3 ms·

There are two outcomes: 1: They really will not know what you're talking about and think you're crazy and just hate Chinese people (this is common). 2: They wi

by fiblye 6y ago

There are two outcomes: 1: They really will not know what you're talking about and think you're crazy and just hate Chinese people (this is common). 2: They will somewhat know what you're talking about, and have a massive list of bad things your country has done/is still doing, and you won't be happy (this is also common, but slightly less common) If you were good friends, you can mention this and drop it and try to move on. If you're doing this at work, it won't end well for anyone involved, and it'll be doubly bad if you're in an authority position.

lc5G 6y ago
> They will somewhat know what you're talking about, and have a massive list of bad things your country has done/is still doing, and you won't be happy Ignoring the "at work" part, you can then both realize that you should acknowledge and fight against any country doing bad things and that these bad things are not excused because other countries (or people) are also doing bad things. Two wrongs don't make a right. (I'm aware you did not claim that they did.)
- tidenly 6y ago
  If someone came up to an American abroad and demanded they attest for the detention centers on the border people would call that ridiculous. The idea this person is entertaining the idea of doing the same for Chinese people who work with them is just as much so.
calf 6y ago
Note that the outcomes you describe are only bad at preserving the status quo at that workplace.
- fiblye 6y ago
  The outcomes will also give them a heightened sense of nationalism and feed into the idea that the West is just out to get China and Chinese people, which the media plays up quite a bit. As an American, sitting down next to a European on vacation for more than a few minutes is never fun. Once they inevitably ask "Where are you from?", they follow it up with a lecture on American politics before I can even finish my sentence. It's tedious and it's nothing new. It's probably way more frustrating for people having to listen to their boss lecture them at work about how screwed up a country they've never been to but you've lived your whole life in is. You're not in a position to just politely say "bye" and never see them ever again without any consequence. You certainly can't speak up against them because they're in a position of authority.
  - Kootle 6y ago
    > As an American, sitting down next to a European on vacation for more than a few minutes is never fun. Once they inevitably ask "Where are you from?", they follow it up with a lecture on American politics before I can even finish my sentence. It's tedious and it's nothing new. Counter-anecdotally; I've never experienced this and in my workplace at least, the people who never stop talking politics are all American.
    - markus92 6y ago
      It's common enough many American backpackers in hostels introduce themselves as Canadians, saves them the hassle.
  - dumb1224 6y ago
    That's my worry too. A lot of us are very defensive now even to be reasonable. However it is hard to buy these videos if you were born and raised in China, simply because you understand the culture around it. For example there are a lot of Vloggers in Xinjiang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRXnF42z1oM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRXnF42z1oM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3VGz4HFs_A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3VGz4HFs_A If you understand the language and culture the locals talk a similar way to the responses from the BBC video. And in the Vice video the locals even spoke for the secret journalists. Also for mainland china everyone refers people from any ethnic background from Xinjiang a 'Xinjianger' not a singled out 维族人. I'm sure there are a lot of injustice but ethnic minorities are known to entitle a few 'privileges' such as carrying knives and not subject to one-child policy. Hence the cause of the inevitable unfair treatment and conflict (to be honest many policies are not up to modern liberal views). I'm not defending ccp ever, but I'm also shocked people knew very little about everything else.
    - tasogare 6y ago
      I think this is an important point. Even if GP "open the eyes" of coworkers on the matter, there is absolutely no guarantee that they will side with the Western point of view. For a variety of reasons they might approve the government action, which will cause additional tension to an already rude situation, as explained by other posters.
DarthGhandi 6y ago
Just for the record here do you have any mainland Chinese friends?
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

by fiblye 6y ago

lc5G 6y ago

> They will somewhat know what you're talking about, and have a massive list of bad things your country has done/is still doing, and you won't be happy Ignoring the "at work" part, you can then both realize that you should acknowledge and fight against any country doing bad things and that these bad things are not excused because other countries (or people) are also doing bad things. Two wrongs don't make a right. (I'm aware you did not claim that they did.)

tidenly 6y ago
If someone came up to an American abroad and demanded they attest for the detention centers on the border people would call that ridiculous. The idea this person is entertaining the idea of doing the same for Chinese people who work with them is just as much so.

calf 6y ago

Note that the outcomes you describe are only bad at preserving the status quo at that workplace.

fiblye 6y ago
The outcomes will also give them a heightened sense of nationalism and feed into the idea that the West is just out to get China and Chinese people, which the media plays up quite a bit. As an American, sitting down next to a European on vacation for more than a few minutes is never fun. Once they inevitably ask "Where are you from?", they follow it up with a lecture on American politics before I can even finish my sentence. It's tedious and it's nothing new. It's probably way more frustrating for people having to listen to their boss lecture them at work about how screwed up a country they've never been to but you've lived your whole life in is. You're not in a position to just politely say "bye" and never see them ever again without any consequence. You certainly can't speak up against them because they're in a position of authority.
- Kootle 6y ago
  > As an American, sitting down next to a European on vacation for more than a few minutes is never fun. Once they inevitably ask "Where are you from?", they follow it up with a lecture on American politics before I can even finish my sentence. It's tedious and it's nothing new. Counter-anecdotally; I've never experienced this and in my workplace at least, the people who never stop talking politics are all American.
  - markus92 6y ago
    It's common enough many American backpackers in hostels introduce themselves as Canadians, saves them the hassle.
- dumb1224 6y ago
  That's my worry too. A lot of us are very defensive now even to be reasonable. However it is hard to buy these videos if you were born and raised in China, simply because you understand the culture around it. For example there are a lot of Vloggers in Xinjiang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRXnF42z1oM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRXnF42z1oM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3VGz4HFs_A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3VGz4HFs_A If you understand the language and culture the locals talk a similar way to the responses from the BBC video. And in the Vice video the locals even spoke for the secret journalists. Also for mainland china everyone refers people from any ethnic background from Xinjiang a 'Xinjianger' not a singled out 维族人. I'm sure there are a lot of injustice but ethnic minorities are known to entitle a few 'privileges' such as carrying knives and not subject to one-child policy. Hence the cause of the inevitable unfair treatment and conflict (to be honest many policies are not up to modern liberal views). I'm not defending ccp ever, but I'm also shocked people knew very little about everything else.
  - tasogare 6y ago
    I think this is an important point. Even if GP "open the eyes" of coworkers on the matter, there is absolutely no guarantee that they will side with the Western point of view. For a variety of reasons they might approve the government action, which will cause additional tension to an already rude situation, as explained by other posters.

DarthGhandi 6y ago

Just for the record here do you have any mainland Chinese friends?

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]