@HCampo
I agree totally. That being said, I believe that some people attract certain people/things to them. Call it the law of attraction if you will. I'm not saying that in this case it's the victims fault. However, there are people that seem to be at the wrong place and the wrong time just like there are people that seem to be in the right place and the right time. Call it being lucky if you will. Sometimes we give off 'vibes' to other that attract certain situations are we don't know it. Best thing to do is always be aware of your surroundings and don't let your guard down.

I agree with you liuming, to some extend.
But this attraction or the law of attraction thing isn't just that easy and selective.

If you have read into the subject you would know. Also reverse the theory you would also see it doesn't work like that.

My theory goes more into voltaires thought. There are times when tensions against foreigners are high, and in combination with the state sanctioned hatred and violence, also the place where you live and the easiness of spotting a foreigner as target/victim. Those factors are the reasons why thrse attacks happen.

Ask any cop or crime analyst and they will tell you that crime and violence has very little to do with the new age ideas of the victim. As I said, how would you explain little kids experiencing, disease, violence and abuse? Do you think the atteact thise terrible things. Plus how do you explain attacks in my wife and the other bystanders...do you think they all just attracted it?

This theory isn't a wishing well or cherry pucking formula.

I am (beyond my rants and complains ) the happiest person on earth and a very mellow chap.

Go and check the TV shows where japanese and americans get bliwn into pieces and the language they use to call these people. Or the news and see what people get beaten and hacked to death for. The limit for violent outbursts are very low in china, in combination with face and the lack acknowledgment of being wrong...and the low level of social studies and conflict resolution...doesn't make it hard to see so much violence in China.

If this incident was any more than a one off then this thread would have been added to by other victims and it wouldn't be the only one in the forum.

Could it be that some people's ''incidents'' are things others wouldn't be bothered to remember.

Campo is 100% bang on the money with his smile, humour and no messing at the right moments.

If an 8 year old saying ''foreigner'' to you is in anyway threatening then perhaps it's time you wrapped yourself in cotton wool.

I walk around the city without a thought in my head for welbeing. You could ask me to meet you somewhere in China at 3 in the morning and danger wouldn't even cross my mind. Ask me to meet you in Jo'burg, LA, London, Rio etc at that time and I may question your sanity.

If you're worried about your saftey here yet come from a country where people have to pass metal detectors to go to school or Their main square is a no go area bar drug pushers and prozzies or where breaking the law has become so common place that the government have legalised whatever and dressed it up as something libertarian, and you check the paper each day for a terror warning then you should take off your Australian/American/European tinted glasses.

It would be out of the question to say there aren't arseholes here, there are plenty, but they're is not many of the violent persuasion - This still won't rule out people slapping you in the head on the street as seen in this post, but you needn't worry yourselves about it.

Anyone who's using the ''I wanted to do something but I was worried that someone may interfere''. Well, short of forming a crowd the Chinese are not very pro active in this situation, no one leaves the house in the morning looking to be a hero. Tell it how it is - In your head your're a superstar but in reality you're Frank Spencer and your wrists are too limp.

@Napoleon "This still won't rule out people slapping you in the head on the street as seen in this post, but you needn't worry yourselves about it."

Traditionally so, yes. Very safe in China. Smile is just fine. What is of interest is if this situation will prevail. Personally I believe theres a collective will to "bully back", that theres a growing antagony against US, and that this could also escalate further. And I believe that it has escalated recently. And I also believe it will escalate more. Maybe you guys dont.

@Peter99

Yes, we are referring to China about the smile thing.

I think we all know what a smile to the wrong stranger can mean elsewhere. Sometimes it just takes looking at someone for it to kick off in some places. Hence the term 'keep your head down.'
Due to current political issues an escalation is a possibility and something to be vigilant about for the time being.

I've noticed sentiment rise and fall over the last decade and more but overall the peaks and troughs have been less exaggerated. Find out what propaganda is being pushed to freshman this year and you'll have an indication of what's in store. In normal times out of province Chinese get a harder time than foreigners.

I remember not long ago when Japanese cars and restaurants (Chinese owned with Chinese products) were targeted because of some issue that was being broadcast. Only lasted a couple of weeks. I don't think those wartime soap operas helped at all.

this guy has some interesting thoughts on the shift in feeling www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICXbwbbavVc

@Napoleon
Not everyone posts their experiences on gokunming.

It seems to me that you are one of those guys who live in very well secured houses, and don't have to go out a lot.

Hearing Campo and yours, as well as other comments. You obviously have never been attacked in China. A smile won't help you at all. Because you don't see your opponent. The Chinese standard attack is not started with a formal greeting. My gokunming mail was packed with other foreigners telling me about their experiences. So it happens more than peoe think. I have a friend in LA and they dob't seem very scared.

For all the people able to read chinese, again,... check the news and net. Actually you, who have not yet done so, telling everyone and judging others, are not helping the forum.

In my unfortunate events, I can say that except one attack all were without provocation and most certainly about the pleasure of beating up foreigners. In hindsight one attack we could have probably prevented or at least escaped but at that time it didn't seem dangerous at first. We were invited to the assailants dinner table and only when we refused binge drinking baijiu (which we paid for) they became aggressive.

Plenty of cities in Europe where you can meet someone at 3 in the morning. Amsterdam for example. Pretty much every city in Scandinavia...etc

And about helping someone who is being beaten, try to evaluate the situation carefully. In our cases and two cases I witness from a distance, random Chinese guys joined the beating, once even a security joined the jolly punching. One time it wasn't even a Chinese they tried to rescue but a Korean but that didn't seem to matter.

It has something to do with the century of humiliation, and decades of xenophobe propaganda, burns all fuses when needed.

China is beautiful and has a very fascinating charme but it is not safe. But I don't want to be bullied or accused here anymore. So think whatever you want but don't be surprised if shit goes wrong.

By the way I did a crime prevention checklist just for kicks and it said that me,- working in the field (urban) at random hours, can be a risk factor.
But the places I was attacked (twice) were risk factors in China. A tourist spot. I talked to cops and they very much agree with the fact,that being a foreigner is a potential risk factor.

I know this will bother some people but you can go and ask for yourself. But you may not like what you hear. So it's o.k. to accuse others or find irrational justifications, I heard it's a normal reflex.

If you actually do bother to find out,
the police is usually very helpful when not too busy. Actually one cop praised me for checking with the local cops, because he even said the district matters a lot (I am not talkung about Kundu). There ate different crime gangs around, burglars, pick pockets and he said some don't hesitate to.use knives and weapons to not get caught by the cops. And knowing the drug problems of Kunming and Yunnan, some small criminal junkies rather stab someone than going to jail or cold turkey.

About the nasty parts of town, there are three main ghettos(if you could call em like that). Cops still go there but not unless someone OD'd or a major thing happens. They aren't afraid to go but they just don't care. I guess they are run by the mafia anyway.
I went to one of them last year, to visit a school their and the driver told us to never ever go there, night or day.

Theres quite a lot of discussion going on in relation to the video Haali posted. Its worth to see it, as its just a very simlple and honest video, not some big budget thing with plenty interests involved. I think that couple did a brave and good job, because addressing the nationalism issue will not do any harm.

And by the way, seems his comment section is being flooded by the same freaks (Aliens buddies) that been around here too. They seem to be gone by now from around gokunming, but likely lurking in the shadows. Usually any open creative honest discussion will make them feel bothered, so a surfacing is expected.