4 ms·

There are a lot of comments about the awful working conditions in China and how we should push for better conditions, but none I've seen are by the workers them

There are a lot of comments about the awful working conditions in China and how we should push for better conditions, but none I've seen are by the workers themselves. I can't help but wonder: what is the sentiment on this issue in China itself? As we've seen countless times before (look at Istanbul now), widespread civilian unhappiness has a way of bubbling out. Can someone provide some pointers to Chinese sentiment on this issue? I ask because I know different areas of the world have different values, and things that seem wholly unacceptable in one place may seem more tolerable in another. Look at gun rights in the US, for example. I don't mean to imply that these workers don't care about their working conditions; I just think it's important to stay grounded in the reality that what's best for them is what _they_ want for themselves.

DanBC 13y ago
> I just think it's important to stay grounded in the reality that what's best for them is what _they_ want for themselves. That's a baffling comment. (https://secure.flickr.com/photos/george-photography-pictures/5727039970/in/photostream/ https://secure.flickr.com/photos/george-photography-pictures...) (http://www.indigenouspeople.net/garbage.htm http://www.indigenouspeople.net/garbage.htm) (http://oliver-vaccaro.com/index.php?/root/pepenadores/ http://oliver-vaccaro.com/index.php?/root/pepenadores/) People are trapped in this lifestyle, but feel that it's better than the alternative. That doesn't mean they truly want this. They just don't know what else to do.
- bobbydavid 13y ago
  I'm not exactly sure what those photos have to do with anything, but what you say is true: there are situations where people stay in upsetting situations because there are no better alternatives. However, they key point is that they will still be upset. It's the "upset-ness" of these workers that I am trying to gauge. I say this because when a people are not upset, it is paternalistic and imperialist of another group to come in and say, "no, you're doing it wrong. You don't know it but you're unhappy. Here, do it the way I prefer instead." I don't mean to insinuate that nobody is upset. Just that it's important to keep it in mind, and to remember to ask.

DanBC 13y ago

> I just think it's important to stay grounded in the reality that what's best for them is what _they_ want for themselves. That's a baffling comment. (https://secure.flickr.com/photos/george-photography-pictures/5727039970/in/photostream/ https://secure.flickr.com/photos/george-photography-pictures...) (http://www.indigenouspeople.net/garbage.htm http://www.indigenouspeople.net/garbage.htm) (http://oliver-vaccaro.com/index.php?/root/pepenadores/ http://oliver-vaccaro.com/index.php?/root/pepenadores/) People are trapped in this lifestyle, but feel that it's better than the alternative. That doesn't mean they truly want this. They just don't know what else to do.

bobbydavid 13y ago
I'm not exactly sure what those photos have to do with anything, but what you say is true: there are situations where people stay in upsetting situations because there are no better alternatives. However, they key point is that they will still be upset. It's the "upset-ness" of these workers that I am trying to gauge. I say this because when a people are not upset, it is paternalistic and imperialist of another group to come in and say, "no, you're doing it wrong. You don't know it but you're unhappy. Here, do it the way I prefer instead." I don't mean to insinuate that nobody is upset. Just that it's important to keep it in mind, and to remember to ask.