Comments on: Wei? Wei?

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:29:21 +0000

Good comment Prof. Mori (Cal Poly Sociology Professor!).

Come back and see us and comment!

By: B Mori

B Mori — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:42:06 +0000

Please note that public behavior is not the same in china or the US. One of the things that bugged me was the fact that the audience talked throughout plays, music performances, puppet shows, movies and other such public events, Often loudly discussing family business and things that other people were not really interested in learning about as well as about the actor or the play itself. Actors, musicians, etc. were trained to continue the performance regardless of the audience. Audience participation in encouraging the actors was one way of keeping the audience connected. These events were opportunities to meet people not just see the play, etc. It was expected that people would learn to selectively listen to what concerned them and ignore what did not.

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 17:15:57 +0000

Several friends and colleagues have emailed me off-line an noted that the phone issue is connundrum.

They note that any such explanation for “This is China” does not work for Taiwan and even South Korea, because people there have had private phones for a long time, yet they still use (abuse?) cell phones in the same manner as the mainland Chinese.

Kerry, you spend time in Taiwan. What is your take on this?

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:18:28 +0000

Great article. Thanks for sharing!

By: Erik

Erik — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 06:09:24 +0000

Here’s an interesting article from the WSJ a couple days ago that discusses differences in office culture between a Beijing law office and a San Francisco law office. I think it is just another of a gazillion examples of differences in what is considered rude or not considered rude between our cultures.

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 04:45:07 +0000

Good.

I think that you and Kerry are right on with how This Is China reads this facet of Chinese human behavior.

This item and topics sound to me to be the great topic of a sociology PhD dissertation.

By: Lindsay Yoshitomi

Lindsay Yoshitomi — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:27:06 +0000

Okay…I haven’t cheated by looking ahead to your post, but I did find this very interesting, and I have some ideas about this somewhat rude behavior. First of all, I thought about how long the Chinese have had access to cell phones. They are behind the times and are starting to catch up, so like any new toy, this is a novelty. It’s exciting to have instant contact with so many people, so when the phone rings, they want to answer. Remember when you were younger and got your first cell phone? You wanted it to ring and no matter where you were, you wanted to answer it. Okay, maybe some people over here haven’t outgrown that feeling yet, like those friends who leave their phones on in the restaurant….and answer them. It’s like they might miss out on something if they don’t answer the call. Maybe the Chinese who are experiencing the wonder of communication feel the same way. After being isolated for so long, they don’t want to miss out on anything either if they can help it. So, they want to answer “a-wei.”

Also, what we might be considering rude could be just the opposite to the Chinese. When the Chinese business person walks you to the elevator, door and car after a meeting, it is being courteous and a gesture of politeness. It shows that you have worth to them. Maybe when their phone rings, they answer it to be polite, so the caller doesn’t feel put off. The caller is worthy of an answer and responding to them is a gesture of courteousness and politeness. Reciprocity is a big thing in the Asian culture, so if the phone rings, one must oblige.

I find it very annoying when I’m with someone and they take calls left and right, so why do WE do it without conscience or consideration? Maybe the answer to your question…why do the Chinese use their cell phones in this way? Because we do.

Why they speak so loudly is another issue that I’d like to examine. So, now I will read “This Is China” and let you know what I think.

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 05:50:08 +0000

Thanks Kerry and Lonnie.

Earlier today I received an email from a business colleague who has read this post, and, the This is China post that goes along with it.

He spent his career in Asia. He did not buy the land line rationale offered by the This is China blog, but for an interesting reason — he said that in Taiwian and South Korea, where folks DID have a phone in their home before cell phones arrived, unlke the Chinese, they TOO abuse cell phone etiquette (per Western standards).

I had not thought of that. Good point. So what, then, could be the reason for this difference in how/when/where cell phones are used?

By: Lonnie

Lonnie — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 05:40:51 +0000

But if my writing is as good in Chinese as it is here in English…Oh my…

By: Lonnie

Lonnie — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 04:37:07 +0000

Last year it was taboo as I was at a rural University…Thi syear I am with rich kids who have a family biz to go to after grad’…

But, they willalwys push the foreign teachers as they do the Chinese teachers…The Chinese teachers, these days, allow it…That and sleeping and…

I usually answer for them …They understand…I wrtite the directions in Chinese and English…