Cultural difference is indeed a convenient excuse for a lot of b.s. in this country.
I don't even bother anymore, I just tell them I think it's b.s..
You'd be surprised how many chinese people actually stop doing this once they know you don't buy the pre-recorded crap they're used to serve to FOB laowais.

But then again, it's not much different from people back home who have no idea why they do or think something, and will hide themselves behind a "it's my choice" or "it's my opinion" (which is even more obviously redundant).

People who actually do act out of cultural difference will never say it - they do something because they don't know any other way, and will be interested in hearing of another way to do things.

chinese have man bad cultures
we have bad educations of common senses too

Wow Remedy, I used that avatar before the Olympics and they made me change it! Good luck to you

High population density causes unstable social orders - a simple enough theory. Why can't ppl in China do things like westerners? Try to answer this simpler question: why can't ppl in New York City do things like ppl in Minnesota? There is not much cultural differences (it also depends on how you define culture), just differences.

well, for a common sense being "common", there requires a majority group of people to agree to and abide it. And the higher population there exists, the harder it is to agree to something that's common. Hence you will observe the difference: chaos.

Statistically, society with higher population is more chaotic than society with less population - that's my simple enough theory.

It may also be that there exists less people in NY or Tokyo don't walk onto the middle of the road, then stand in stunned silence when they notice a car is on it (them minority group of ppl) for you to observe. That may very well be just another statistical fact that may lead you to think it's a difference in culture.

I've just had another interesting thought: for a society with common sense, there exists a majority group of ppl who agree to and practice the common sense and a minority group of renegades who don't use common sense. And for a society without, there is no such distinction because the population ratio of both groups may very well be 50-50. "majority" and "minority" lose their meanings in such society.

I don't think that the "common" in common sense refers to that. Common sense is the idea that you shouldn't need to specifically teach someone something, that it should just be apparent with a bit of observation and thinking.

We teach this as a skill to children from day one "Why did you do that? What were you thinking? Was that a good idea? What do you think will happen if you do that? Would you jump off the bridge if he did that?"

Actually IMO the OP's question is on the wrong track.

The point is that in Chinese culture, there is no common sense. The idea is rarely to think for yourself. Simply follow tradition and what everyone else is doing.

In terms of population density, Japan beats China by a mile, so your "more people more chaos" theory fails that fairly obvious test I'm afraid.

More specifically, I'd say what you're discussing here are the modern cultural differences - Chinese culture shaped in the last few couple hundred years with many of its aspects influenced by the west. I could hardly agree that it is the entire culture of China.

The bottom line is that culture is shaped by external factors, not by the blood in people's vains, and I do believe that anyone with a little bit of western scientific common sense should agree.

I think you're partly right...I see first hand the spoiled children and the education system stinks...but maybe you've overcome those handicaps.

You didn't actually say that in the OP, OP.

It will for sure cause conflict. China is in for one hell of a generation gap at some point.

I think these are the reasons behind all traditional Chinese thinking that makes it GOOD common sense: My life savings will eventually become my kid's life savings and for generations to come. It's just a choice of providing them with these at early stage or after leaving this world. It's an honor for me to see my kid using all my resources I can provide to him while I am still alive.

Again, that obviously will hinder the survival skills of the next generation, but the intentions aren't all non-sense. I guess by understanding that it may make you feel better and hopeful. More importantly, I guess the best way to bridge the huge divide is to let your kid understand that intentions and consequenses do not always match up, and he needs to be aware of that.

To be fair this is just as common in the West too hence tv shows like "Nanny 911". Plenty of spoiled bratty American and British kids. I lived in England for a year and I can honestly say nearly all English people under the age of 21 are complete bastards. Complete contrast to older English people who are extremely polite and kind.

Chinese definitely seem to lack common sense though. The walking into oncoming traffic is a great example. The way they drive also shows a complete lack of common sense and a direct reflect of the "must not lose face" mentality they have. They would much rather honk their horn for hours than give someone else the right of way. The only cars in China should be those belonging to businesses, buses, and taxis. I thought people in NY and NJ were the shittiest drivers until I came here and was amazed.