There is a common theme that spans all the arguments about culture, food, smoking, Dwarf Kingdom, blah, blah, blah, it is that foreigners are guests when traveling outside their home country and as such, should keep their mouths shut and accept everything or pack up and go home. As HFCAMPO have pointed out before, the purpose of the forum is to inform and to "entertain" (and I mean it in a loose sense of the word). People come on to gripe and complain and to let out some steam. Last I checked, I didn't see any activism from foreigners (GoK members) to change China. Anything and everything said in these threads are merely that, words, not action. If you disagree then state your opinion and move on, what's the point of arguing?
A greater point to ponder, however, if you are serious about your philosophical beliefs instead of just blowing hot air into the forum, is that at what point do members outside a community become part of the community? To put it more succinctly, it has been argued that we have no right to participate in the evolution of China's tradition and culture simply because we are foreign. It that still true for the some of us that have adopted China as a home country? Meaning we work and pay taxes, contribute to the local society through our interactions, helping local citizens, marrying locals, send our children to schools, etc.
Are we not entitled to be concerned when we breath in dangerous and harmful pollutants? Should we not be angry when we have been discriminated against? Is the solution to "simply go back to where we came from"? Are they mutually exclusive?
Someone raised an example of the Middle East where women "by culture and tradition" have no rights and are treated as objects. While I agree that as a foreigner I do not have the right to "tell" them that such beliefs are wrong and force them to change, I do have the right to make clear my position and opinion on the matter. I can try to affect those around me through my actions rather than my words. Similarly, while I do try to adapt to Chinese culture, I still have my western sensibilities and as such, my friends and associates knows exactly where I stand; those that can accept the boundaries have become good friends, those that can't have moved on. I do not, however, protest on the streets and tell random people that they should be more "western" or that they are barbaric. I can get excited over a Whopper and la mian equally. Again, not exclusive.
My meandering point is this, it is not an either/or proposition, it is shades of grey. It would be ludicrous to say I must reject my conscience whenever I travel abroad or that if I can't or am not willing to do so, I must stay home.
And the final point is, forums are a good place to vent and complain, by its very nature, things are said that are never said in person, it is an exaggeration, a place for our Id to hangout. Some people get too wrapped up in the forum and hang on everything that is said, they feel an obligation to comment or argue every point of every thread. I sometimes do wonder, for those espousing assimilating into the local culture and experiencing China to it's fullest and claiming to be doing lots of "local" things, where do you find the time to keep up with the forum, and why would you care since you are having such a wonderful experience.
One final thought. What kind of integrity does one have when declaring that they are leaving the forum for good only to sneak back in under a different alias? It would be more honorable to come back under the original alias and admit addiction to the forum. Just and observation though, not an accusation.
On that note, good night.
