User Comments - octopussy91

Posted on: 吧 (ba) and 要不 (yào bù)

Is there a reason why this and other lessons cannot be downloaded right now?

Posted on: International vs. Local Schools

Hi jaron et al,

First of all, it's nice to be writing on a forum where peoples' contributions are considered and tempered. If only the whole internet were so constructive...

To slay some dragons before we get going, the 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone comment' was in no way meant to be taken as an overtly religious statement, just a turn of phrase. As it happens, I come from the religiously dormant nation that is Britain, and we generally have less sensitivity than Americans to notions of race, religion and so on, so let's not got get sidetracked by that one.

In answer to your general point that there are good and bad things about our nations, and good and bad things about China, I would totally agree. And don't get me wrong, ripping someone off for anything (poultry or otherwise) is to be condemned sternly, no question.

But I'm not really sure where you're coming from on a number of specific points:

"The reality is sin is sin."

Yep, agree

"Whose blood is on whose hands? An attempt to compare would likely lead us all to an incomplete outlook in our lack of sovereignty and power and understanding of what is really going on."

- Well, there are things we can learn from other cultures, and things they can learn from us.

"Someone maybe cheated a dollar or millions. Who has the greater sin?"

- The latter.

"Someone can tell one lie another tell 1,000. Who has the greater sin?"

- The latter.

"Someone could have murdered someone another could have hatred and bitterness towards another in his heart. Who has the greater sin?"

- The former, by a long, long, long, long way my friend.

It's one thing to think something, it's another thing to do it. If thought was a crime we'd all be living in a Commie paradise...

Posted on: International vs. Local Schools

I think I'd rather live in a country where people screwed you for the odd few yuan here and there, than a society where social delinquency, anti-social behaviour, and petty and violent crime rates were many times higher. At least here in China I can walk home at night or sit at the back of a bus without feeling I need to keep looking over my shoulder...

Anyway, if you really want to see the meaning of ripping people off for food, just get down to your local Carrefour, Wal-Mart or Tesco.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, eh?

Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 11: Wang in the Doghouse

This is my first Chinese Pod lesson and I am mightily impressed.