User Comments - bodawei

Posted on: Which is better: China or the USA?

Hi Zhenlijiang

Just finished work for the year and should possibly be getting drunk or sitting around watching American TV. But I'll try to stay focused.

'Just wondering who really the naive and curious lot you speak of are. Surely "Westerners" are also a pretty diverse group?'

The first thing to be said is that in the post you comment on I acknowledged that Westerners are a pretty diverse group. Quote: "There are several schools, from ardent nationalism through to self-loathing". That's a broad range; a fair mix. So I think that we are agreeing that Westerners are a "pretty diverse group". No argument there?

Second thing: "this Western perspective" was a reference to my fellow poddies' views posted here, above. I soften it a little by then saying 'we Westerners". But honestly this is a very common view; I hear it countless times. If not expressed, it is implied. But it was actually expressed in this particular thread.

Nobody much likes to be branded just like everyone else but this is in fact what defines culture. I have lost count of the times I have expressed that here. Of course there are sub-cultures, and there are individual personalities.

The 'naive and curious lot' expression - well, this is creative writing. It is not an academic thesis. My turn of phrase will not please everyone, but at least I think I have clarified who I am talking about? Us, that big amorphous group that we belong to, but claim we don't. :)

Posted on: Which is better: China or the USA?

The Chinese world (& the American for that matter) is actually much more complex than this - and I think this should be welcomed. But perhaps you are referring to the average experience in a taxi trip to the airport.

On the question of the Chinese self view, there are several schools .. from ardent nationalism through to self-loathing. (As there is in the US.)

It's time we moved on from this Western perspective that China (in general) looks at America with some kind of benign curiosity. We Westerners are a curious lot, naive in the belief that no-one could possibly dislike us.

Posted on: Which is better: China or the USA?

I think it's like taxi drivers everywhere - you get quite a mix in my experience. Some are clear, some not so clear. It also depends what sort of day they are having. Some are irrepressible, chatting all the time; others moody and silent. Where I live many are 小数民族 ..

'A lot friendlier'

I get this impression too - but you don't know what they say about Australians to American passengers! Let's say I think I've only had a 100% positive reaction to 'I am Australian' - most Chinese people I meet have a rosy view of life down under.

Borrowing directly from Guy Delisle (I just made a separate post on his book), Dante's descent to Hell (transposed to China) looks like this:

USA [you can put Australia here if you like, I do]

Hong Kong

Shenzhen

The other Big Cities

The countryside

Posted on: Which is better: China or the USA?

Ha ha - ChinesePod continues its tradition of pretty good taxi lessons.  

But for the record, no taxi driver has ever asked me this question (can't think why.)  

Chinese people in general I think are not really interested in this question, except perhaps when driving an American in their taxi.  They are hard-wired to the knowledge that China is better, yet at the same time doing everything they can to send their kids to an American university.  So much for that paradox.  Means to an end I think.  

My students are much more likely to engage in discussion about the difference between the East and the West (talking China here guys, pay attention), and the difference between city and country.  That is where the thinking Chinese person is likely to offer some views in the taxi.   

Posted on: A Visit to the In-laws

Yes, it contravenes Sin categories 3, 4 and 5. Borderline with sin category 2. We would of course have to pass this on to a higher authority for final judgement. There is something in the scriptures about 'casting the first stone'. I just realised that there are another few categories of sin. Judging others is in a category of its own. And according to the Christian tradition rejecting the higher authority is the worst sin of all. (If I have that wrong someone will correct me, there's no sin in that.)

Posted on: A Visit to the In-laws

Hi xiaophil

As you know I am not an expert in the English language, nor do I qualify as American. :) I'll have a go anyway. I think there are a number of sins here that we are grappling with, and perhaps 'get butchered' is not the worst, though to my ear it does sound wrong, not just colloquial.

A hierarchy of sins possible on ChinesePod postulated below:

Sin category 1 - breaking the law of the land

Sin category 2 - offensive but not breaking the law

Sin category 3 - rude/unfriendly (fairly broad category)

Sin category 4 - grammar error - 4A for Americans/4B for non-Americans :)

Sin category 5 - 'too colloquial'

I think the original post committed a few of these sins, hence the discussion.

Perhaps you need to be Catholic to appreciate this categorisation.

Posted on: The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Verbs as States

课程介绍用'了'是可能中文播客的珠穆朗玛峰的.

A lesson on the use of 了could be ChinesePod's Everest. :)

Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 11: Wang in the Doghouse

I think I am going to give support to Tal on this, but the meaning of the two expressions is different. Strangely enough, to my ears "He's gone out to talk business" (eg. He's got a deal to finalise) sounds better than "He's gone out to talk shop". 'Talking shop' is a thing you do in a social setting, or when you are supposed to be relaxing. No business is actually done when you are 'talking shop' - this is strictly un-productive gossip, or boring someone to death about the minutiae of your work life.

Posted on: A Visit to the In-laws

Ah, I see your point of view now, fair enough. But there is something you need to take account of. This is a Chinese learning site - available to all those who do not have Chinese as their native language. Much of the world does not have English as their native language. This is not a site for Americans, not even for native English speakers. So.. people come here to learn Chinese .. they may or may not want others to correct their English.

In this particular case it was pretty clear what they meant; clearer than my first response to you.

Reminds me of 'Orientation Day' at a Chinese university I went to - the welcome speeches/information sessions were done in three languages: Chinese, Korean and English. The English was for people from about twenty different countries - this was the assumed 'common' language even though many of them couldn't understand English to any great degree. So for example, the Japanese students were sent to the 'English' session; so were the Spanish speakers, the Africans, the Germans, French, Indonesians, the Nepalese, etc.

Posted on: A Visit to the In-laws

Why thanks mate. I was trying to distract you from your job of tripping the new kid in the play ground. Without actually hitting you. :)

Sometimes my English lacks a bit of polish as well, so I don't like seeing non-native speakers getting a slap.