Comments on: Laowai Gives Free Driver’s Ed. http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/ by Ryan McLaughlin ~ The Humanaught Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:25:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ryan http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2937 Ryan Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:12:56 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2006/10/27/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2937 @Arthur: I'm a little lost on your point? I think keeping wayward sedans in mind is exactly what everyone is complaining about. @Arthur: I’m a little lost on your point? I think keeping wayward sedans in mind is exactly what everyone is complaining about.

]]> By: Arthur Borges http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2931 Arthur Borges Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:46:12 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2006/10/27/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2931 A noble effort but you have to be clear about your motives when you pull this kind of stunt on "The Locals": we pass too easily as outsiders, guests telling the host how to behave. In the present case, wayward sedans are making self-motorizing bikers fall like flies and this image should be kept clearly in mind. A noble effort but you have to be clear about your motives when you pull this kind of stunt on “The Locals”: we pass too easily as outsiders, guests telling the host how to behave. In the present case, wayward sedans are making self-motorizing bikers fall like flies and this image should be kept clearly in mind.

]]> By: Brad http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2721 Brad Tue, 31 Oct 2006 10:47:22 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2006/10/27/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2721 I used to hit the side mirrors on cars (especially taxis) that cut in front of me at green pedestrian lights or pedestrian crossings. These people are selfish and dangerous, regardless their age, sex or race - they are wrong, morally and legally. By scaring the bejusus out of a driver my smacking their mirror hard (they fold back and make a good amount of noise) I helped educate them about the dangers of driving across pedestrian crossings without yielding to pedestrians.  As to whether the Chinese pedestrians appreciate this or not - it is simple - on every single occassion that I thumped a car or smacked their mirrors, I had Chinese come up and say that what I did was good and that the drivers needed education. It is simply a case of people need to know that it is ok to stand up to traffic bullies. So good on this woman for taking a stand, good on all of you who set an example - there needs to be more of it, and hopefully from some Chinese. I used to hit the side mirrors on cars (especially taxis) that cut in front of me at green pedestrian lights or pedestrian crossings. These people are selfish and dangerous, regardless their age, sex or race – they are wrong, morally and legally. By scaring the bejusus out of a driver my smacking their mirror hard (they fold back and make a good amount of noise) I helped educate them about the dangers of driving across pedestrian crossings without yielding to pedestrians.  As to whether the Chinese pedestrians appreciate this or not – it is simple – on every single occassion that I thumped a car or smacked their mirrors, I had Chinese come up and say that what I did was good and that the drivers needed education. It is simply a case of people need to know that it is ok to stand up to traffic bullies. So good on this woman for taking a stand, good on all of you who set an example – there needs to be more of it, and hopefully from some Chinese.

]]> By: Chris (the original one) http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2690 Chris (the original one) Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:34:21 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2006/10/27/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2690 Hah!  This is a good story, and it touched a nerve with me, as obviously it did with a lot of other laowai here in China.  The other day, I was walking across the street with a green light, and walked in front of an oncoming taxi, who had to come to a somewhat, but not ridiculously, sudden stop.  He honked and started to get out of his car, at which point I took the hockey sticks (which I happened to be carrying) and banged them against the passenger side window, and told him to 注意一下 (pay attention a little).  I'm not sure that was a very native way of yelling, but I was shocked at his reaction.  He got back in his car without another word, and drove off! I do have to watch my temper a little, though.  Once or twice I've caught myself doing, or almost doing, really stupid things.  They say that the pedestrian who insists on his rights doesn't usually last very long.  Hah!  This is a good story, and it touched a nerve with me, as obviously it did with a lot of other laowai here in China.  The other day, I was walking across the street with a green light, and walked in front of an oncoming taxi, who had to come to a somewhat, but not ridiculously, sudden stop.  He honked and started to get out of his car, at which point I took the hockey sticks (which I happened to be carrying) and banged them against the passenger side window, and told him to 注意一下 (pay attention a little).  I'm not sure that was a very native way of yelling, but I was shocked at his reaction.  He got back in his car without another word, and drove off! I do have to watch my temper a little, though.  Once or twice I've caught myself doing, or almost doing, really stupid things.  They say that the pedestrian who insists on his rights doesn't usually last very long. 

]]> By: Mandy http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2689 Mandy Mon, 30 Oct 2006 14:59:56 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2006/10/27/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2689 *chuckles* The lady has guts, I'll give her that. I don't know if I'd do that - some Shanghai drivers here are INSANE! Though a pal of mine has smacked a few carhoods of her own - some o those drivers get so personal with a person's space they should be offering to buy dinner too! Incidentally Ryan - where in the Niagara region do you hail fom? Your name is familiar. Oh well. I'm from Welland, m'self.  Cheers! *chuckles* The lady has guts, I'll give her that. I don't know if I'd do that – some Shanghai drivers here are INSANE! Though a pal of mine has smacked a few carhoods of her own – some o those drivers get so personal with a person's space they should be offering to buy dinner too! Incidentally Ryan – where in the Niagara region do you hail fom? Your name is familiar. Oh well. I'm from Welland, m'self.  Cheers!

]]> By: Blammo http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2656 Blammo Sun, 29 Oct 2006 22:06:39 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2006/10/27/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2656  chicanohek "i don’t think you can judge my moral standards my a single sentence or paragraph written in a blog but i can certainly ascertain that you are a judgmental person." LOL you call me a judgmental person? You are the one who called the lady bitch and dissed the thing she did. So who are you to call me judgemental. But thanks. If you feel judged by me it means that my post got to ya... :P You are quite pathetic... thinking about it.  chicanohek "i don’t think you can judge my moral standards my a single sentence or paragraph written in a blog but i can certainly ascertain that you are a judgmental person." LOL you call me a judgmental person? You are the one who called the lady bitch and dissed the thing she did. So who are you to call me judgemental. But thanks. If you feel judged by me it means that my post got to ya… :P You are quite pathetic… thinking about it.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2650 Ryan Sun, 29 Oct 2006 13:43:22 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2006/10/27/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2650 @Thea: Hey Thea, it's difficult to explain to someone who doesn't live in China. It takes a few times coming across a serious accident scene and watching a crowd of observers just stare open mouthed - not offering assistance, not calling for assistance, just watching like it's the fucking TV. The fact that a Chinese person was heard to say 'Chinese people should be educated this way' is something I've heard AGAIN and AGAIN. I've been told that I've shamed entire busses full of people when I'm the only one to offer my seat to an elderly person. Much the same when I take my garbage, and the garbage some ass just dropped beside the garbage can, and I place it in the bin. Again, more the same when I put the discarded (in the middle of the lane) baskets in a nice stack so people can get by. All small things, but you can begin to see the pattern. @Thea: Hey Thea, it's difficult to explain to someone who doesn't live in China. It takes a few times coming across a serious accident scene and watching a crowd of observers just stare open mouthed – not offering assistance, not calling for assistance, just watching like it's the fucking TV. The fact that a Chinese person was heard to say 'Chinese people should be educated this way' is something I've heard AGAIN and AGAIN. I've been told that I've shamed entire busses full of people when I'm the only one to offer my seat to an elderly person. Much the same when I take my garbage, and the garbage some ass just dropped beside the garbage can, and I place it in the bin. Again, more the same when I put the discarded (in the middle of the lane) baskets in a nice stack so people can get by. All small things, but you can begin to see the pattern.

]]> By: chicanohek http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2649 chicanohek Sun, 29 Oct 2006 04:43:21 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2006/10/27/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2649 PATZE: i don't think you can judge my moral standards my a single sentence or paragraph written in a blog but i can certainly ascertain that you are a judgmental person. Sure, i mentioned two contradictory statements in the opening salvo to illustrate that we, as foreigners, have all thought about "educating" the Chinese on traffic habits, but in the end i called her a flipp'n moron because its not her country to subjugate. And to conclude, yes, i believe that you are given the right to act like a moron in your own country because that is literally the definition of being from your own damn country. Anything else, such as your elude too, would be borderline fascism. "you, don't act like an idiot! Why? because i am telling you not too" hek PATZE:
i don’t think you can judge my moral standards my a single sentence or paragraph written in a blog but i can certainly ascertain that you are a judgmental person.
Sure, i mentioned two contradictory statements in the opening salvo to illustrate that we, as foreigners, have all thought about “educating” the Chinese on traffic habits, but in the end i called her a flipp’n moron because its not her country to subjugate. And to conclude, yes, i believe that you are given the right to act like a moron in your own country because that is literally the definition of being from your own damn country. Anything else, such as your elude too, would be borderline fascism. “you, don’t act like an idiot! Why? because i am telling you not too”

hek

]]> By: Gabrielle http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2647 Gabrielle Sun, 29 Oct 2006 03:31:07 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2006/10/27/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2647 Thanks for the heads up about that site.  It has made viewing my site easiser.  I wish I knew why they blocked it again. I quiet liked the freedom of just clicking of my favorite button and going right there.  Grr to the Chinese government. Thanks for the heads up about that site.  It has made viewing my site easiser.  I wish I knew why they blocked it again. I quiet liked the freedom of just clicking of my favorite button and going right there.  Grr to the Chinese government.

]]> By: The China Expat http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2646 The China Expat Sun, 29 Oct 2006 03:20:53 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2006/10/27/laowai-gives-free-drivers-ed/#comment-2646 Hey Patze, I wouldn't worry, look what the guy's website name is.   Ridiculous.  Actually when you look through the commentary on the original Chinese story, some people support the Chinese guy, most oppose him, but some say this isn't the business of a laowai but of a Chinese person.   Have other Chinese people ever stopped to think that as a "laowai" living in their country that they should have the ability to criticize and oppose other's stupid behaviour?  Especially if they have been here for god knows how long (the laowai)  I would certainly never want to become a Chinese citizen, but even if I wanted to it would be impossible.  On the contrary, Chinese people can become citizens of quite a few countries in the world, including most of Europe, the US, and Canada.  Then they have all of the rights of said country bestowed upon them.  On the contrary, in China, no matter how long you live in China, you will never have these rights. So, Chicanohek, you are a f*****g moron.   You should realize that laowai are people just like you and have every right to stand up for what they see as bullshit.  Within the law, of course.  Thing is, it wasn't the laowai who was violating the law.  It was the dipshit driver.  And we see them all the time.   Especially the rich ones.  Notice how the second car backed off?  Know why?  His car wasn't so nice, so he didn't feel as proud and arrogant as the first driver.  Cheers!  Hey Patze, I wouldn't worry, look what the guy's website name is.   Ridiculous.  Actually when you look through the commentary on the original Chinese story, some people support the Chinese guy, most oppose him, but some say this isn't the business of a laowai but of a Chinese person.   Have other Chinese people ever stopped to think that as a "laowai" living in their country that they should have the ability to criticize and oppose other's stupid behaviour?  Especially if they have been here for god knows how long (the laowai)  I would certainly never want to become a Chinese citizen, but even if I wanted to it would be impossible.  On the contrary, Chinese people can become citizens of quite a few countries in the world, including most of Europe, the US, and Canada.  Then they have all of the rights of said country bestowed upon them.  On the contrary, in China, no matter how long you live in China, you will never have these rights. So, Chicanohek, you are a f*****g moron.   You should realize that laowai are people just like you and have every right to stand up for what they see as bullshit.  Within the law, of course.  Thing is, it wasn't the laowai who was violating the law.  It was the dipshit driver.  And we see them all the time.   Especially the rich ones.  Notice how the second car backed off?  Know why?  His car wasn't so nice, so he didn't feel as proud and arrogant as the first driver.  Cheers! 

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