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Perhaps the reason there's a stigma of China not being able to innovate is because they're so widely known for blatantly copying existing products and designs (
by Unklejoe 10y ago
Perhaps the reason there's a stigma of China not being able to innovate is because they're so widely known for blatantly copying existing products and designs (and selling them for a much lower price). In some cases, it’s a direct rip-off of an existing product (for example, search AliExpress for “TIAL Wastegate”), and in other cases, it’s a similar, but often cheaper (in both cost and quality) design.
The problem is that people love to generalize, and the fact of the matter is that when many people think of Chinese products, they think of cheap knock-offs being sold on eBay. Obviously, this is a pretty bad generalization considering many of the “legitimate” products we use every day were made in China, but we’re talking about perception amongst the general population. [Criticizes China for making knock-offs while typing on an iPhone…]
The point that needs to be made is that making cheap knock-offs does not preclude them from innovating. There are a lot of people there, and I’m sure the entire country isn’t composed of mindless assembly drones.
It’s a shame that this stigma exists, and it will take a while before it completely fades away.
I realize that some people might be offended by this (and my use of “cheap knock-offs”), but if you don’t believe me, just go ask around for yourself.
- calibraxis 10y agoWhile developing, countries like Germany, Japan, the US, etc were accused of copying. Piracy. I suppose like artists learning by copying experts.
- wibr 10y agoThat's why German products exported to the United Kingdom had to be marked with "Made in Germany" (roughly 125 years ago).
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- kiba 10y agoHow can you innovate if you don't know how stuff are made? Copying is a way of gaining expertise. You can't build a factory to make computer chips without actually knowing how they are made.
- Nokinside 10y agoCopying is usually the best strategy to start from behind. Japanese started the same way. In the 60s and 70s "Made in Japan" meant cheap, low-quality knockoffs. Japanese cars were called rice cups in the 80's. Then they caught up and it took Detroit by surprise.
- moufestaphio 10y agoDitto for Korea. In the 80/90's they were the cheap Japanese knock offs for tech stuff like TVs etc.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- marincounty 10y agoI've never heard "rice cups". I heard the degeogratory phrase "rice rocket". That said, it doesn't matter. Japan made decent vechicles, better than Ameriacn vechicle throughout the 80's, even early 80's. Toyota was making sensible vechicles in the 70's. By sensible, I mean simple mechanically, and built to last. We were so used to inferior Japanese quality, we just assumed 80's Japanese vechicles were built terribly. They were engineered better that American cars in that decade. I'll admit I'm a Toyota fan. I bought a 80's Toyota vechicle with a 22r engine that literally has 370,000 miles. In all those miles it needed a new clutch(a DIY job), a few spark plugs, a few fornt break pads, a water pump, and I'm planning on buying an extra alternator. Why, because the original is still putting out 14.5 volts--and it should have died a long time ago. My fear with Japanese automobile manufacturing is they are going away from what I loved about their vechicles. That is simplicity, and cheap cost of ownership.
- sliverstorm 10y agoPublic perception lagged reality, I think today looking back it's clear Japanese cars from the 80's were good quality. I suspect they have generally outlasted domestic models from the same decade.