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Comments on: How to Help China http://www.rynshanearmstrong.com/blog/2008/05/20/how-to-help-china/ One Man's Perspective on Technology, Education, Media, Art and Politics Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:19:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: rynsa http://www.rynshanearmstrong.com/blog/2008/05/20/how-to-help-china/comment-page-1/#comment-7 rynsa Wed, 21 May 2008 07:05:22 +0000 http://www.rynshanearmstrong.com/blog/?p=10#comment-7 @Shane The 1980's is a few decades ago, a long time by a 'capitalist roader's' standards, if you know what I mean. Is it possible that this generation of Chinese folks is not afraid of AIDS so much as the stigma associated with hand-me-downs?! Conspicuous consumption appears to be the modus operandi now in China, particularly in urban areas where the massive youth population is sucking down new, new, new like it was a religious experience. In any case, I agree with your point about the whole tsunami experience. I remember hearing radio reports about relief workers sifting through piles of old, moth-ridden, broken and unusable crap--things that literally became a burden for international aid teams and local victims alike. Some Chinese, however, including Xu Yan, are upset with the decision to refuse used clothing (if indeed this really happened--I can't find definitive evidence on the matter). There is a pragmatic thread that runs through their culture, so it defies logic to turn down free goods, whether it's actually 'good' or not. After all, it's free! My guess is that this is a non-issue. Water, food, shelter--these things take priority. Some people just get worked up when they feel that they're being denied the opportunity to help their fellow countrymen. If they're like me, they already feel kinda helpless, especially after viewing all these horrific news reports (video of broken bodies, crying mothers, etc.). Hell, even donating money feels useless! A sensitive human being naturally wants to reach out, hold somebody in need, give them 'the shirt off your back,' if you will. I don't know, maybe they could collect stuff for Burma?! Looks like those folks might could use a new t-shirt or something... anything. @Shane

The 1980’s is a few decades ago, a long time by a ‘capitalist roader’s’ standards, if you know what I mean. Is it possible that this generation of Chinese folks is not afraid of AIDS so much as the stigma associated with hand-me-downs?! Conspicuous consumption appears to be the modus operandi now in China, particularly in urban areas where the massive youth population is sucking down new, new, new like it was a religious experience.

In any case, I agree with your point about the whole tsunami experience. I remember hearing radio reports about relief workers sifting through piles of old, moth-ridden, broken and unusable crap–things that literally became a burden for international aid teams and local victims alike.

Some Chinese, however, including Xu Yan, are upset with the decision to refuse used clothing (if indeed this really happened–I can’t find definitive evidence on the matter). There is a pragmatic thread that runs through their culture, so it defies logic to turn down free goods, whether it’s actually ‘good’ or not. After all, it’s free!

My guess is that this is a non-issue. Water, food, shelter–these things take priority. Some people just get worked up when they feel that they’re being denied the opportunity to help their fellow countrymen. If they’re like me, they already feel kinda helpless, especially after viewing all these horrific news reports (video of broken bodies, crying mothers, etc.). Hell, even donating money feels useless! A sensitive human being naturally wants to reach out, hold somebody in need, give them ‘the shirt off your back,’ if you will.

I don’t know, maybe they could collect stuff for Burma?! Looks like those folks might could use a new t-shirt or something… anything.

]]> By: shane http://www.rynshanearmstrong.com/blog/2008/05/20/how-to-help-china/comment-page-1/#comment-6 shane Wed, 21 May 2008 04:23:19 +0000 http://www.rynshanearmstrong.com/blog/?p=10#comment-6 In the 1980s the central government in Beijing told people that wearing used clothes is a way to catch AIDS. I never have heard why they told people that. There have been a lot of weird myths about AIDS transmission, especially in the early days of the epidemic. Many Chinese people still believe that used clothing will infect a person. That may explain why the Chinese Red Cross won't take donations of used clothes. Also we learned during the tsunami event that a lot of goofy westerners just cleaned out their closets and sent all sorts of crap to the affected locations(Banda Ache, Sri Lanka)- things like ski clothing totally unsuitable for the tropics. In the 1980s the central government in Beijing told people that wearing used clothes is a way to catch AIDS. I never have heard why they told people that. There have been a lot of weird myths about AIDS transmission, especially in the early days of the epidemic. Many Chinese people still believe that used clothing will infect a person. That may explain why the Chinese Red Cross won’t take donations of used clothes. Also we learned during the tsunami event that a lot of goofy westerners just cleaned out their closets and sent all sorts of crap to the affected locations(Banda Ache, Sri Lanka)- things like ski clothing totally unsuitable for the tropics.

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