4 ms·

> The more I learn about the world, the more I'm convinced I'm living in paradise (Europe). Paradise for the unproductive and unambitious, yes. That's why Euro

> The more I learn about the world, the more I'm convinced I'm living in paradise (Europe). Paradise for the unproductive and unambitious, yes. That's why Europe is no longer innovative and competitive and China is doing much better.

Daishiman 8y ago
I don't see the Chinese having vacations, great houses, breathing good air and eating quality food. Woe unto them.
- lazyjones 8y ago
  Then you are blind or ignorant. Visit any European capital these days to find large flocks of Chinese tourists enjoying their expensive vacations, shopping tours and gadgets.
  - alanpetrel 8y ago
    Not to mention throwing litter and spitting on the street, vile people.
    - dang 8y ago
      Slurring epithets will get you banned here. Please review https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and do not post anything like this to HN again.
  - JohnFen 8y ago
    In the US, I have seen large flocks of tourists from Europe enjoying their expensive vacations, shopping tours, and gadgets as well.
  - tuesdayrain 8y ago
    I make more than enough money from a regular 9-5 job to enjoy all of those things. I really don't see any way to justify working 996 without some sort of absurdly high pay, which I doubt those workers are getting. That sounds more like modern slavery.
    - lazyjones 8y ago
      > I really don't see any way to justify working 996 without some sort of absurdly high pay, Many people don't just work for the immediate monetary benefit. Some like the company or see some value in working there or in that industry specifically, some want to prove themselves in a competitive environment to raise in ranks and see better chances even if the starting position is bad etc. ... Some might even like the rough working conditions because they appeal to their work ethic. Slavery would mean they have no choice but they do and they choose 996.
- weddpros 8y ago
  The Chinese are the americans of the american continent, or the dutch of europe: they're everywhere and they have the money. For instance, they amount for 1/3 of all of Thailand's tourism, the most touristic country in the world. They do build amazing futuristic condos. Google "shanghai skyline". It takes time though... And Western food is not always known for its quality: the west gave the world burgers, fries or pizzas. In the end, I'm sure Asia is doing so well because the West thinks poorly of them and leaves them alone. Hint: I live in Asia and I'm amazed at how so many westerners don't get Asia.
  - lazyjones 8y ago
    > The Chinese are the americans of the american continent They are now also the Russians of the international luxury real estate market together with the Saudis. I really wonder why some people are so much in denial of these changes.
  - JohnFen 8y ago
    > I live in Asia and I'm amazed at how so many westerners don't get Asia. I know this is true. I also know that most asians don't get westerners. I think one of these divides might be that each has a different idea of what a high "quality of life" is.
alanpetrel 8y ago
Really? GDP says otherwise.
- gridlockd 8y ago
  GDP is a really bad measure, especially when you're financing it through QE and zero-interest monetary policy. We should at least have sovereign-debt-adjusted domestic product.
gaze 8y ago
"doing much better" in what sense? Who wants to live as a slave? Shouldn't the goal a country be maximal quality of life?
- weddpros 8y ago
  The progression of quality of life in China is such that it's on the way of surpassing Europe's very soon (if not already done)
  - JohnFen 8y ago
    That seems rather dubious.

Daishiman 8y ago

I don't see the Chinese having vacations, great houses, breathing good air and eating quality food. Woe unto them.

lazyjones 8y ago
Then you are blind or ignorant. Visit any European capital these days to find large flocks of Chinese tourists enjoying their expensive vacations, shopping tours and gadgets.
- alanpetrel 8y ago
  Not to mention throwing litter and spitting on the street, vile people.
  - dang 8y ago
    Slurring epithets will get you banned here. Please review https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and do not post anything like this to HN again.
- JohnFen 8y ago
  In the US, I have seen large flocks of tourists from Europe enjoying their expensive vacations, shopping tours, and gadgets as well.
- tuesdayrain 8y ago
  I make more than enough money from a regular 9-5 job to enjoy all of those things. I really don't see any way to justify working 996 without some sort of absurdly high pay, which I doubt those workers are getting. That sounds more like modern slavery.
  - lazyjones 8y ago
    > I really don't see any way to justify working 996 without some sort of absurdly high pay, Many people don't just work for the immediate monetary benefit. Some like the company or see some value in working there or in that industry specifically, some want to prove themselves in a competitive environment to raise in ranks and see better chances even if the starting position is bad etc. ... Some might even like the rough working conditions because they appeal to their work ethic. Slavery would mean they have no choice but they do and they choose 996.
weddpros 8y ago
The Chinese are the americans of the american continent, or the dutch of europe: they're everywhere and they have the money. For instance, they amount for 1/3 of all of Thailand's tourism, the most touristic country in the world. They do build amazing futuristic condos. Google "shanghai skyline". It takes time though... And Western food is not always known for its quality: the west gave the world burgers, fries or pizzas. In the end, I'm sure Asia is doing so well because the West thinks poorly of them and leaves them alone. Hint: I live in Asia and I'm amazed at how so many westerners don't get Asia.
- lazyjones 8y ago
  > The Chinese are the americans of the american continent They are now also the Russians of the international luxury real estate market together with the Saudis. I really wonder why some people are so much in denial of these changes.
- JohnFen 8y ago
  > I live in Asia and I'm amazed at how so many westerners don't get Asia. I know this is true. I also know that most asians don't get westerners. I think one of these divides might be that each has a different idea of what a high "quality of life" is.

alanpetrel 8y ago

Really? GDP says otherwise.

gridlockd 8y ago
GDP is a really bad measure, especially when you're financing it through QE and zero-interest monetary policy. We should at least have sovereign-debt-adjusted domestic product.

gaze 8y ago

"doing much better" in what sense? Who wants to live as a slave? Shouldn't the goal a country be maximal quality of life?

weddpros 8y ago
The progression of quality of life in China is such that it's on the way of surpassing Europe's very soon (if not already done)
- JohnFen 8y ago
  That seems rather dubious.