Comments on: What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095 Chinalyst - China blogs in English-Your China Blog Community en-US Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:38:46 -0500 Drupal TotalFeeds Module Comments on: What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095 http://www.chinalyst.net/files/chinalyst-red.png 101 32 Good question! http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-9322 Simple answer? Personally I think business opportunities (and some others on <a href="http://www.chinasuccessstories.com/">www.chinasuccessstories.com</a> which is my blog) do too. The fact smoking is still somewhat in fashion is - for now at least - an attraction to me as well ;-) Simple answer? Personally I think business opportunities (and some others on www.chinasuccessstories.com which is my blog) do too. The fact smoking is still somewhat in fashion is - for now at least - an attraction to me as well ;-)

]]> Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:38:46 -0500 China Business Success Stories http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-9322 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7180 <div class="bb-quote">Quote:<blockquote class="bb-quote-body">China is the smokers' paradise. </blockquote></div> <div class="bb-quote">Quote:<blockquote class="bb-quote-body">Actually, that's kind of a negative for me. </blockquote></div> It's a HUGE negative for me! Yet...my wife has a pack-a-day habit! Go figure... :? Quote:
China is the smokers' paradise.
Quote:
Actually, that's kind of a negative for me.

It's a HUGE negative for me! Yet...my wife has a pack-a-day habit! Go figure... :?

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2006 04:43:26 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7180 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7179 Yeah, it's great not living somewhere that isn't obsessed with health and safety and suing. I know some kids who went to a sports camp in the West this summer. There was a paved track that intersected the path between the dorms and the sports fields. It was used by about 2 delivery vehicles a day, and maybe 1 or 2 local cars taking a short cut. But because there were these handful of vehicles on it, no child was allowed to cross the road without a councilor supervising them. This was a particularly rule stupid given that the average age of some of these kids was about 16. They were really peeved about being treated like babies. Yeah, it's great not living somewhere that isn't obsessed with health and safety and suing.

I know some kids who went to a sports camp in the West this summer.

There was a paved track that intersected the path between the dorms and the sports fields. It was used by about 2 delivery vehicles a day, and maybe 1 or 2 local cars taking a short cut. But because there were these handful of vehicles on it, no child was allowed to cross the road without a councilor supervising them.

This was a particularly rule stupid given that the average age of some of these kids was about 16. They were really peeved about being treated like babies.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:12:37 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7179 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7178 Actually, that's kind of a negative for me. But in a related note, I do kind of enjoy the lack of safety regs and the non-litigeous society. For example, there are no guard rails at the Forbidden City or in natural beauty spots. The FC would look terrible if you tried to impose US safety standards on it. But in China, is you wander up and fall off of some platform, that's your responsibilty, nobody elses. That actually makes sense to me. Actually, that's kind of a negative for me. But in a related note, I do kind of enjoy the lack of safety regs and the non-litigeous society. For example, there are no guard rails at the Forbidden City or in natural beauty spots. The FC would look terrible if you tried to impose US safety standards on it. But in China, is you wander up and fall off of some platform, that's your responsibilty, nobody elses. That actually makes sense to me.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:33:13 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7178 smokers' paradise http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7177 China is the smokers' paradise. Chestnuts China is the smokers' paradise.

Chestnuts

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:49:29 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7177 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7176 Pigsun, You have clearly never lived abroad or truly experienced another culture. Of course there are admirable things in every culture but when you live far from home in a totally alien culture the occassionally the real and percieved ridiculouslessness and stupidity of locals you experience every day can definately grate on you and can overwhelm the positive aspects of the culture you are living in. It is sometimes important to reach out to others who have had similar experiences to be reminded of these positive attributes and be reminded of why you chose to go to your host country in the first place. Now, go masturbate to China Daily. Pigsun,

You have clearly never lived abroad or truly experienced another culture. Of course there are admirable things in every culture but when you live far from home in a totally alien culture the occassionally the real and percieved ridiculouslessness and stupidity of locals you experience every day can definately grate on you and can overwhelm the positive aspects of the culture you are living in. It is sometimes important to reach out to others who have had similar experiences to be reminded of these positive attributes and be reminded of why you chose to go to your host country in the first place.

Now, go masturbate to China Daily.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2006 04:29:09 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7176 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7175 Or watch the weather on CCTV, where everything is always sunny. Or watch the weather on CCTV, where everything is always sunny.

]]> Sun, 10 Sep 2006 15:30:57 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7175 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7174 <div class="bb-quote">Quote:<blockquote class="bb-quote-body">Is this the only post in this forum that's about &quot;good things&quot; in China? If there's another one, please tell me, thank you.</blockquote></div> If we want to read nice things about China, we usually just go to the China Daily's message board (where it is mandatory). Saying nice things about China here is reserved for special occasions. It shows we care. Quote:
Is this the only post in this forum that's about "good things" in China? If there's another one, please tell me, thank you.

If we want to read nice things about China, we usually just go to the China Daily's message board (where it is mandatory). Saying nice things about China here is reserved for special occasions. It shows we care.

]]> Sun, 10 Sep 2006 15:05:15 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7174 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7173 This is very sad. The title of this post is called &quot;What is good about China&quot;, and the author said &quot;I want to hear what's good about China and the Chinese.&quot; Cleary, the author must in real life have mostly negative experiences with China or the Chinese people (note, not just the Chinese government, but the Chinese people as well). And the author also must rarely hear about positive things about China or the Chinese people on this forum. So the author is very curious, and wants to know &quot;if there is anything good about China or the Chinese people&quot;. This is very similar to post a thread called &quot;What is so good about Hitler?&quot;. In his mind, it is only &quot;normal&quot; to talk about bad things about China, if you want to talk about good things about China, you must first &quot;prepare&quot; your talk and start a &quot;special&quot; thread about good things in China. Is this the only post in this forum that's about &quot;good things&quot; in China? If there's another one, please tell me, thank you. This is very sad. The title of this post is called "What is good about China", and the author said "I want to hear what's good about China and the Chinese." Cleary, the author must in real life have mostly negative experiences with China or the Chinese people (note, not just the Chinese government, but the Chinese people as well). And the author also must rarely hear about positive things about China or the Chinese people on this forum. So the author is very curious, and wants to know "if there is anything good about China or the Chinese people". This is very similar to post a thread called "What is so good about Hitler?". In his mind, it is only "normal" to talk about bad things about China, if you want to talk about good things about China, you must first "prepare" your talk and start a "special" thread about good things in China.

Is this the only post in this forum that's about "good things" in China? If there's another one, please tell me, thank you.

]]> Sun, 10 Sep 2006 14:16:31 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7173 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7172 <div class="bb-quote">Quote:<blockquote class="bb-quote-body">If you want to stay, stay - if you don't, consider moving. </blockquote></div> Thanks for the concern. I've been here for years and have been clear about my choice. Mostly I'm overworked and in need of a vacation. Thanks to everyone for pointing out the positive. Quote:
If you want to stay, stay - if you don't, consider moving.

Thanks for the concern. I've been here for years and have been clear about my choice. Mostly I'm overworked and in need of a vacation.

Thanks to everyone for pointing out the positive.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2006 20:07:49 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7172 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7171 <div class="bb-quote">Quote:<blockquote class="bb-quote-body">The cheap taxis Cheap stuff.</blockquote></div> Fair enough. But...isn't it kind of telling that the best most of us can come up with revolves around prices? Not exactly the most convincing of reasons to stick around, Buddha... Quote:
The cheap taxis

Cheap stuff.

Fair enough. But...isn't it kind of telling that the best most of us can come up with revolves around prices? Not exactly the most convincing of reasons to stick around, Buddha...

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2006 19:04:25 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7171 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7170 It must be wonderful living in a part of China were the local river water won't burn a human down to their skeleton in less than 15 seconds. It must be wonderful living in a part of China were the local river water won't burn a human down to their skeleton in less than 15 seconds.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2006 12:22:53 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7170 What's good? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7169 <a href="http://china.notspecial.org/" class="bb-url">Xinjiang!</a> Clean air, wide-open space, rivers clean enough to swim in, awesome fruits and vegetables... The Opposite End of China Korla, Xinjiang Xinjiang! Clean air, wide-open space, rivers clean enough to swim in, awesome fruits and vegetables...

The Opposite End of China
Korla, Xinjiang

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2006 12:08:34 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7169 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7168 T_co obviously has never set foot in a Chinese Post Office. They stifle me twice a week with dead social economic and political rules. T_co obviously has never set foot in a Chinese Post Office.

They stifle me twice a week with dead social economic and political rules.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2006 07:03:25 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7168 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7167 <div class="bb-quote"><b>t_co wrote:</b><blockquote class="bb-quote-body">The flexibility and lack of stifling, dead rules in social, economic, and political transactions</blockquote></div> Are you being sarcastic, t_co? t_co wrote:
The flexibility and lack of stifling, dead rules in social, economic, and political transactions

Are you being sarcastic, t_co?

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2006 04:31:57 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7167 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7166 <div class="bb-quote">Quote:<blockquote class="bb-quote-body">The innocence among the youth (it's like stepping back into the '50s of the U.S.A.) </blockquote></div> So true. Quote:
The innocence among the youth (it's like stepping back into the '50s of the U.S.A.)

So true.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:53:15 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7166 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7165 <div class="bb-quote">Quote:<blockquote class="bb-quote-body">The flexibility and lack of stifling, dead rules in social, economic, and political transactions </blockquote></div> Ah yes, the joys of corruption! How fortunate for the Chinese to enjoy the &quot;flexibility&quot; that comes from the absence of the rule of law! Quote:
The flexibility and lack of stifling, dead rules in social, economic, and political transactions

Ah yes, the joys of corruption! How fortunate for the Chinese to enjoy the "flexibility" that comes from the absence of the rule of law!

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:08:41 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7165 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7164 The food The cheap taxis The investment opportunities The flexibility and lack of stifling, dead rules in social, economic, and political transactions The dynamism, growth, and to-hell-with-limits/rules attitude everywhere The innocence among the youth (it's like stepping back into the '50s of the U.S.A.) The great convos struck up with the taxi drivers The juxtaposition of old, ancient, and antique with new Cheap stuff. The food

The cheap taxis

The investment opportunities

The flexibility and lack of stifling, dead rules in social, economic, and political transactions

The dynamism, growth, and to-hell-with-limits/rules attitude everywhere

The innocence among the youth (it's like stepping back into the '50s of the U.S.A.)

The great convos struck up with the taxi drivers

The juxtaposition of old, ancient, and antique with new

Cheap stuff.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2006 22:38:50 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7164 Re: What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7163 <div class="bb-quote"><b>The Iron Buddha wrote:</b><blockquote class="bb-quote-body">I'm in a funk again. I live in China and there's so much wrong with the place I sometimes find it difficult to remember why I came here or what's good about the place so I've started this thread.</blockquote></div> I don't want to be nasty, but if that happens too often you should consider moving. You shouldn't stay because you don't want to be one of those people that &quot;couldn't cut it&quot; or whatever. If you want to stay, stay - if you don't, consider moving. I &quot;like&quot; China in terms of visiting - but I'm not going to move there. What would be the point? The Iron Buddha wrote:
I'm in a funk again. I live in China and there's so much wrong with the place I sometimes find it difficult to remember why I came here or what's good about the place so I've started this thread.

I don't want to be nasty, but if that happens too often you should consider moving. You shouldn't stay because you don't want to be one of those people that "couldn't cut it" or whatever. If you want to stay, stay - if you don't, consider moving.

I "like" China in terms of visiting - but I'm not going to move there. What would be the point?

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2006 05:56:46 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7163 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7162 Damn, that is one hell of a story, canrun. Damn, that is one hell of a story, canrun.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2006 03:34:04 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7162 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7161 This came from Chosen on another post . I think there MAY be a sliver of hope, however fleeting... http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,435188,00.html This came from Chosen on another post . I think there MAY be a sliver of hope, however fleeting...

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,435188,00.h...

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2006 01:20:25 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7161 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7160 Not having to worry about whether the V-chip will pick up the language in whatever the kids are watching on TV. Not having soaps interupted by &quot;special reports&quot; about car chases. Being able to buy Chinese, Japanese and Korean DVDs in one place, without having to go to a specialist or order them off of the internet. Guys on the street who will repair or stitch anything while you wait Local dishes People inviting you to meals at their homes after knowing you for five minutes Sweet bean paste for breakfast Being able to buy the dishes that your grandparents used to cook for you without having to go to an expensive Chinese deli. Not having to worry about whether the V-chip will pick up the language in whatever the kids are watching on TV.

Not having soaps interupted by "special reports" about car chases.

Being able to buy Chinese, Japanese and Korean DVDs in one place, without having to go to a specialist or order them off of the internet.

Guys on the street who will repair or stitch anything while you wait

Local dishes

People inviting you to meals at their homes after knowing you for five minutes

Sweet bean paste for breakfast

Being able to buy the dishes that your grandparents used to cook for you without having to go to an expensive Chinese deli.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2006 10:09:39 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7160 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7159 Walking through a Hutong in Beijing and occasionally being invited to sit down and have a chat with old people and children. Walking through beautifully landscaped garden in Hangzhou, exchanging gardening tips with the gardeners. Talking a ferry trip down Lijiang enroute to Yangsuo. Meditating at a quiet corner in the Temple of Heaven, preferably very early in the morning. Walking through a Hutong in Beijing and occasionally being invited to sit down and have a chat with old people and children.

Walking through beautifully landscaped garden in Hangzhou, exchanging gardening tips with the gardeners.

Talking a ferry trip down Lijiang enroute to Yangsuo.

Meditating at a quiet corner in the Temple of Heaven, preferably very early in the morning.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2006 09:35:28 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7159 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7158 -Shudder- &quot;never leave the day room.&quot; -Shudder- "never leave the day room."

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2006 09:21:26 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7158 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7157 Haidan is popular with students, mostly the spitting is among the older population. Plus it's summer. Wait until winter when the weather keeps the smog closer to the ground and the damp clumps it up more. Winter is whem the folem will really start to fly. Haidan is popular with students, mostly the spitting is among the older population.

Plus it's summer. Wait until winter when the weather keeps the smog closer to the ground and the damp clumps it up more. Winter is whem the folem will really start to fly.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2006 09:18:04 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7157 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7156 What's all this about spitting? I've been wandering up and down the streets of Haidian all day (very lost) and I haven't seen anyone so much as dribble. What's all this about spitting? I've been wandering up and down the streets of Haidian all day (very lost) and I haven't seen anyone so much as dribble.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2006 08:55:35 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7156 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7155 <div class="bb-quote"><b>ACB wrote:</b><blockquote class="bb-quote-body">Great music</blockquote></div> I'm not sure whether to consider this interesting or ironic. We're being nice to China in this thread, so I'll go with the former. ACB wrote:
Great music

I'm not sure whether to consider this interesting or ironic. We're being nice to China in this thread, so I'll go with the former.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2006 08:53:22 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7155 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7154 Pigsun doesn't live there. Pigsun doesn't live there.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2006 08:44:28 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7154 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7153 Cheap massages, some incredibly wonderful people, great food, some of the most gorgeous scenery on the planet, lots of cultural opportunities (I just saw all the amazing concerts that will be performed in Beijing in October and was blown away - you won't find anything like that anywhere else in Asia)...that's just off the top of my head. Sure, I can list the negatives as well. But I have to say, each time I go back to China nowadays I love it more and more. I see tangible improvements, not only in terms of infrastructure and convenience, but also in terms of social attitudes, tolerance, maturity. Yeah, a whole hell of a lot of it still sucks, but there are enough unique pleasures to make it worthwhile, or at least not intolerable. I'd say the most important aspect is the people. I have some of my closest friends there. If you don't have some special relationships, people to talk to, I can imagine it could be at times a very lonely and cold place. When I lived there in 2002-3, I only knew a few (very few people). Now that I have a small community of friends there, it makes all the difference. That probably applies to anyplace you might live, but especially to China, where at times you can feel lost and alone in a vast sea of people. Relationships make all the difference, the difference between misery and optimism, between life and death. Luckily, there are lots of special people there, and whenever I feel down about the country or disdainful, I think about those special people whose lives have touched mine, and it all seems okay. Bette Midler was onto something when she said you have to have friends. That's more true in China than anywhere else. It's so easy to feel utterly alone there. Cheap massages, some incredibly wonderful people, great food, some of the most gorgeous scenery on the planet, lots of cultural opportunities (I just saw all the amazing concerts that will be performed in Beijing in October and was blown away - you won't find anything like that anywhere else in Asia)...that's just off the top of my head. Sure, I can list the negatives as well. But I have to say, each time I go back to China nowadays I love it more and more. I see tangible improvements, not only in terms of infrastructure and convenience, but also in terms of social attitudes, tolerance, maturity. Yeah, a whole hell of a lot of it still sucks, but there are enough unique pleasures to make it worthwhile, or at least not intolerable. I'd say the most important aspect is the people. I have some of my closest friends there. If you don't have some special relationships, people to talk to, I can imagine it could be at times a very lonely and cold place. When I lived there in 2002-3, I only knew a few (very few people). Now that I have a small community of friends there, it makes all the difference. That probably applies to anyplace you might live, but especially to China, where at times you can feel lost and alone in a vast sea of people. Relationships make all the difference, the difference between misery and optimism, between life and death. Luckily, there are lots of special people there, and whenever I feel down about the country or disdainful, I think about those special people whose lives have touched mine, and it all seems okay. Bette Midler was onto something when she said you have to have friends. That's more true in China than anywhere else. It's so easy to feel utterly alone there.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2006 08:20:43 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7153 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7152 Fresh vegetables sold on every other street corner Pants come can 'unfinished' and the store keepers hem them up to your exact measurements Street food Street food (it's so good that I have to mention it twice) No guns in schools The only knives in schools are used to sharpen pen pencils Great music Winter forests without snowmobiles Kids are respectful to adults No Graphity, even in poor neighborhoods Fresh vegetables sold on every other street corner

Pants come can 'unfinished' and the store keepers hem them up to your exact measurements

Street food

Street food (it's so good that I have to mention it twice)

No guns in schools

The only knives in schools are used to sharpen pen pencils

Great music

Winter forests without snowmobiles

Kids are respectful to adults

No Graphity, even in poor neighborhoods

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2006 08:12:15 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7152 What's good about China? http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7151 Behind the scenes they treat North Korea's diplomats with scathing contempt. Ya gotta like 'em for that. Behind the scenes they treat North Korea's diplomats with scathing contempt.
Ya gotta like 'em for that.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2006 08:10:54 -0500 Unknown http://www.chinalyst.net/node/13095%2523comment-7151