Nicholas Netzer
Contemporary China 370
Dr. Charles Hammond
Journal #4
I was speaking with my friend Kevin Kwan the other day about the differences in the mainstream society of China as compared to America. He said first and foremost that the people are not nearly as open and outspoken about there opinions in China as in America. It would not be unusual to hear someone tell you that they do not like you or do not wish to speak to you here, but in China, I was told, people will be quite polite to you whether or not they like you, then they will go home and gossip to all their friends about how much of a bonehead you are to them. Due to this, he told me that you must be quite wary of the reactions people give you when you are speaking to them, because only then will you be able to tell whether you are an irritant to them. Also, if you want to save face with the person that happens to not like you, you must explain to them that you are sorry, even if you are unsure of what you have done for them to not like you. Kevin told me that most of this gossip and sort of introverted opinion derives from the fact that over the many years, the local political figures would have you punished, beaten, or killed for you outspoken opinion towards many things, but mostly the government. So over the years people have come to be much more introverted with their opinions. After the readings we had, I completely understand this evolution of communication in China.
