Taiwan is Boring, Repressed, Loveless, etc.
Posted: August 8th, 2010, 11:39 am
Note: These posts have been split from the Larry Elterman interview thread, since they were off topic there and getting numerous, so I moved them into this new thread.
Thanks,
Winston
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I don't think he was just talking about Filipina Chinese, but about Chinese people in general he's met throughout his life, even in America. The way he said that signified that, when he said "I've never met ANY Chinese person and clicked with them".
I remember back in the 80's when my dad took me to this event for adults. While the parents were doing something upstairs (maybe it was some class or lecture) me and the kids were downstairs. At first I sat on the stairs and talked to two white American girls. They talked back to me and agreed with me about stuff and said "Yeah I know. Totally." But when they left after a while, I was stuck with lots of Chinese kids in the basement. For like 3 hours, the kids played with each other and ran around, and not a single one looked at me, talked to me, or even said hi. Very cold no doubt.
But that's a common experience around Chinese people. The majority of them are like that, even in the US. Just cold cold cold. I can't understand why they are like that. I'm not.
Generally, East Asians (aka Orientals) are just cold and cliquish, even in America. Not all, but most. You can be in a crowded place of Chinese people, sit or stand for many hours and not one person will glance at you or smile. There's this ice cold barrier between them that's not just a barrier. It's like they are inhuman and not even there. It's really weird and hard to describe.
Deep down they are kind of cold and business like. The difference is not something that can be put into words, only felt.
It's like they don't really need people or social interaction. My parents can never socialize and feel fine with it. They don't need people and do not expect anyone to need them.
For example, when I was lonely and crying in America, I'd call my cousins hoping that they'd come over and spend time with me, and expecting that they'd CARE about me cause they are family and on TV it shows that families care for each other. But they didn't give a f**k. So, even with 53 cousins, I cannot call any of them and say that I'm lonely and ask them to come and keep me company. They don't give a f**k and only want to work and make money. When I see my cousins for instance or their kids, there's no feeling of friendship or warmth. They just pretend to be polite but deep down they couldn't care less about me and would never hang out as friends. (despite the fact that I call them "brother or sister" in Chinese culture, which is odd considering they don't give a flying f**k about me and NEVER call me or email me, even when I ask them to!)
I can't even have a normal conversation with them without feeling awkward, like I'm talking to a cold reptile that does not feel or think. Even with my parents it's like that. The conversation and vibes with most Chinese simply does NOT FLOW NATURALLY OR OPENLY IN ANY SENSE OF THE WORD! Not even with my parents. IT'S ALWAYS AWKWARD AS HELL!
So weird, but true. I know a person is never supposed to say these kind of things (as it's taboo to say anything except "people are so kind and wonderful here" as they do on the Travel Channel) but that's honestly how I feel and what I've experienced.
Sorry for the rant and going off topic. Perhaps this post belongs in the Rants and Raves section. But I just wanted to get this off my chest since the topic came up in the interview. And I'm glad Larry admitted it and was honest about it, instead of being politically correct like on the Travel Channel.
Today, even my dad said after watching the Travel Channel, at the end when the host said "the people here were so kind and wonderful!", my dad said "They say that at the end of EVERY episode" like there's never any exception. Even he is beginning to catch on to the fake political correctness. That's why I hate mainstream programming.
Anyhow, I'm beginning to think that it's hopeless for me to try to thrive or work with Chinese culture and people. I can't even hold a f***ing normal conversation with them! They are just so God damn different! My God! Different in a way I can't even put into words!
(I suspect that Ladislav had a similar experience with the Japanese)
So I think it's hopeless and that any action with Chinese women and me will have to be with "working girls". For romance I'd have to stick with Filipinas or Latin women.
Of course, I've never been to mainland China, so that's an unknown factor. But knowing what I know about Chinese culture, I'd estimate that the difference might be 20 or 30 percent due to the poverty of the people there, but it's not going to be a 100 percent difference.
Anyhow, back to the topic of the interview. What did the rest of you think? I will be sending it out to my mailing list soon.
Thanks,
Winston
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I thought this interview pretty much covered everything and answered the important questions.Rock wrote:Great interview Larry. Wish it had been even longer and more detailed. I can tell you're brimming with knowledge about the most popular part of Abroad on Winston's site.
I'm guessing the Chinese gals you approached were Filipina Chinese for the most part. I'm not surprised you got a cold reception. I think a lot of the Chinese in countries where westerners tend to be seen with bar girls try to avoid associating with us. They see themselves as set apart from the more indigenous locals and above their poverty and hard life, even if they come from a relatively modest family.
BTW, first follow-up question: Do those high interest rate opportunities with regional banks still exist? Can you post some fresh info on this forum about that?
I don't think he was just talking about Filipina Chinese, but about Chinese people in general he's met throughout his life, even in America. The way he said that signified that, when he said "I've never met ANY Chinese person and clicked with them".
I remember back in the 80's when my dad took me to this event for adults. While the parents were doing something upstairs (maybe it was some class or lecture) me and the kids were downstairs. At first I sat on the stairs and talked to two white American girls. They talked back to me and agreed with me about stuff and said "Yeah I know. Totally." But when they left after a while, I was stuck with lots of Chinese kids in the basement. For like 3 hours, the kids played with each other and ran around, and not a single one looked at me, talked to me, or even said hi. Very cold no doubt.
But that's a common experience around Chinese people. The majority of them are like that, even in the US. Just cold cold cold. I can't understand why they are like that. I'm not.
Generally, East Asians (aka Orientals) are just cold and cliquish, even in America. Not all, but most. You can be in a crowded place of Chinese people, sit or stand for many hours and not one person will glance at you or smile. There's this ice cold barrier between them that's not just a barrier. It's like they are inhuman and not even there. It's really weird and hard to describe.
Deep down they are kind of cold and business like. The difference is not something that can be put into words, only felt.
It's like they don't really need people or social interaction. My parents can never socialize and feel fine with it. They don't need people and do not expect anyone to need them.
For example, when I was lonely and crying in America, I'd call my cousins hoping that they'd come over and spend time with me, and expecting that they'd CARE about me cause they are family and on TV it shows that families care for each other. But they didn't give a f**k. So, even with 53 cousins, I cannot call any of them and say that I'm lonely and ask them to come and keep me company. They don't give a f**k and only want to work and make money. When I see my cousins for instance or their kids, there's no feeling of friendship or warmth. They just pretend to be polite but deep down they couldn't care less about me and would never hang out as friends. (despite the fact that I call them "brother or sister" in Chinese culture, which is odd considering they don't give a flying f**k about me and NEVER call me or email me, even when I ask them to!)
I can't even have a normal conversation with them without feeling awkward, like I'm talking to a cold reptile that does not feel or think. Even with my parents it's like that. The conversation and vibes with most Chinese simply does NOT FLOW NATURALLY OR OPENLY IN ANY SENSE OF THE WORD! Not even with my parents. IT'S ALWAYS AWKWARD AS HELL!
So weird, but true. I know a person is never supposed to say these kind of things (as it's taboo to say anything except "people are so kind and wonderful here" as they do on the Travel Channel) but that's honestly how I feel and what I've experienced.
Sorry for the rant and going off topic. Perhaps this post belongs in the Rants and Raves section. But I just wanted to get this off my chest since the topic came up in the interview. And I'm glad Larry admitted it and was honest about it, instead of being politically correct like on the Travel Channel.
Today, even my dad said after watching the Travel Channel, at the end when the host said "the people here were so kind and wonderful!", my dad said "They say that at the end of EVERY episode" like there's never any exception. Even he is beginning to catch on to the fake political correctness. That's why I hate mainstream programming.
Anyhow, I'm beginning to think that it's hopeless for me to try to thrive or work with Chinese culture and people. I can't even hold a f***ing normal conversation with them! They are just so God damn different! My God! Different in a way I can't even put into words!
(I suspect that Ladislav had a similar experience with the Japanese)
So I think it's hopeless and that any action with Chinese women and me will have to be with "working girls". For romance I'd have to stick with Filipinas or Latin women.
Of course, I've never been to mainland China, so that's an unknown factor. But knowing what I know about Chinese culture, I'd estimate that the difference might be 20 or 30 percent due to the poverty of the people there, but it's not going to be a 100 percent difference.
Anyhow, back to the topic of the interview. What did the rest of you think? I will be sending it out to my mailing list soon.