I'm with you on the noise thing, Jerry. Chinese people are very, very loud! At the supermarkets or in shopping malls, there is always someone on the tannoy yelling out today's special offers and promotions. At outdoor public entertainment events, there is always an enthusiastic compere positively shrieking into a microphone, urging people to enjoy themselves. At least in these instances, you can grab a few groceries, pay and leave, or in the latter case, just leave and go somewhere quieter.
The worst of all is on long haul flights, when large groups of friends and families will happily stand up as soon as the seat belt signs go off and chatter excitedly to their travelling companions seated several rows away, at top volume and at length. They don't even stop when the lights are dimmed on night flights.
Any complaining, however short lived, must always involve a lot of shouting by both sides. Even couples having a domestic disagreement in the street will do so at top volume which often draws a large crowd of amused onlookers who will shout encouragement and support to either party, and when the police arrive to try to restore the peace, everyone shouts at them as well. Then suddenly, it's all over and everyone (including the disturbers of the peace) goes happily about their business.
Chinese people have a lot of characteristic traits which are very strange to some foreigners, but they are certainly not shy or self-conscious! And they are not at all afraid to speak out or complain about anything at all, especially to government officials and law enforcement officers. Imagine having the freedom to do this?
That comment about the police is spot on, we see arguments all the time but in all my years in China, I've never seen a heavy handed police officer, in the UK, I was a police offcier and saw ample evidence of it, in australia I wasn't but it was a regukar occurance to see violence, it's extremely rare to see dispute escalate to violence in China, that's one of the good things about it but you're right, they do get loud!
Coriander is a strange herb indeed. I personally wouldn't be that conscious of whether it was included or excluded in a dish. But I know many people like you who dislike it with a passion.
I fully agree with you about noise levels,but this seems to be an Asian wide preference, for the locals. In Thailand, my home now, Thais only seem to enjoy themselves when the music and noise levels are at maximum!
Thank you Jerry for a very honest appreciation of some of the downsides living in China. I have lived in South Africa for nearly 30 years (married to an SA lady) and in our 80s now. In spite of the western bad press, SA is one of the few functional democracies, born out of its past experiences and its unique reconciliation. As a member of BRICS, my hope is that SA will generally embrace China's economic model and forsake the West's oppression.
I didn't mention the internet access because I don't have a problem with it - I run a VPN, the police know, the immigration department know, my service provider of internet and phone access know about it. It's not illegal, it's not even frowned upon, what might be illegal is what I do on it and as far as I know, no one has ever looked into my activities online but I'm certain, if they wanted to, they would have done so by now and most certainly could see - my local police office has several people in it who follow me on YouTube, the head of my local immigration office is a follower too - so there's never a problem with internet access.
As for corruption, it was bad, it is not now - every day there are reports of people being executed, or sentenced to long terms of imprisonment - I'd say my experience of Australia and the UK (where I was a police offcier) I saw more corruption there than I see here now but I would agree, 12-20 years ago, it was rampant and part of society, it's not now
I can second that. We used VPNs all the time in Shanghai for six years. All the large companies use VPNs, all the university students have access to VPNs. Chinese ISPs are not allowed to host all the nasty stuff we see here on social media in the west, and I see nothing wrong with that. In the UK, we are taking baby steps towards protecting children against unwanted porn and violence, and I see nothing wrong with this either.
In a chat with a Polish friend the other day, I had to explain once again that the successful Communist China of today is nothing like the failed Eastern European Communism of her youth. And just because she personally knows nothing about China (and still believes it is closed off to the world) doesn't mean that 10s if not 100s of thousands of business people from all over the world attend multiple global business and economic summits in China every year. She sniffed, "Well of course they will go where the money is".
I also had to explain that China only imposed RETALIATORY sanctions on the US over the export of rare earths because China refuses to allow its businesses to export these for anything other than peaceful purposes.
So she thinks Chinese people are oppressed, impoverished and miserable ... but seems also to know somewhere in the back of her mind that China is now a moderately prosperous country. It is very hard to counter this dichotomy in western thinking. Fortunately, her husband (Emeritus Professor in AI and an American) was there and said he was warming to China's approach to new technologies. I left before they started bickering.
I do feel that the toxic anti-China media influence is on the wane here in the UK. But this might just be my browsing habits and the algorithms.
Thank you Juliette, and yes I too see nothing wrong with censoring and removing the bad stuff and protecting children must be a priority. Regrettably UK especially has a tendency to misuse censorship as they implement Digital IDs etc. It's this risk that requires governments to use tech responsibly - a slim hope for UK, and one reason I escaped long ago.
We do have an efficient ID system in SA and I am pleased to say that it has not been exploited so far. When digital is completed we will see what happens. I do trust our government to act fairly, especially because they know that the indigenous majority keep close tabs on them, especially the ANC.
I don't see what's wrong with UK digital ID either to be honest. It won't be obligatory. We all have multiple digital IDs for our registered addresses, electoral register, taxes, driving licences, Health & Social Care (all horribly fragmented at the moment), libraries, access to employment and welfare support if needed, state pensions, and practically everything else that comes under the umbrella of government services.
I don't see how you can run any country effectively unless these services are digitally linked.
I agree but it's the implications that might concern me. Health records and privacy issues for example are a risk in the hands of third party tech, companies like Palantir working with the NHS. https://securityjournaluk.com/britcard-uk-digital-id/
Note: Do not trust anything from EpochTimes. It is Falun Gong and twists everything about China. Same with New Tang Dynasty (NTD). There are quite a few of them. Falun Gong is a particularly pernicious cult with full-on worship of the leader.
Thanks for the heads-up Muchado - duly noted. I tend to trust nothing these days but was rather hoping that official Chinese reports are worthy of note.
coriander/cilantro is an interesting thing, a large genetic component in how this herb tastes for people, those who dislike it usually describe a "soapy" taste. Which is quite contrary to how other people experience it.
I'm with you on the noise thing, Jerry. Chinese people are very, very loud! At the supermarkets or in shopping malls, there is always someone on the tannoy yelling out today's special offers and promotions. At outdoor public entertainment events, there is always an enthusiastic compere positively shrieking into a microphone, urging people to enjoy themselves. At least in these instances, you can grab a few groceries, pay and leave, or in the latter case, just leave and go somewhere quieter.
The worst of all is on long haul flights, when large groups of friends and families will happily stand up as soon as the seat belt signs go off and chatter excitedly to their travelling companions seated several rows away, at top volume and at length. They don't even stop when the lights are dimmed on night flights.
Any complaining, however short lived, must always involve a lot of shouting by both sides. Even couples having a domestic disagreement in the street will do so at top volume which often draws a large crowd of amused onlookers who will shout encouragement and support to either party, and when the police arrive to try to restore the peace, everyone shouts at them as well. Then suddenly, it's all over and everyone (including the disturbers of the peace) goes happily about their business.
Chinese people have a lot of characteristic traits which are very strange to some foreigners, but they are certainly not shy or self-conscious! And they are not at all afraid to speak out or complain about anything at all, especially to government officials and law enforcement officers. Imagine having the freedom to do this?
That comment about the police is spot on, we see arguments all the time but in all my years in China, I've never seen a heavy handed police officer, in the UK, I was a police offcier and saw ample evidence of it, in australia I wasn't but it was a regukar occurance to see violence, it's extremely rare to see dispute escalate to violence in China, that's one of the good things about it but you're right, they do get loud!
Coriander is a strange herb indeed. I personally wouldn't be that conscious of whether it was included or excluded in a dish. But I know many people like you who dislike it with a passion.
For me, it's cardamoms. Yuk.
I fully agree with you about noise levels,but this seems to be an Asian wide preference, for the locals. In Thailand, my home now, Thais only seem to enjoy themselves when the music and noise levels are at maximum!
But I love coriander! So I'm half lucky.
Thank you Jerry for a very honest appreciation of some of the downsides living in China. I have lived in South Africa for nearly 30 years (married to an SA lady) and in our 80s now. In spite of the western bad press, SA is one of the few functional democracies, born out of its past experiences and its unique reconciliation. As a member of BRICS, my hope is that SA will generally embrace China's economic model and forsake the West's oppression.
I notice that you make no mention of the internet access and associated censorship. Is this recent article truthful about China's control systems? https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/chinese-article-warns-vpn-use-alone-can-trigger-punishment-under-expanding-censorship-regime-6044193
For SA, I have no sense of internet censorship as yet, although if SA stays with the West, I guess it will come, as noted in this article: https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/622355/new-internet-censorship-regulations-for-south-africa/
Are you free to comment on the above? I really enjoy your work and its contribution to our understanding of China. I have written about my understanding how China works. Here's one of my Letters: https://austrianpeter.substack.com/p/the-financial-jigsaw-part-2-57-chinas?
Best wishes
AP
I didn't mention the internet access because I don't have a problem with it - I run a VPN, the police know, the immigration department know, my service provider of internet and phone access know about it. It's not illegal, it's not even frowned upon, what might be illegal is what I do on it and as far as I know, no one has ever looked into my activities online but I'm certain, if they wanted to, they would have done so by now and most certainly could see - my local police office has several people in it who follow me on YouTube, the head of my local immigration office is a follower too - so there's never a problem with internet access.
As for corruption, it was bad, it is not now - every day there are reports of people being executed, or sentenced to long terms of imprisonment - I'd say my experience of Australia and the UK (where I was a police offcier) I saw more corruption there than I see here now but I would agree, 12-20 years ago, it was rampant and part of society, it's not now
Thank you Jerry, all very clear and I am pleased to hear that you have no problems with VPN etc. I appreciate your reply and reassurance.
I can second that. We used VPNs all the time in Shanghai for six years. All the large companies use VPNs, all the university students have access to VPNs. Chinese ISPs are not allowed to host all the nasty stuff we see here on social media in the west, and I see nothing wrong with that. In the UK, we are taking baby steps towards protecting children against unwanted porn and violence, and I see nothing wrong with this either.
Thank you Juliette, it's nice to get support for what we know to be true of China
In a chat with a Polish friend the other day, I had to explain once again that the successful Communist China of today is nothing like the failed Eastern European Communism of her youth. And just because she personally knows nothing about China (and still believes it is closed off to the world) doesn't mean that 10s if not 100s of thousands of business people from all over the world attend multiple global business and economic summits in China every year. She sniffed, "Well of course they will go where the money is".
I also had to explain that China only imposed RETALIATORY sanctions on the US over the export of rare earths because China refuses to allow its businesses to export these for anything other than peaceful purposes.
So she thinks Chinese people are oppressed, impoverished and miserable ... but seems also to know somewhere in the back of her mind that China is now a moderately prosperous country. It is very hard to counter this dichotomy in western thinking. Fortunately, her husband (Emeritus Professor in AI and an American) was there and said he was warming to China's approach to new technologies. I left before they started bickering.
I do feel that the toxic anti-China media influence is on the wane here in the UK. But this might just be my browsing habits and the algorithms.
Thank you Juliette, and yes I too see nothing wrong with censoring and removing the bad stuff and protecting children must be a priority. Regrettably UK especially has a tendency to misuse censorship as they implement Digital IDs etc. It's this risk that requires governments to use tech responsibly - a slim hope for UK, and one reason I escaped long ago.
We do have an efficient ID system in SA and I am pleased to say that it has not been exploited so far. When digital is completed we will see what happens. I do trust our government to act fairly, especially because they know that the indigenous majority keep close tabs on them, especially the ANC.
I don't see what's wrong with UK digital ID either to be honest. It won't be obligatory. We all have multiple digital IDs for our registered addresses, electoral register, taxes, driving licences, Health & Social Care (all horribly fragmented at the moment), libraries, access to employment and welfare support if needed, state pensions, and practically everything else that comes under the umbrella of government services.
I don't see how you can run any country effectively unless these services are digitally linked.
I agree but it's the implications that might concern me. Health records and privacy issues for example are a risk in the hands of third party tech, companies like Palantir working with the NHS. https://securityjournaluk.com/britcard-uk-digital-id/
We will just have to wait and see, I guess.
Note: Do not trust anything from EpochTimes. It is Falun Gong and twists everything about China. Same with New Tang Dynasty (NTD). There are quite a few of them. Falun Gong is a particularly pernicious cult with full-on worship of the leader.
Thanks for the heads-up Muchado - duly noted. I tend to trust nothing these days but was rather hoping that official Chinese reports are worthy of note.
True, mostly personal tastes, preferences and cultural norms...
Ps, I also split the fish bone on the table since young; common with overseas Chinese too 😂
coriander/cilantro is an interesting thing, a large genetic component in how this herb tastes for people, those who dislike it usually describe a "soapy" taste. Which is quite contrary to how other people experience it.