesting/entertaining so the language learning is fun and not like some older methods of teaching.I think it still delivers all the common language for the level...all the language glue...connectors,and common stuff.Really specific stuff can always be looked up in a dictionary,and I don't think some of that stuff is likely the key to fluency.But hey,I'm all for having a lot of diversity.I'm not saying pretzell doesn't have a point here.And CPod have been masters of making any mundane topic into something highly entertaining.

Posted on: Fire in the Hallway!

oh right,sorry mate,I did wonder if you meant one of those review downloads but I thought you meant from the expansion tab.I must listen to those reviews sometime.

Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Dongbei

Hey mate,I'm not suggesting that if every region that that guy on DA referred to has been covered then that should be it,I just thought that could be a starting point of checking where the next one could be if they haven't all been covered.I'm sure they could make lessons ad infinitum about food if that was the will of the poddies.

Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Dongbei

..any suggestions of where to next? There was some culinary expert on a DA that talked about how he divided China into about 7 or so different culinary regions.It might be worth checking if they've all been ticked off.I also wonder if Matt is still around if he has any suggestions.Another season of menu stealer would be great.Speaking of which,exploring the video medium further in general would be great...let's bring back some sort of video channel.

Posted on: Can You Use Chopsticks?

..so you concede there is a possibility to insert a "ed_by_" in there hey? You'll have to follow through with it now mate,hehe.

Posted on: Fire in the Hallway!

I presume you meant Chinese sentences,or is there really a way of listening to the English?

Posted on: The Shanghai Literary Festival

bodawei,

"I am more impressed by facts than emotion....I like a little balance in my stories."

...completely agree.

"What is the current story?"

...sure,but I think a discussion of history is valid when learning about a country

"the benefit of better information now available"

...sure,that's always a factor,the powerful retrospectoscope though I feel that in the early 1990's transmission of HIV through blood was widely known[though yeah,maybe it came down to it being a poor region and perhaps there was a lower level of education as a consequence and they were behind the times in that region at that time].This is why I commented in the first place [not to bash China as you seem to think I'm doing[unless I've misread you there]...I can assure you I'm not] but because I was intrigued on a couple of fronts...firstly the role that superstition had played and why they were taking platelets only [that has now been well explained] and secondly and more importantly what went wrong technically [I still don't have a 100% clear picture of this though the main facts are that there was some degree of exposure to others blood when you're own blood was then returned sans platelets].

"Why is it so? Is it still true? Are there any storms on the horizon?......Has anyone written this story?"

...all excellent questions I'd be interested in the answer to as well,and of course more pertinent to today.

"no one is interested much in good stories;"

...I know this often seems to be the case in the media,but I wouldn't agree that that is what is going on in the Poddie community here.I think there are countless posts celebrating/exploring many wonderful aspects of Chinese culture.I also think though that to really get to know a country and culture you need to get to know it warts and all,and remove the rose tinted glasses if one wants a deep understanding and appreciation.

"A good understanding of Chinese culture is needed to understand almost everything that goes on in China."

..agreed.But this brings me to my main point about what you seem to take as:

"the colour of glasses worn by Westerners when the subject of China"

...speaking for myself at least I would have to say as I've not been there [thus a degree of ignorance],do take western media with a huge grain of salt, and do look more for the positive in things and love Chinese culture with a passion,I'm probably to a degree still wearing rose coloured glasses,and likely to give more concessions due to cultural differences and an acknowledged lack of deeper understanding of the culture than I would for my own or more closely related culture.But some things are just fundamental.No matter where it was in the world,if it be true that such a large number of people were infected with HIV through such a blood selling scheme,questions need to be asked and lessons need to be learnt.If this had happened in Australia including the subsequent cover up and withholding of treatment [yeah,if it be true] do you not think that you and I would be very critical...I think in fact much more critical than we've been here,and I would not defend it to foreigners.Those responsible would be held accountable.As I alluded to before ,tragedies on a larger scale don't make this less of a tragedy.They need to be examined also,but the point is we're here on this site to learn about China so naturally it's all focussed on what goes on there.I also think some things are fundamental and think it's not right to hide behind "cultural differences"....unless the whole culture accepts it.Case in point....and I think this is key.....what would most Chinese think of this story if the facts are correct as presented.Would they for example think it is culturally acceptable to withhold treatment? Anyway,I'm really here to just ask such questions and learn from what answers may come,not to China bash I assure you.I love Chinese culture and Chinese people.Cheers mate. :)

Posted on: The Shanghai Literary Festival

bodawei,

"The journalist does what journalists do"

..agreed

"It means that we should read critically"

...completely agree

"nothing is 'corroborated by' poddies"

..agree,but I thought by:

"corroborated by several other posters"

..xiao_liang meant the sources they were referring to,not the poddies themselves

Posted on: Asking for a Raise

changye,

I couldn't help thinking about you during this dialogue...I almost thought it could have been written for you.Actually I would have loved to have heard you and Patty given it a shot....a special guest appearance.Are you going to practice this dialogue with Patty? Good luck..I hope you do then go and get a 加薪.

I love that the dog was given it's own dialogue tab as C,but a bit disappointed that while it was a star in the dialogue podcast,it obviously got axed for the play button on the dialogue tab in favour of a human.I wonder what it's agent/union has to say about that.

Posted on: Asking for a Raise

Just had another listen to this lesson and it's cracking me up all over again.Hilarious.It's made me wonder why the credits aren't published.Whoever wrote the script to this and also the brilliant voice actor [love the switching between his voice and his attempt at the deeper more serious boss's voice] both need to stand up and take a bow.Yeah,an alltime favourite.Also once again experimenting with a different format has paid off for mine.Keep experimenting and pushing the boundaries.Jiayou and ganxie.

btw interesting that in the dialogue tab ,you stuck to the A/B format for clarity and not just A all the way.Maybe you could have had it as As [person A as self] and Ab [person A as boss],or B1 and B2 [像香蕉在睡衣].