User Comments - go_manly

Posted on: Fat Camp

bump

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

Perhaps this is why they stare at you.

Posted on: Fat Camp

Various sources have 味道 as wèidào and wèidao. Are both correct?

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

"often in contexts where its use seems to be linked to condescension and/or rudeness"

That is different - and if I thought someone was intentionally using the word to have a go at me, there is a good chance I would 'fly off the handle' as you say.

But if was just a descriptor, or clearly intended to mean 'foreign friend', I can't see the problem. After all, 老 is supposed to be a term of endearment.

Surely the intention of the speaker is more important than the actual word. And like most people, I have fewer problems with picking up a speaker's intention than a writer's intention (I have great difficulty in reading someone's sentiment without access to facial expressions and tone of voice). So I think your suggestion that I would be more likely to react negatively to the spoken word is arse about.

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

No, I've never been to China. But I can assure you that the mere use of the word would not worry me. It is a descriptor - a statement of fact. And, knowing myself as I do, I am certainly the most qualified person on this site to make such a pronouncement about myself.

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

Yes, being stared at and pointed at would be an issue for me. But the mere use of that word would not.

Posted on: What do Foreigners Like?

I think America's 'polite society' has gone a little too far - you can't even ask for a black coffee because it might offend someone. If I were called a foreigner or laowai, I would take it at face value, and if it is designed to be offensive, who cares. I cannot be offended by being called something that is plainly true.

Posted on: Suffix Magic

I'm wondering was it my question that inspired this lesson?

Posted on: Requesting a Fork

Your first lesson: "I WANT TO study English".

Posted on: Manila

Furthermore, the first bug mentioned by Chris above has still not been fixed - abundant shows instead of feng1fu4.