June 3, 2024

"She was blown away by the positive remarks she received on the streets of New York City when she went out in a red coat one day in 2016."

"'I was originally was not feeling that great, but after hearing all those compliments, I thought, oh my god, aren’t I awesome?!' So Sheng returned to China with a mission: To make her shop and art space a venue for spontaneous feel-good moments. 'Instead of being dragged down with jealousy and self-doubt, why don’t we tell ourselves and the people around us that we are awesome?' she said. Sheng has hosted speed-dating-style praise gatherings where attendees shower adulation on each other for three minutes before moving to the next person.... Random compliments are not a standard part of Chinese culture.... [Praise events] — and praise culture more generally — are a grass-roots attempt to 'cultivate a more sustainable social microenvironment' where people readily extend empathy and goodwill, said Xu Moxu, a former indie band vocalist.... 'When I notice something that I like about someone, I will let them know rather than hold it in,' said Xu...."

From "OMG your hair looks so cute! Young Chinese love American ‘praise culture.’ Even as China cools on the United States’ fashion and entertainment trends, one aspect of American life is sparking admiration: American ‘praise culture.’" (WaPo).

15 comments:

Original Mike said...

In praise of vanity.

Tom T. said...

Americans are the friendliest people.

Roger Sweeny said...

But isn't it anti-feminist to compliment a woman you don't know? Maybe harassment?

Narayanan said...

"OMG your hair looks so cute! said nobody to DJT?

did you lose American ‘praise culture.’

CJinPA said...

People of Earth: Don't copy American culture.

Even the good-sounding stuff. We're...not feeling well right now.

Wince said...

...one aspect of American life is sparking admiration: American ‘praise culture.'

Praise You

Correct me if wrong: Fatboy Slim was a member of the British band Housemartins, who were both Communist and Christian.

Wilbur said...

Wilbur rejected 90% of American entertainment and fashion trends decades ago.

More specifically, it was 87.31%.

But the good stuff is terrific.

MacMacConnell said...

But, this can't be true. I was assured on NPR that compliments are about control, especially if given by men.

RNB said...

"American praise culture"? American men never get compliments. And it's "creepy" for any but about 0.1% of American men to compliment a woman. So this must be about American women complimenting other women.

Marcus Bressler said...

I was pleased when, early in our relationship, while on a stroll at the beach, my Chinese GF told me how she didn't like or approve of all the American women who tattooed their bodies. She said, that in China (I'm supposing in her province of Jiangxi at least ) such ruining of the body, not to mention public display of such, would be met with public disapproval and shaming.
Remember when guilt and shame were effective tactics to keep people within current moral guidelines? Oh, yes, misused to some degree -- but this was before society was forced to tolerate single motherhood with multiple baby daddies, divorce on demand which destroy traditional marriages and the nuclear family -- and the piercing, hair coloring, obesity, and tattooing that defines today's "individualism". Last week at a funeral for a 14-month old toddler, I watched a woman approach the open casket and take a selfie of her and the deceased child.

RCOCEAN II said...

American women are always praising other women. "Oh, I loved you cut your hair short, it looks fabulous".

Guess Chinese women don't do that.

RCOCEAN II said...

And tattoos are terrible. I feel sorry for any young girl that has a tatted up arm, neck, or whatever.

I guess they can come off, so there's that.

effinayright said...

Has anyone seen YouTube videos of hundreds of Chinese computer-dontrolled drones with brightly colored lights, launched at night to simulate fireworks or flaming Chinese dragons?

Wow!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OH1-SOwcQIY

Here's how it's done:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpyPwnDaijU

(2nd half shows a huge display)

mikee said...

Well, for a few generations is was damn dangerous to praise anything at all other than the edicts of Mao, and his successors. Now this person is getting the idea that saying a nice thing about a potentially unapproved fashion item can be performed without negative consequence. That will last exactly until the next pogrom against an internal group of Chinese deemed counterrevolutionary, which will probably be next week.

Bunkypotatohead said...

I’m going help people, because I’m good enough,I’m smart enough, and, doggone it, people like me.