3 ms·

Giving a child a name is a big deal in Chinese culture, so I think your situation is unusual and shouldn't be used as a benchmark here. You also edited out "My

Giving a child a name is a big deal in Chinese culture, so I think your situation is unusual and shouldn't be used as a benchmark here. You also edited out "My Chinese wife and my non-English speaking mother-in-law have taught me very little about Chinese culture" which might explain your view on this matter.

seanmcdirmid 9y ago
Again, neither Zuck nor I are Chinese, I don't think you can use Chinese culture at all as a benchmark here. I'm sure Zuck knows less about Chinese culture than I do, especially since his wife is American born, and he never lived and worked in china for an extended period of time.
- ithinkinstereo 9y ago
  I've already stated it previously, as have other users, that giving a child is a big deal in Chinese culture. I'll add to that by noting that this typically involves the entire family - especially the child's grandparents. I would be extremely surprised if this was not the case with Priscilla and her parents. That coupled with the fact that Zuck is actively learning the language and culture makes it unlikely that his request was just social awkwardness nor that he is largely ignorant about Chinese culture as you seem to suggest. Plus if I recall, his wife was by his side when he asked Xi. In regards to your point about Priscilla, many, if not the majority of ABCs (esp first gen) are raised by their parents "Chinese" culturally-speaking. Her not having lived or worked in China does not mean she is unfamiliar to Chinese culture. To suggest that is frankly absurd and runs counter to the Asian-American experience. Because of all these reasons, many people view Zuck's request as a shameless act of ass-kissing and not just being "socially awkward". Lastly, the reaction in China was not only due to "hyper-sensitivity" but also to a mix of 1) media exaggeration and 2) how important naming a child is in Chinese culture. With all due respect to you and your family, your personal anecdote about your son not having a Chinese name is not the norm - even for mixed Western/Chinese couples.
  - seanmcdirmid 9y ago
    Stop enforcing your values on other people! You still don't get it. Zuckerberg isn't chinese, his wife is Chinese Vietnamese American, his in law as are Chinese Vietnamese, they don't even speak Mandarin, yet you judge them as if they were narrow-minded hypersensitive northern mainlanders (because southerners are much more flexible). It distorts and perverts the Asian American experience, even among Chinese not everyone will share your values. With all due respect, I know many mixed Chinese kids who didn't have formal Chinese names awhile after they were born, it isn't freaking easy, it isn't always a priority. What was chosen afterwards was informal. It just happens, not everyone shares your values, even among Chinese, and why the heck should they? They have their name, the one they will use for the rest of their lives, that is the important part, the rest is just technicalities.
- consz 9y ago
  Isn't Zuck conversationally fluent in Chinese? I'd assume he's also somewhat reasonably aware of a lot of Chinese social customs (like the baby naming thing) then, too.

seanmcdirmid 9y ago

Again, neither Zuck nor I are Chinese, I don't think you can use Chinese culture at all as a benchmark here. I'm sure Zuck knows less about Chinese culture than I do, especially since his wife is American born, and he never lived and worked in china for an extended period of time.

ithinkinstereo 9y ago
I've already stated it previously, as have other users, that giving a child is a big deal in Chinese culture. I'll add to that by noting that this typically involves the entire family - especially the child's grandparents. I would be extremely surprised if this was not the case with Priscilla and her parents. That coupled with the fact that Zuck is actively learning the language and culture makes it unlikely that his request was just social awkwardness nor that he is largely ignorant about Chinese culture as you seem to suggest. Plus if I recall, his wife was by his side when he asked Xi. In regards to your point about Priscilla, many, if not the majority of ABCs (esp first gen) are raised by their parents "Chinese" culturally-speaking. Her not having lived or worked in China does not mean she is unfamiliar to Chinese culture. To suggest that is frankly absurd and runs counter to the Asian-American experience. Because of all these reasons, many people view Zuck's request as a shameless act of ass-kissing and not just being "socially awkward". Lastly, the reaction in China was not only due to "hyper-sensitivity" but also to a mix of 1) media exaggeration and 2) how important naming a child is in Chinese culture. With all due respect to you and your family, your personal anecdote about your son not having a Chinese name is not the norm - even for mixed Western/Chinese couples.
- seanmcdirmid 9y ago
  Stop enforcing your values on other people! You still don't get it. Zuckerberg isn't chinese, his wife is Chinese Vietnamese American, his in law as are Chinese Vietnamese, they don't even speak Mandarin, yet you judge them as if they were narrow-minded hypersensitive northern mainlanders (because southerners are much more flexible). It distorts and perverts the Asian American experience, even among Chinese not everyone will share your values. With all due respect, I know many mixed Chinese kids who didn't have formal Chinese names awhile after they were born, it isn't freaking easy, it isn't always a priority. What was chosen afterwards was informal. It just happens, not everyone shares your values, even among Chinese, and why the heck should they? They have their name, the one they will use for the rest of their lives, that is the important part, the rest is just technicalities.
consz 9y ago
Isn't Zuck conversationally fluent in Chinese? I'd assume he's also somewhat reasonably aware of a lot of Chinese social customs (like the baby naming thing) then, too.