3 ms·

Trust me, there's no shortage of entrepreneurialism in China. Insert something about sufficient sample size and selection bias here. Is there something hard w

Trust me, there's no shortage of entrepreneurialism in China. Insert something about sufficient sample size and selection bias here. Is there something hard wired in Americans' (specifically white Americans') brains that assume that anything they read about a few Chinese people automatically apply to the entire country?

Rod 18y ago
Please read my comment again and tell me where I generalized to all Chinese. The article's author claimed that the guys were very "bright", and I was expecting him to write on their entrepreneurial spirit... and, lo and behold, all they wanted was a safe status job that pays well. So predictable. So boring. I said nothing on the other 1+ billion Chinese. I did not comment on the entrepreneuralism (or lack thereof) in China... PS: Though you guessed right that I am a white male, I must say that I am not American.
megaduck 18y ago
China has well over a billion people. You'll find a lot of ANYTHING in China, including entrepreneurialism. However, in my experience, most Chinese don't believe that starting a business is the best way to wealth. Of course, I'm a white American (that happens to live in China). Perhaps you have some insights that I'm lacking.
- mattm 18y ago
  You're right. I've met many Chinese people who think the way to wealth is to get a cushy government position with some kind of power over others so you can get bribes or to be a purchaser for a company due to a similar reason.
jhancock 18y ago
I don't agree with your line "specifically white Americans". I'm a white American and have lived in Shanghai 9 years. Of all the various types I see coming into Shanghai, the type that seems to have a very hard time assimilating is the "ABC". The American Born Chinese. This is a multi-faceted problem. But to be sure, there are many white Americans that "get it" and assimilate quite well. Your point about sample size and selection bias is right on. This is the real take away from the article.

Rod 18y ago

Please read my comment again and tell me where I generalized to all Chinese. The article's author claimed that the guys were very "bright", and I was expecting him to write on their entrepreneurial spirit... and, lo and behold, all they wanted was a safe status job that pays well. So predictable. So boring. I said nothing on the other 1+ billion Chinese. I did not comment on the entrepreneuralism (or lack thereof) in China... PS: Though you guessed right that I am a white male, I must say that I am not American.

megaduck 18y ago

China has well over a billion people. You'll find a lot of ANYTHING in China, including entrepreneurialism. However, in my experience, most Chinese don't believe that starting a business is the best way to wealth. Of course, I'm a white American (that happens to live in China). Perhaps you have some insights that I'm lacking.

mattm 18y ago
You're right. I've met many Chinese people who think the way to wealth is to get a cushy government position with some kind of power over others so you can get bribes or to be a purchaser for a company due to a similar reason.

jhancock 18y ago

I don't agree with your line "specifically white Americans". I'm a white American and have lived in Shanghai 9 years. Of all the various types I see coming into Shanghai, the type that seems to have a very hard time assimilating is the "ABC". The American Born Chinese. This is a multi-faceted problem. But to be sure, there are many white Americans that "get it" and assimilate quite well. Your point about sample size and selection bias is right on. This is the real take away from the article.