Althouse: "The Chinese government's new plan seems to be to forcibly educate its citizens, perhaps unused to being tourists, on how to behave while abroad."

January 19, 2015

"The Chinese government's new plan seems to be to forcibly educate its citizens, perhaps unused to being tourists, on how to behave while abroad."

"And, intriguingly, with the new tactic of 'public shaming,' the government seems to be learning from various social media-driven scandals (and the 'human flesh engines' following them) that have engulfed Chinese officials who conspicuously displayed wealth or otherwise behaved arrogantly in recent years."

14 comments:

Anonymous said...: The Chinese Military already conducts classes for students and business people traveling in the West (intel classes). Adding a couple of extra hours on manners will be easy.; 1/19/15, 8:38 AM
Laslo Spatula said...: I would gladly accept the 'public shaming' if caught in the back of a white limo with January Jones and eight cases of Zima.

Yes, I planned ahead and stockpiled back in the day: those icy fancy chicks still love their Zima.

I am Laslo.; 1/19/15, 8:43 AM
traditionalguy said...: The new car designs in ads yesterday were more huge bulging chromed up front ends on down sized sedans.

The word is that they look that way for the Chinese market, which is the prize. The rich Chinese class consciously wants that rich American look.; 1/19/15, 9:05 AM
MayBee said...: Chinese tourists are the worst. But I can't really blame them. First of all, China isn't really itself a super polite country. And second, many of the people have lives with little exposure to more polite behavior. The government has kept them penned in.; 1/19/15, 9:07 AM
MayBee said...: (not literally penned in, like in North Korea. But they've been restricted from travel and exposure to outside influences for generations); 1/19/15, 9:09 AM
Laslo Spatula said...: Get me in a room alone with Scarlett Johannson and a case of Zima and she will be having triplets nine months later.

I bet the Chinese still secretly manufacture Zima for the personal use of those in the upper echelons. That is why they are a world power, people.

I am Laslo.; 1/19/15, 9:09 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: The problem with the Chinese is not even their government knows it's wrong to eat other people's pets.; 1/19/15, 9:17 AM
Mary Beth said...: "Human flesh engines" sounds a lot more interesting than "doxing".; 1/19/15, 10:48 AM
Douglas B. Levene said...: Ann,
You must remember the book, "The Ugly American." It was all about how American tourists, flush with US dollars that were worth a lot then (360 yen=$1), behaved boorishly and arrogantly wherever they went. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.; 1/19/15, 10:55 AM
Hagar said...: And again (sigh) remember that "The Ugly American" and his homely wife were the heroes of that book.

And no, it wasn't about tourists.; 1/19/15, 11:07 AM
david7134 said...: When I was in Europe last year, they were talking about how the hotels were not taking Chinese guest. Seems this is a really big problem.; 1/19/15, 2:08 PM
Douglas B. Levene said...: Hagar, you're right, the book wasn't about tourists, but the title of the book came to be used in popular discourse at the time to describe American tourists. The world has a new ugly set of tourists, and surprise, surprise, they're also from a huge, continental wide country where most folks are one generation from the farm and have had no contact with foreigners or foreign customs before going on the first trip overseas.; 1/19/15, 2:57 PM
n.n said...: Well, their planned parenthood policy was effective, and they are colonizing Africa with their excess males. However, without planned civility, they will not be welcome by the ladies.; 1/19/15, 6:06 PM
JamesB.BKK said...: Your average PRC Chinese is incomparable to an American (or rather US citizen (as the idea of America was strangled long ago by the forces of state control even if we folks don't quite know it yet)) from any region in the US in public manners. He or, especially, she, does not queue, does not recognize order of arrival, and will step or drive out right in front of your path, and stop. There is also the puzzling matter of emission of much phlegm and spittle. Watch your step!; 1/19/15, 6:37 PM