User Comments - adam_p_lax

Posted on: Beware of Professional Beggars

So people who live in poverty are parasites? Begging is a symptom of a deeper problem known as poverty. People who earn a decent living wouldn't beg. It's really not as beneficial or profitable as some people think. You couldn't support a family with begging. You are basically living off the whim of others who already look at you with suspicion.

Most of the time the job opportunities for those who beg are so shitty that it does make more sense to beg.

So before you assume about what those who beg can and cannot do, you should actually find out from there perspective. I worked at a homeless soup kitchen in the US and I had discussions with many of the people there. Most weren't beggars but they were in mostly precarious living situations where they had few decent options or opportunities to improve.

Posted on: It's Time You Got a Smartphone

I liked the improvised dialogue  between John and Dilu at the end of the lesson using the lesson's vocabulary. For me it helps reinforce the vocabulary and it's use. I think Chinesepod should do that more often at the end of lessons when possible.

Posted on: Beware of Professional Beggars

but the dialogue itself makes the statement that the person "know" they are professional beggars. How exactly do they "know" this? Is there a profile of what composes a "professional beggar"? Young men who look capable to work? That they don't look poor enough? Do they know such "professional beggars" personally? The perspective in the dialogue just seems one sided and superficial coming only from perspective of foreigners and not the supposed "professional beggar."

Like I said, in the US, I know plenty of people who make similar statements about those who beg like "they do it only to drink liquor or do drugs." They do this without actually talking to such people or understanding their perspective.

So I don't think this is something culturally unique to China.

I think language wise there is great useful vocabulary. I just find the content personally disagreeable.

Posted on: Beware of Professional Beggars

Just reviewing this lesson and its content, this topic really bothers me. People say this about beggars in the US as a way to degrade those who are poor. I think its ridiculous. I find it hard to believe that these "professional beggars" in China or in the US could live so well. I'm not gonna make someone give me a background check before I give someone 5 kuai that may need it more than me.

There are plenty of children of rich, affluent parents, in the US and in China, who also 好吃做懒 just by right of birth. They just don't need to go outside and ask other people for that money.

So degrading those who are poor that beg just because some may take advantage of the kindness of others is morally repugnant in my opinion.

Posted on: The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: How We Verb

is there a particular order you have to have the verbs in when you use 着  like could you say the  opposite 说着站? is there any clear rule about which verb comes before the other when using 着?

Posted on: Costume Ball

there are two ways to pronounce that character 血 xue (2nd tone) and xie (third tone). I think both are ok.

Posted on: American TV Shows in China

Isn't "friends" also 六人行？ which one is the more common translation?

Posted on: So Many Airport Fees

http://chinesepod.com/lessons/random-and-reckless you should check out this qingwen about 乱

Posted on: Interviews: Obama or Romney?

English is not the only language spoken in the US. There is a significant spanish speaking population in the US (over a 1/3 of the population). English is not the official language but rather the predominant one.

Citizens who don't speak English are still effected by policies of English speaking state and federal lawmakers. Thus they have every right to vote.

Posted on: Interviews: Obama or Romney?

I agree with this. I think it would be fascinating especially for foreigners who are in China right now.