I see no evidence that the word 'Hump' is dying out these days, though it would be surprising for it to be brought up frequently, as WWII ended 71 years ago. The fact that Japanese atrocities etc. or the period are brought up frequently has a lot to do with the government.

In case the penny didn't drop, I previously wrote to agree with Campo. I do not take cutesy hellos or whatever as an attack, and I don't think Campo does either. As for the overall discussion of violence in China, I agree it happens, and that much of the reasoning that several writers have presented sometimes does have to do with why it happens. I also know foreigners who seem to respond to minor things in a way that makes the situation worse, and also some whose own attitudes about, and behavior towards, Chinese people are offensive. And there is also violence sometimes between Chinese people, and between foreigners.
When I add it all up, I don't worry a lot when I go out, which is often. Running into violence or seeing it - I've done both here - simply doesn't occur so often that it's necessary to be on your guard alla time. The attack that started this thread was simply an exception to the norm.
Is there violence in China? Yes, of course, what would you expect?

@ Campo: Despite our various differences, I'm with you on what you've written above, unless you wanted to include passing young kids saying 'laowai' in a cutesy voice as a 'verbal attack' - which would strike me as ridiculous, and I don't think you're being ridiculous.

I think there's no correlation of any importance. I'm not sure if I'd take your bet, as I'm not sure you understand my political worldview - and, yeah, I might change it, and/or continue to develop the way I apply it.

Anyway, let me know if some evidence of significant correlation shows up - after all, foreigners have been punched before, making less of a big deal out of Obama's visit probably has to do with the South China Sea (which, granted, might somewhat reinforce xenophobia), and I haven't seen any evidence that the closing of the Hump has anything to do with xenophobia. Fill us all in if you know more.

Now I got it.