Originally Posted by
Jamoldo
For a dude who doesn't live in China (and I would bet, hasn't), you're really quite the opinionated expert on all things in the country. Yes, yes, yes we know you have friends in the Secret Service, have been to China a bajillion times and your wife is Chinese, so no need to repeat it (again).
Whereas you're simply insulting and rude, which is about what I'd expect from someone who uses the word, "dude." And I don't have friends in the Secret Service. I have a friend who is a highly-placed party official who is driven around in a car with a black plate and who, most definitely, is not a foreigner.
Yes China is far more safe than most US cities (personal safety wise, maybe not foodwise!). But I think to say that violence is really only due to drastically increased unemployment or underemployment is naive.
Where did I use the word, "only"?
There's the whole "foreigner" sentiment that I have noted as a visitor (as a tourist and for business) and as a resident (I lived in Beijing for about 2 years and in Dalian for a few months). I have definitely heard people say things about me in Chinese thinking I would not understand. Not always negative, but sometimes it was.
And that translates to hostility and violence in your mind? I have heard people do the same in France (I speak French). Do you think the French are hostile and violent towards Americans?
I have definitely seen plenty of stares, some of them hostile enough when walking with Chinese girls (not necessarily hand in hand)
I've seen plenty of stares, usually in those locations that don't see a lot of westerners, and often because my wife and I make a rather odd-looking couple.
Of course this should not take away from all of the positive experiences I have had and will continue to have in the country, but I am just trying to illustrate a point.
And what point is that?
I would not underestimate the one child policy and it creating spoiled brats.
Nor would I. However, the context in which the one-child policy was raised by
anacapmalibu was this:
"Its about a general trend of increased violence in China as a result of
their one child policy and an expotential increase in wealth that has
spawned a new generation of spoiled brats."
It is ludicrous to assert that the one child policy is the cause of increased violence in China.
I also would not underestimate the yawning wealth gap in the country.
Nor would I, which is exacerbated, in part, by a dramatic rise in unemployment over the past ten years.
I would not underestimate how challenging life must be for single Chinese guys who may or may not be employed and know (or soon find out) that the decks are stacked against them since there is a HUGE gender gap.
I don't doubt that they resent young western ex pats who are in China for business and cruise the Sanlitun bars looking to hook up with Chinese girls. And the experience of those who frequent Sanlitun for this purpose says absolutely nothing about the vast majority of the country. When I'm in China, I have nothing to do with the ex pat community (and, indeed, don't even know any ex parts). I visit friends and family and spend time in residential areas, particularly in Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, that rarely, if ever, see a western face. I don't go clubbing and, needless to say, I'm not looking to hook up with young Chinese girls. Of course, rather than wonder why my experience is so different from yours, you'd rather simply rudely discount it.
Something like 120 boys being born for ever 100 girls?
A problem that is more significant in rural areas than urban but, yes, a problem.
I would most certainly say that the one child policy plays an enormous role in this phenomenon. So on top of that, these guys move to the city (if they're not already there) to make a buck (or 5 mil) and they find that they can't really afford a house/apt or a car (and never might) which reduces their chances with a fair number of the wimminfolk even more. And that goes for plenty of guys who have steady or even good jobs.
So you're saying that young single Chinese guys don't like it when young single ex pats go cruising for girls. Gee, what a shock. And from that you extrapolate to all of China?
However, we cannot forget that hundreds of millions of people have entered or joined the middle class in the last decade or two. I've heard plenty of stories and have even dated a few - heh.
No not all went to Beijing U or Tsinghua etc...
Ah, got it -- young single Chinese guys don't like it when YOU go cruising for Chinese girls.
About sons of generals, I think you're being naive since this guy was pretty high up.
Naive about what? I don't doubt that it happened. It has absolutely nothing to do with the assertion in the title of this thread that, "foreigners ge[t] beat up."
I don't have anything to counter with it since I don't know (and don't think there are any precedents) but I am sure it would depend on the foreigner's status in society and perhaps in his/her own country as well as the reaction of the public (maybe internet pressure on the message boards if netizens cared, or if it was allowed) and the status of said general.
Did I miss something? Where in the article did it say that the beating victims were foreign?
Foreigners are nowhere near as special or as cool/priviledged as they were 10 to 20 years ago. Times have changed.
I never said that foreigners are cool or privileged. I said that the government would not tolerate routine attacks on foreigners. And if you think it would, then you are the one who is naive.
Talking about foreigners getting beaten up,
here's an oldie and a goodie. Good thing I wasn't in Sanlitun that night or it could have been me (I'm of Indian origin).
Or, you could simply avoid bar crawls through Sanlitun to find Chinese girls. I've only ever driven by Sanlitun and have never had any interest in, or reason for, going there. Sanlitun is as typical of China as Fremont Street in Las Vegas is typical of the U.S.
At any rate, you can respond or not, as you choose, as it's off to my ignore list for you.