User Comments - superacidjax

Posted on: Shanghai Expo: Haibao

Haibao's color is probably from a Taiwanese designer -- but the rest of Haibao was created by Art Clokey in 1956. http://www.primetoystore.com/Toys%20for%20sale/everythingelse/gumby.jpg

Posted on: Shanghai Expo: Haibao

It's a straight up, plagiarized gumby. No wonder -- intellectual property doesn't exist in China. It's really insulting really. There is tons of Chinese talent -- yet they'd prefer to copy some ancient American pop-culture icon. I don't know if there is a Chinese character for "originality." I personally like Haibao -- but then I also think they could have done something more original that would have been even better. Plagiarism is a sign of insecurity -- perhaps it's a metaphor for the Chinese emergence as a world economic powerhouse.

Posted on: What's Your Name?

Yet another great reason for a mac.

Posted on: Good Morning!

Why would someone post something in characters on the Intro 1 Newbie lesson? How inconsiderate and pointless.

Posted on: What's up?

As long as CP never uses the ridiculous terms "zebra crossings" or "full-stop" then I'm happy. What's the alternative to "full-stop" a "half-stop?" Isn't an exclamation point technically a "full-stop" (along with question marks..) Crosswalks and periods, not African bi-colored animals full stopping in the intersections. As far as the rest of British-speak -- I'm tolerant, even if "flat" and "loo" are also silly terms with little etymological semblance to what those things actually are.

Posted on: An Introduction!

I want to say thanks to CP for the Shanghainese! I've picked up a few isolated Suzhou-hua words, but unless you are really committed, it's very difficult to learn most dialects (save Cantonese) with the existing learning materials available. The little Shanghainese introduction is a GREAT idea. Especially since Shanghainese was pretty much banned (even from casual use) in Shanghai schools by the communists. Now, that restriction is relaxing a little -- but for a while, children weren't even allowed to speak it with their friends. Anything that CP does to help bring wider recognition, appreciation and learning resources towards the "other" Chinese languages is welcomed. I'm having a painfully slow time with Mandarin, but a little Shanghai, Canton, Beijing-hua spice added to our Mandarin menu is always a nice addition.

Posted on: An Introduction!

See my comment above. To summarize: don't like it, don't listen. The Shanghai lessons aren't taking away from anything else. It's a really sad attitude that you don't care to learn about something new. You don't even have to listen to the lessons! Feel free to listen to another of the thousands of lessons here on CP. Have you mastered all of the Media lessons yet? How are your character-writing skills? Have you finished everything CP has to offer on Mandarin? If so, then your complaint is noted -- if not, then stop complaining and go do another lesson. Chinesepod is doing a great service by allowing us a chance to get familiar with the dialects. If all you care about is Mandarin -- fine, but the CCP attitude that Shanghainese is worthless is rather childish and ignorant.

Thanks CP!

Posted on: An Introduction!

Wow. @ccclim -- just because they do a Shanghainese lesson doesn't mean that you actually have to listen to it. If it's unbearable, then don't listen. Some us us actually care about Chinese beyond mandarin -- this is CHINESEpod -- not MANDARINpod. I think a little variety always adds richness to the routine. Besides -- it doesn't take anything away from anyone's mandarin studies -- don't like it, don't listen. It's like complaining about why Chinese restaurants always have 100 page menus when all I'm looking for is Kung Pao Chicken. I don't want to eat the frog intestines or the stewed bowls of a lizard -- so I don't order those dishes. The Mandarinization of China is both a blessing and a tragedy for the Chinese people -- it's good to keep alive these dialects, especially as speaking to a Shanghai taxi driver in Shanghainese will earn you a bigger smile and goodwill than using textbook Beijing Mandarin. It also opens doors into the culture that are normally closed to foreigners.