One of the things that I've noticed in PA's forum is that political or social issues in China don't really attract much readership. Last year's earthquake killed about 80 thousand people; yet new threads about that devastating event only garner a readership in the teens, while inane discussions about the latest TVB rumor, or some overpaid starlet's wardrobe choice, et cetera, seems to pull in readership in the thousands. Heck, even a discussion on soy sauce wins out over attempts at in depth discussions about China. >.< I'm curious as to the reasons that is. Many of the members here are some sort of Chinese; at least I get the feeling that there are a lot more Chinese in origin here than all the other Asians combined. I wonder how come there is so little interest in China and their events beyond the superficial? Are most overseas Chinese really not that interested in China at all? Is my perception wrong, or have others noticed this too? -unsure
its not that, probably most teens these days just wanna discuss about celebrities and gossip. It not like they dont care, but other things seems more important to them then whatever crisis is happening
I think it's more built into our Chinese culture that we don't explore the shortcomings or the tragedies of our culture/society... granted, I'm sure most people on PA are saddened to learn about tragedies such as the earthquake and the death tolls from them... but at the same time, it disheartens us more when we express the feelings related to it... most Chinese would rather walk away from these situations rather than confronting it...
hello!! are you awake? basically, they don't fucking care is what you're saying... i am not chinese so i don't give a damn if china disappears on the map before but now, i can't ignore them cuz of my INVESTMENT OVERSEA .. lol ... my money .. dude .. when it comes to politics, history, or whatever, i don't know enough to really discuss about it. i can agree or disagree with my limited knowledge and its impact on "me"; can't say much else. my guess as an outsider; i believe chinese teens/people today who have acccess to the internet are distracted by the games and media. these group easily conformed to the western culture who don't care much beside self. whilst there's internet access in asia too, but theirs are limited and censored; anything politically charged can bring trouble so it's best to steer clear of that and just enjoy surfing the internet and keeping in touch with friend and family.
Generally speaking, I would think that there exist a great rift of how the mainstream western media perceive China to be. News about China are always on the negative aspect of its development and the China media itself its not helping as it is prone to state verbosity of underlining its doctrinal purity. I see a clash of culture here again. Primarily the western media thrives on its confrontational ethics whereas the East would always focus on consensus building and policy rationale. So to many of us, and I admit I am generalising here, Offical chinese news are always boring and predictable. We yearn for a more fiesty Chinese media who would confront the western "Demonisation" of all things China much like we love a good movie or a good drama series. Thats how our appetite have been cultured for the many of us. Take for example, the SzeChuan earthquake. The media in general was finding all kinds of angel to embarass China, despite the mounting death tolls. And in some ways, I was switched off by the entire episode. If the Chinese Media is proving itself to be methodical and dare I say Boring, I think the west is as much guilty for that too. What can be more tragic then the deaths of so many people be it from China or anywhere else ? But whenever it comes to China, gosh, the guns will come out blazing. How vicious can it get ?
Thank you for your response, Mobidoo. You touched on something that I find rather peculiar, and that is the sense by Chinese that mainstream western media is only critical vis a vis its reporting on China. My suggestion to you (and others who feel this way) is to examine how western media treats three critically important western US allies, namely Israel, Taiwan, and South Korea; is the reporting there qualitatively any different? Further, look at how US media reports on well known US adversaries like Russia; is there any difference in how that is done in comparison to the reporting in China? Lastly, take a look at how US news reports even within the US, and compare it to Chinese news outlets in China. In all of the above, you'll find that the news is mostly critical because that is how news is. Otherwise, it's not news, but a post card, travel or style magazine. All told, when people want news, they want to see and know everything, no matter the depth or pain. Chinese press is built on an over emphasis of sloganism and heroics; their news has had "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" stamped all over it for over a half century. So to see real news about China, especially stories that critically analyze shortcomings of the administration is, to many Chinese, shockingly negative. But, like sex, bad news sells and sells very well. Whether you're talking hurricane Katrina (the lack of preparedness, Corps of Engineer reports), the Sago mine disaster (what officials knew beforehand), or the greed of American business (excessive bonuses in times of need), western news is just as hard hitting in the east or west, because that's what genuine news reporting entails. The latest US national scandal on peanut processing, with televised hearings, is another good example of how press drives the process for finding truth. This ultimately serves the public good. Your plea for a "...more feisty Chinese media" is rather odd. In it, you're wishing for a Chinese media "...who would confront the western 'Demonisation' of all things China..." If you wish to cling to a Chinese press that is more a Sino-centric cheering section than an organ for real reporting, that is your choice. I too, wish for a more feisty Chinese media, but one that would persistently confront China, much like how US press confronts all levels of US government. Sex scandals, bribery, nepotism, cronyism, no show jobs, et cetera; this is regularly reported in the US. Are Chinese people so pure that they don't ever do these things? Of course not. Hiding the fact that they do ultimately only hurts other Chinese. For example, thousands of school children needlessly died in that earthquake last year. Is talking about the shoddy school construction that vastly contributed to those deaths China bashing by the western press? Or, is not talking about it really the avoidance of a politically sensitive topic by Chinese media? Which, of the two, is more dangerous to China? I'm inclined to vote the latter. The thing that bothers me most, is that Chinese seem to walk around with a collective sense of shame; that if one Chinese does something wrong, it's better to not talk about it because it brings shame and dishonor to Chinese everywhere. I find that to be a ridiculous sort of irony that only fosters continued misfeasance by those that are supposedly charged with protecting the common interest.
Hello Ralph, I think we are in absolute agreement here, don't you think so ? It just in the nature of news reporting and the reality of the market that news agency are now concern with its bottom line too. So too they have developed their own brand of rhetoric. Certainly, different state players in the international arena would use it domestic media to suit its own purpose and agenda. And increasingly politicians are themselves now the master in the art of spin so they all know how they could work the media to their advantage. So if you ask me, and I can't speak for the rest of the folks here, I am now Spin adverse or should I say, I am showing signs of Spin fatigue, be it from any kind of news reporting. So gradually I have lost my threshold to stomach anymore of it, and the process of tuning out begins. See what I am getting at now ? But here is an angel I wish you would be able to share your thoughts. Ask yourself honestly that is it reasonable to expect China to perform on par with the western nations ? Just look at the tragic incidents of China's history that have inflicted it for the past 200 years. Which actually lead to much of the diaspora that make many of our forefathers leave in search of jobs and some form of security... overseas away from their homeland. Yes, I am also in absolute agreement with you too that China's party centric media slant might do more to damage its interest in the long ran. But if you look at China's reporting about the west, and the toxic propaganda against its western counterpart. you couldn't miss the fact that it have receded gradually over the past 2 decades. That is a vast difference as compared to the little red book totting days. Weather this willingness to engage the west was done to harness China's ability to attract foreign investment or show its willingness to opens it door to the model of westernize values, is debatable. Either way we could be right or wrong. But the point to note that this process of opening up to internationals trade and values that comes with it happen like less then 2 decades ago. Moreover, China's contribution to the world economy and its strength does not come from its High Tech industry, and its massive growth was in part due to the cheaper labor and vast domestic market. To be upfront, amongst industrialize first world standards, China's economic capability its still straddled at the lowest rung of the value chain. Poverty is still a reality in parts of China. So, here lies the double standard. While the west could exploit its comparative advantage to fatten their profits. the western media have always been crying foul of China's shoddy standards of product and that China is to be blame for taking away jobs from the west. Also China have been blamed for being the World's greatest polluters but bear in mind that the west could keep its air clean because they have been able to migrate its dirty carbon footprint to China. All done in the name of Globalization. If it is globalization, it must be good. World trade is good as long as other developing nations gets the blame and the pollution. Question is, have you seen any vitriolic protest from the Chinese Media about that kind of accusation ? Ever ? Yes obviously there are seething issues of Human Rights abuse that MUST be address. Incidentally, the west have bloods on their hand too. You see the outright condemnation from the west about China's shameful records of abuse. But do you see the Chinese media engaging in the rhetoric head on about numerous abuse in gitmo and in Iraq etc ? How much of it is due to the Chinese characteristic to avoid confrontation, I have no idea. But the rise of Sinophobia is increasing and on the other hand, the craving for all things west in China have intensified. So where does that bring us ? I am certain this trend would continue to escalate. That is something to be concern about. How can positive dialogue on an even keel be possible under the increasing anti Chinese rhetoric from the west ? So coming back to your initial post about the observed apathy from some sections of the overseas Chinese community, I can assured you that although it might be true to a certain extent, but take heart. Check out some of the facebook groups and the recent show of support from the Chinese community across the globe in response to the controversy over Tibet during the ran up to the Olympics. The respond was pretty vibrant if you ask me. So I guess, all is not lost. Cheers and thanks for your response I am rather surprise that this dialogue can take place here in this forum. And I am glad you started the thread !
I wouldn't go on and say that the difference is a complete west vs east, or even just west vs china... As far as I can tell it's the US mainstream media in general that's lacking the urgency of reporting/developing on global news... the rarity of finding actual international news in your local newspaper is sick... honestly, when the New York Times has to have an International version to sell to other readers, u know something's not right... At the end of the day, the US is a nation of it's own accord an no nation can say they don't present it's own people with pro nationalist propaganda... and hating on another nation, especially one as powerful and as culturally inverse as China, seems to sell more papers...
I beg to differ on several points that you made. Your comment of the New York Times having to have an international version, thus indicating that something is not right, ie. implying that it is a different slant of the same news is groundless. The New York Times, or its International Herald Tribune version, contains the exact same stories. What is different between the two is the regionally selective advertising, and the inclusion of stories that would be only news worthy in the New York region for the local version. You can easily check this fact on both websites: http://www.iht.com/ versus http://www.nytimes.com/ Pick an international story, and you'll see that both versions are the same, word for word. Again, the difference between the local versus non local version has more to do with the advertising and marketing packaging rather than appeasement of nationalist sentiment or other nefarious reporting sleigh of hand, as your warrantless suggestion claims. This is not to say that there are no pro US anti foreign sentiment news organs; examples of which include the Fox Network, which is notoriously American right wing, and Rush Limbaugh is a well known figure of pro American anti foreigner radio. Both do very well pandering to the far and extremist US political right. But your claim that the New York Times, which the nationalist in America usually derides as tainted because of its "extreme liberal pro foreigner" views, is groundless. It is probably one of the most accurate news sources I've encountered around the world. If international journalism only reflected the same type of editorial honesty and passion for truth that is emblematic of the Times, the world might actually be a better place. I suggest that before you so easily malign a news source or color their editorial direction as biased, that you might have at least verified the veracity of any speculative suppositions. -what?
i think aoes touched on a good point (not about the NYT cuz i don't read that; wsj only here) .. it's difficult to find international news on us televised news or local paper. i have to search and read them online.
http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/critiques/Partisan_Editing_at_Herald_Tribune.asp -.-; it happens... even when the two companies have become one... whether this has completely been taken care of, I can't say, but I don't read every article either... in necase... I'm not picking on the NYT about their editorial honesty... just merely pointing out the need to promote an International version for readership... my last comment in my previous post wasn't directed at the NYT, but US mainstream news as a whole...
Hmmm... This was news to me, and if true, immensely troubling. I thank you for bringing it up, as journalistic integrity is the foundation upon which credibility rests. It's also rather surprising to me that the "international" version in the above case was the 'tainted' version. In any case, my admonition of "I suggest that before you so easily malign a news source... that you might have at least verified the veracity of any speculative suppositions" is obviously in error and I sincerely apologize to all readers, and especially to Aoes. :bowdown: I also agree that many news venues within the US is tailored to viewership and audience. I recall that Rush Limbaugh, an ultra conservative right wing talk show host, made the mistake of exhibiting his extremist views to a more moderate audience. He was immediately vilified and had to suffer a barrage of bad press. Unfortunately, he retreated back to his regular radio show, which had an avid listenerhip of his ilk, and he was immediately beloved again. I'm sure that Joseph Pulitzer is rolling over in his grave and laughing out loud at all this. <_< BTW, Negigboyz, here's a link that you may find useful: http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/
Simply because its way too serious and long to discuss. Its good to have a debate, etc, but most are on PA to just have some fun and get some entertainment much like this thread, I honestly couldnt be bothered to read most of the above, it was all way too long for what I came on here to do
^ ditto to the comment about having fun and just chilling... i think its coz most of the people on PA are abc....bbc....cbc....so we've kind of been westernized so find it hard to relate to the crisis in china and stuff....mebe its coz its not happening around us so its not in our immediate attention i dunno...but yesh its a serious topic and i guess some people dun want to get into....i for starters dun actually know that muchy about china even though im a chin myself...i know as shameful as that may sound...but its true =/
abc, bbc, or cbc is not an excuse for not knowing about your root. anyhow, whilst i am not chinese, i try to stay informed about china since its effect on the world economy nowadays is huge. even though ya'll don't care about your root, i am surprised ya'll don't care about you "$$$".
^i don't think BB is using that as an excuse... more like as an explanation... it's plausible that because Chinese are born away from the motherland, they feel distanced from their cultural background... therefore they're less inclined to react similarly to those that were actually born there... in other words, they don't identify themselves as Chinese other than the fact that they use chopsticks to eat dinner every other night and collect red envelopes every year some time in february... spoiled stuck up brats
Hey BB, Don't have to be ashamed at all. In every journey, there is always a starting point. Just begin to pay a tad more interest and you will be on your way. Just some years ago, I was culturally adverse to my own roots because I was sold the old typification of Chinese culture as backward looking and that the traditional ways of China have killed its own progress. The fact that China was firmed with its communist roots then, didn't help matters at all. On top of that, having a western education leave me with little exposure to anything "Chinese" for that matter. Our syllabus in schools were to a large extent culturally western centric. So it is only natural that we would feel that we have been alienated to a certain extent to our very own culture.
Mobidoo and Aoes has nailed it on the head. Now days we have to be very cautious of what we are readin/seeing on the news, regardless of the news outlet, from the West or the East. People can easily be mislead. Medias have capabilities to portray things in the harshest way possible becaues if it was showing good points, no one would be interested and it would just be something that no one stood up for. Nowdays you've really gotta think about both sides of the arguement because things like meda are sometimes making our minds ony think in one biast direction.
