Comments on: China: Reactions to the Virginia Tech slayings http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:40:36 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: mahathir_fan http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-2/#comment-1085075 mahathir_fan Tue, 08 May 2007 09:36:40 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1085075 Jeremiah wrote: "To be banned by TPD is actually quite difficult. Those who have been banned are given ample warning. The internet is an open place, people are free to create their own spaces. You wouldn’t walk into somebody else’s home or place of business spewing hateful, abusive, racist, or homophobic insults, would you?" What a load of crap jumping into conclusion. If you are a frequent blog reader of my comments, you will see that I never spew anything hateful, abusize, racist or homophobic insults. On the contrary, I get hateful response to my comments. Jeremiah wrote:
“To be banned by TPD is actually quite difficult. Those who have been banned are given ample warning. The internet is an open place, people are free to create their own spaces. You wouldn’t walk into somebody else’s home or place of business spewing hateful, abusive, racist, or homophobic insults, would you?”

What a load of crap jumping into conclusion. If you are a frequent blog reader of my comments, you will see that I never spew anything hateful, abusize, racist or homophobic insults. On the contrary, I get hateful response to my comments.

]]> By: Duncan http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-2/#comment-1054435 Duncan Mon, 30 Apr 2007 03:15:52 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1054435 Interesting comment mahathir_fan. If heart disease is entirely avoidable, which particular forms of death do you think are not avoidable? Surely everyone will die of some form of disease or malfunction of an organ or bodily process (if they are not killed by some external force). Some of the early deaths from heart disease may be avoidable, but even with the best of health and fitness regimes some people will die of 'heart disease'. Interesting comment mahathir_fan. If heart disease is entirely avoidable, which particular forms of death do you think are not avoidable?

Surely everyone will die of some form of disease or malfunction of an organ or bodily process (if they are not killed by some external force). Some of the early deaths from heart disease may be avoidable, but even with the best of health and fitness regimes some people will die of ‘heart disease’.

]]> By: Jeremiah http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-2/#comment-1045882 Jeremiah Sat, 28 Apr 2007 08:24:03 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1045882 SinaSource, I agree with you that the two events occurred in very different contexts. Would China even have acknowledged Bush's "sympathy" if he gave it? The industrial accident that killed those workers wasn't exactly the lead story on CCTV last week. That said, I strongly disagree with your unfair characterization of The Peking Duck. I know you have an axe to grind with TPD. The 'site manager' does actually read some Chinese. Moreover, as you've been told over and over again and yet somehow refuse to/are not able to comprehend, two of the main contributors to the site do a considerable amount of translation both inside and outside of the blogosphere. You seem quite content to take cheap shots in the comment sections of other peoples' blogs, but I've yet to see anywhere online where you yourself offer commentary or insight in any language. If so, may we see a link? To be banned by TPD is actually quite difficult. Those who have been banned are given ample warning. The internet is an open place, people are free to create their own spaces. You wouldn't walk into somebody else's home or place of business spewing hateful, abusive, racist, or homophobic insults, would you? Does civility have no place on the web? SinaSource,

I agree with you that the two events occurred in very different contexts. Would China even have acknowledged Bush’s “sympathy” if he gave it? The industrial accident that killed those workers wasn’t exactly the lead story on CCTV last week.

That said, I strongly disagree with your unfair characterization of The Peking Duck. I know you have an axe to grind with TPD. The ’site manager’ does actually read some Chinese. Moreover, as you’ve been told over and over again and yet somehow refuse to/are not able to comprehend, two of the main contributors to the site do a considerable amount of translation both inside and outside of the blogosphere.

You seem quite content to take cheap shots in the comment sections of other peoples’ blogs, but I’ve yet to see anywhere online where you yourself offer commentary or insight in any language. If so, may we see a link?

To be banned by TPD is actually quite difficult. Those who have been banned are given ample warning. The internet is an open place, people are free to create their own spaces. You wouldn’t walk into somebody else’s home or place of business spewing hateful, abusive, racist, or homophobic insults, would you? Does civility have no place on the web?

]]> By: mahathir_fan http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-2/#comment-1041422 mahathir_fan Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:37:40 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1041422 The difference between the deaths at the mining site and virginia tech is that one is an accident (or negligence), while another is a school shooting. If we really want to mourn for deaths, there are so many avoidable deaths every day. Take for example heart disease. Close to 1 million Americans die of heart disease every year - that makes it 2700 deaths per day in America due to heart disease. Heart disease is completely avoidable through a healthy choice of food, exercise, and lifestyle. That 2700 people are dying every day is a failure of the health maintainance of the people. The difference between the deaths at the mining site and virginia tech is that one is an accident (or negligence), while another is a school shooting.

If we really want to mourn for deaths, there are so many avoidable deaths every day. Take for example heart disease. Close to 1 million Americans die of heart disease every year – that makes it 2700 deaths per day in America due to heart disease.

Heart disease is completely avoidable through a healthy choice of food, exercise, and lifestyle. That 2700 people are dying every day is a failure of the health maintainance of the people.

]]> By: mahathir_fan http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-2/#comment-1041412 mahathir_fan Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:33:16 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1041412 "Leaving the nature of the comments aside for a minute, to the best of my knowledge The Peking Duck is one of the few blogs where comments in English from Chinese readers on this issue can be found, " You should be careful of drawing conclusions based on comments from the Peking Duck. People like me have been banned from posting my comments there. It happened after a couple of people there ganged up on a English language Chinese commenter on the Tiananmen incident. I charged in and drew similarities between the Tiananmen incident and the Bonus March. Thereafter, I was banned from posting. So the postings you see on that blog are those that have been "censored" to be safe for public viewing by Mr. Peking Duck. I do applaud that Mr. Peking Duck was quick to see that I was trouble to his blog. He banned me within 48 hours after my 1st comment posting. “Leaving the nature of the comments aside for a minute, to the best of my knowledge The Peking Duck is one of the few blogs where comments in English from Chinese readers on this issue can be found, ”

You should be careful of drawing conclusions based on comments from the Peking Duck. People like me have been banned from posting my comments there. It happened after a couple of people there ganged up on a English language Chinese commenter on the Tiananmen incident. I charged in and drew similarities between the Tiananmen incident and the Bonus March. Thereafter, I was banned from posting.

So the postings you see on that blog are those that have been “censored” to be safe for public viewing by Mr. Peking Duck.

I do applaud that Mr. Peking Duck was quick to see that I was trouble to his blog. He banned me within 48 hours after my 1st comment posting.

]]> By: John Kennedy http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-2/#comment-1022685 John Kennedy Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:22:42 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1022685 Thanks, bingster, Jennifer and Alan for the careful eyes. I was a little rushed on this post, and I had trouble following the internal logic to his point, just thinking that he was trying to be ironic with the paragraph on the rich family/poor family funeral metaphor, but it seems to have been lost on me. Thanks also for the correction on the last line. If you could help clarifying the second-last paragraph, I'd be really greatful. Thanks, bingster, Jennifer and Alan for the careful eyes. I was a little rushed on this post, and I had trouble following the internal logic to his point, just thinking that he was trying to be ironic with the paragraph on the rich family/poor family funeral metaphor, but it seems to have been lost on me. Thanks also for the correction on the last line. If you could help clarifying the second-last paragraph, I’d be really greatful.

]]> By: zhwj http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-2/#comment-1022682 zhwj Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:20:56 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1022682 In a similar vein, there's also this: http://yanghengjun.blog.hexun.com/8967042_d.html In a similar vein, there’s also this: http://yanghengjun.blog.hexun.com/8967042_d.html

]]> By: Alan Han http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-2/#comment-1016477 Alan Han Sun, 22 Apr 2007 03:43:37 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1016477 Who did this translation? The last sentense is a bit misleading. The original text actually means: "So, if Bush’s condolences never come, nobody should blame him." Who did this translation? The last sentense is a bit misleading.
The original text actually means:
“So, if Bush’s condolences never come, nobody should blame him.”

]]> By: Justin http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-2/#comment-1012447 Justin Sat, 21 Apr 2007 08:16:29 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1012447 I dunno what to think of this translation. On one hand it could be satire. On another hand, it reads as mindles if taken literally. Obviously, making significance out of similar death stats in two completely unrelated tragedies is useless except for humor's sake, unless you're Cantonese and place significance in numbers as fortune. And it's equally stating the obvious that the Chinese mining industry is a disgrace that the Chinese media and government do their best to minimize. And also obvious that "condolences" from Dubbya are as worthless as a counterfeit 5 yuan note. So what do you really have here? Cultural confusion as in "it's obvious to a Chinese reader, but not a Western one?" or a poorly written attempt at a profound statement? Or satire? Or translation that misses the nuances? You tell me. Por favor. I dunno what to think of this translation. On one hand it could be satire. On another hand, it reads as mindles if taken literally.
Obviously, making significance out of similar death stats in two completely unrelated tragedies is useless except for humor’s sake, unless you’re Cantonese and place significance in numbers as fortune.
And it’s equally stating the obvious that the Chinese mining industry is a disgrace that the Chinese media and government do their best to minimize.
And also obvious that “condolences” from Dubbya are as worthless as a counterfeit 5 yuan note.
So what do you really have here? Cultural confusion as in “it’s obvious to a Chinese reader, but not a Western one?” or a poorly written attempt at a profound statement? Or satire? Or translation that misses the nuances?
You tell me. Por favor.

]]> By: SinaSource http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-1/#comment-1010813 SinaSource Sat, 21 Apr 2007 03:09:00 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1010813 "Peking Duck" may be one of the few sources in English where comments by Chinese can be found but the site manager himself does not read Chinese nor does he post comments that are written in Chinese. Moreover, he is ever-so-keen to censor comments he disagrees with and encourage others who post to attack those who take a view different from his. His site is by no stretch of the imagination a place where dialogue is encouraged, especially from those who are Chinese, or who prefer to write in Chinese. Mind you, I would not argue that the manager is racist; only that he is a conduit about things Chinese, instead of an accredited analyst or expert commentator. I would add that Bush is not going to express sorrow for mine accidents that are produced largely by mismanagement and corruption by government officials at the local and township levels. One might further argue, nor should he. “Peking Duck” may be one of the few sources in English where comments by Chinese can be found but the site manager himself does not read Chinese nor does he post comments that are written in Chinese. Moreover, he is ever-so-keen to censor comments he disagrees with and encourage others who post to attack those who take a view different from his. His site is by no stretch of the imagination a place where dialogue is encouraged, especially from those who are Chinese, or who prefer to write in Chinese.

Mind you, I would not argue that the manager is racist; only that he is a conduit about things Chinese, instead of an accredited analyst or expert commentator.

I would add that Bush is not going to express sorrow for mine accidents that are produced largely by mismanagement and corruption by government officials at the local and township levels. One might further argue, nor should he.

]]> By: Bea http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-1/#comment-1008072 Bea Fri, 20 Apr 2007 14:51:11 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1008072 We too here in Turkey had a tragedy of 33 the same time. 29 second grade students with several teachers died in a bus crash on a school outing. Why? I've written about about the connections to numbers and also how thought-provoking that the South Korean people share with Americans in this disgrace. May the great spirit help our world full of terror and pain! We too here in Turkey had a tragedy of 33 the same time. 29 second grade students with several teachers died in a bus crash on a school outing. Why? I’ve written about about the connections to numbers and also how thought-provoking that the South Korean people share with Americans in this disgrace. May the great spirit help our world full of terror and pain!

]]> By: Jennifer Brea http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-1/#comment-1006400 Jennifer Brea Fri, 20 Apr 2007 05:09:24 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1006400 It's not nitpicking...I was confused by how that last part was translated. From the original and the translation, my sense was that the blogger's overall message was: if we ourselves don't value Chinese life as precious, and mourn it when it is lost, then how can we expect anyone else to? It’s not nitpicking…I was confused by how that last part was translated. From the original and the translation, my sense was that the blogger’s overall message was: if we ourselves don’t value Chinese life as precious, and mourn it when it is lost, then how can we expect anyone else to?

]]> By: bingster http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-1/#comment-1005655 bingster Thu, 19 Apr 2007 23:40:56 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1005655 nitpicking 所以，如果等不来布什总统的回礼，也不能怪罪人家。 So, if Bush’s condolences never come, we can't blame him. nitpicking

所以，如果等不来布什总统的回礼，也不能怪罪人家。

So, if Bush’s condolences never come, we can’t blame him.

]]> By: Dave http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-1/#comment-1004849 Dave Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:57:37 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1004849 Considering how some large-scale industrial accidents have been marginalized by the Chinese media (especially when they relate to unsafe working conditions or corruption), I don't think the problem is entirely with America. Considering how some large-scale industrial accidents have been marginalized by the Chinese media (especially when they relate to unsafe working conditions or corruption), I don’t think the problem is entirely with America.

]]> By: John Kennedy http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/comment-page-1/#comment-1004752 John Kennedy Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:13:49 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/04/19/china-reactions-to-the-slayings/#comment-1004752 Thanks zhwj, and sorry Jeremiah. What I didn't make clear enough in that line was my intent to draw attention to opinions being expressed by Chinese readers at <i>The Peking Duck</i> and not those per se of any of its non-Chinese authors like yourself, or any political motivations you might or might not have. Leaving the nature of the comments aside for a minute, to the best of my knowledge <i>The Peking Duck</i> is one of the few blogs where comments in English from Chinese readers on this issue can be found, and this is something I for one am appreciative of. Thanks zhwj, and sorry Jeremiah. What I didn’t make clear enough in that line was my intent to draw attention to opinions being expressed by Chinese readers at The Peking Duck and not those per se of any of its non-Chinese authors like yourself, or any political motivations you might or might not have. Leaving the nature of the comments aside for a minute, to the best of my knowledge The Peking Duck is one of the few blogs where comments in English from Chinese readers on this issue can be found, and this is something I for one am appreciative of.

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