here's one point that always justifies, TO ME, anyone saying stuff like 'chinese blah, blah, blah...'

in any other country i've traveled or lived in, i would feel comfortable to tell somebody to:
'please don't yell so loud.
please stop smoking in the elevator.
please do not spit in the restaurant.
please do not fire the firecrackers in front of the building.
please do not push me, i will get off on the next station too.
please don't let your kid piss right here.

...'

AND when i say it i would VERY RARELY expect the other person to go crazy about it
AND i would expect most people around me to support me if what im asking is reasonable.

in china, if i ask this from most people, i expect them to start yelling:
'LAOWAI! CAO! GO BACK HOME! f***!'

AND i expect no other chinese will say or do anything about it.
IN FACT i expect most chinese to join and yell 'CAO NI MA LAOWAI! GO HOME!'
EVEN if they also minded the loud, smoking, pissing, annoying chinese character.

so IF there are all these chinese people who hate
the uneducated, uncivilized behavior we see in this city every day, they should say/do something.
when you don't, and you don't,
non-chinese people assume most chinese don't mind it, i.e. they're the same.

stereotypes exist for a reason.

> It's very judgemental and reckless to generalize either Chinese or foreigners.

So... there's two kinds of people in the world, right? 中国人 and 外国人

But generally I do agree with you. If you live in Beijing but haven't travelled extensively in China you should probably talk about “Beijing people drive like …”, “Beijing people often do…”

But everybody who lives on this planet generalises, that's how we are able to survive each day. If a Chinese woman tells me I'm handsome then I know it doesn't mean anything - it's just an empty compliment. That's a generalisation but it's also totally true. Every book you read about international relations will be entirely generalisations. The important thing is not to be really f-ing stupid. Then you'll probably figure this kind of stuff out fairly easily.

Don't forget ....stand on the toilet seat and cannot que in line. One centimeter space and someone is "butting in". (joking )

Do agree however, when one generalizes, one can expect to be wrong. There will always be the exception to the rule, but these kind of generalizations happen for a reason. There is generally some kind of substance behind it.

I also have to ignore it, like we all do, because I hear alot that all americans are ignorant to the world, or full of false superstitions, or prejudices, or loud talking.

On a serious note however, This is a fair comment and a good post...it bothers us all when we hear a generalization and we feel we do not do those type of things, yet we are thrown into the group.

Maybe someone who generalizes should say "all Chinese, except Cathy Lee..." By your photo I do not think you would be seen spitting on the floor, but again looks can be deceiving. Who really knows?

At some point in time, I think most intelligent people learn to not generalize. I'm just wondering is it because they mature, or become wiser, or they have travelled more, or why?
How much does the biased reporting in the news have to do with nuturing of these biased statements? For example, I saw one broadcast which showed the ghetto zoomed in and if they would have went to a wide lens or further back, they would have shown quite a nice living area and not been able to make their point.

Please enjoy this special time of year in China.

Count_zero said....If a Chinese woman tells me I'm handsome then I know it doesn't mean anything - it's just an empty compliment. That's a generalisation but it's also totally true

It seems its your lucky day Cathy..don't blow it. He's probably the man you've been waiting for.

NO METTER WHAT THE OTHERS DO , JUST BE URSELF,THAT 'S WHAT I AM DOING, EVERYCOUNTRY HAVE criminals

Agree!

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When elsewhere do as they do there." I hope we are all rational beings, knowing how little a part our roles are (as foreigners) to change the whole society of China.

You are right. Chinese people, generally, do NOT constantly spit on the street.

Chinese people are the kings and queens of ignorant generalizations. Yes, I am generalizing.

"French people are like this.... White people do that... Black people are this... foreigners are like this... Americans are all... blah blah f-ing blah"

I think we get here and stereotype too much because its all we hear, all day from the locals!

Chinese generalizations are especially the worst considering that they lump everyone in the world that isn't Chinese into one category called 'Foreigner' as if there were only two nations in the world.

Europeans are just like Chinese in that they don't look in the mirror and look at themselves.

Welcome to judge >:D<

hey JB102..should we start the judgemental fun game..who will be the first one???

There are stupid people from the US too, of course, but I find European and Chinese reactions similar in certain situations.