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twilothunder
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 442
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:32 am Post subject: |
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| rogerwilco wrote: |
There have been a few times where I knew that someone was trying to take advantage of me, typically taxi drivers.
But, more often I have experienced random acts of kindness ranging from strangers helping me to free taxi rides and free food.
Overall, I feel that I have experienced many more of the positives than the negatives.
I speak very little Chinese, so I have often depended upon the kindness of strangers.  |
Probably around 97% of my interactions with Chinese are pleasant or at least neutral.
2% are just plain weird.
Probably 1% are a little hostile. Unfortunately, it only takes that one *beep* to ruin your day and have you reflecting for a while about what you're doing here and 'the Chinese'. |
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twilothunder
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 442
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:43 am Post subject: |
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Also, OP, no offense, but for an English teacher, your use of English is really strange at times.
Gouging, inertia... I suggest you look these words up because they may not mean what you think they mean. |
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Lobster

Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 2040 Location: Somewhere under the Sea
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 3:18 am Post subject: |
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I don't understand the comment on usage.
Price gouging is a common term for overcharging. Inertia refers to the tendency of an object that is at rest or moving to continue doing so. It seems to me that the OP made no mistakes.
I think overcharging is quite common in street transactions here and in places where prices aren't marked. Taxis must run the meter and provide a receipt when requested.
RED |
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choudoufu

Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 3:29 am Post subject: |
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| kungfuman wrote: |
I had a Chinese friend tell me a few months ago he landed at JFK in Queens NY and had to go to Westchester County (White Plains).
Told me the taxi driver took him through Central Park. (and no he didn't ask to go there.)
He asked me if he got cheated. I hid my smile and told him that it was the direct route to his destination.
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holy carp, central park? from jfk to westchester? that's one heckuva
detour! not likely, though, as everyone knows only chinese cabbies
would rip off tourists....
anyway, they most likely went north on the freeway thru flushing
meadows. big park near laguardia.
oh, yeah....and cabs can drive in central park. there are several
cross streets open to HOV's. |
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twilothunder
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 442
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:21 am Post subject: Re: gouging |
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[quote="it'snotmyfault"]
| Brian Hugh wrote: |
| They try and brake but the train has too much inertia. |
Inertia is just mass.
If you push something and get it moving it does not lose inertia, and you do not gain any inertia.
Momentum (mass x velocity) is more appropriate here, because we are talking about a train that is going too fast. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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| twilothunder wrote: |
| they may not mean what you think they mean. |
Inconceivable! |
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DosEquisX
Joined: 09 Dec 2010 Posts: 361
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| When it comes to train stations, airports and similar places, I act on my own. I assume that any stranger offering to help me is a tout regardless of how lost I am. I may try to get assistance from a worker there, but as far as I'm concerned, there are no good Samaritans in those places. |
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kungfuman
Joined: 31 May 2012 Posts: 1749 Location: In My Own Private Idaho
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 1:14 am Post subject: |
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| choudoufu wrote: |
| kungfuman wrote: |
I had a Chinese friend tell me a few months ago he landed at JFK in Queens NY and had to go to Westchester County (White Plains).
Told me the taxi driver took him through Central Park. (and no he didn't ask to go there.)
He asked me if he got cheated. I hid my smile and told him that it was the direct route to his destination.
.. |
holy carp, central park? from jfk to westchester? that's one heckuva
detour! not likely, though, as everyone knows only chinese cabbies
would rip off tourists....
anyway, they most likely went north on the freeway thru flushing
meadows. big park near laguardia.
oh, yeah....and cabs can drive in central park. there are several
cross streets open to HOV's. |
Likely- my Chinese friend showed me pics of his trip thought NYC including shots of whizzing through Central Park from the taxi window.
And YES I know it isn't even close to the direct path but as mentioned I didn't want this guy to think ill of his first trip to the USA or her people. |
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