Job Discussion Forums

Minhang Oz · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 610 Location: Shanghai,ex Guilin

I suppose you're right teecher:but the point has been made.It started when Egas,or Sage as he can now be called ,bared his opinions,perceptions,and writing ability to the masses.Of course,now that he is a published and remunerated writer,he is fair game.But at that time,to be criticised by those whose last serious writing effort was "A Day at the Beach" in fourth grade seemed a bit much.Then he was railed at for not knowing the "real" Beijing.There are thousands of real Beijings and Chinas,each according to whose eyes you're looking through.Anyone who claims to have the inside info. on what's real and what's not should be enthroned as the next emperor.Enjoy what's left of our magnificent seven day condensed holiday.

TEECHER · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 47

Yes Woz, I agree with some of your points! But let's not nitpick to the point of spelling. I personally dont care about the grammar or spelling if a person has some good points to be heard. Smarts ideas were every bit as valid as Egas's . Egas's article was far from perfect to the "picky" editors I take it, so they hacked it up a bit. Still, it wasnt a personal attack on Egas himself. Also, I know a few fourth graders with some great ideas about the world. Bye for now.

gerard · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 581 Location: Internet Cafe

I enjoyed the article. Might not agree with every point but so what? I sometimes disagree with my favorite writers.

To the grammar issue. No you shouldn't jump all over a spelling mistake. But on the other hand a lot of people on these boards use its it's their there etc. etc. improperly. And they don't know the difference. That is alarming.

Chairman Roberto · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 150 Location: Taibei, Taiwan

Egas--

Fantastic article. Heartiest congratulations on your publication!

Whether you agree or disagree with Egas's views of SARS, you have to admit it is a vivid description of Beijing in the Brave New SARS Era. I had NO IDEA how crazy things are up in the capital. Down here in Podunkville, SARS has barely touched us. Our school is on lockdown...only the teachers are allowed to come and go as they please. No one, however, is exhibiting even the remotest panic. Students can leave the campus escorted by one of the teachers (I'm currently building alot of guanxi that way!)...or sneaking over the walls! Sometimes they need me to get back in, which earns me dirty looks from the guards. Embarassed

My latest running joke, which gets alot of laughs, is saying "I have SARS!" with every cough or sneeze I produce. (Granted, it's in poor taste, but the stir-crazy students seem to appreciate it). Generally, SARS is seen as a temporary nusiance, not the Black Death or the End of the World, as seems to be the case in Beijing.

Thanks to Egas article, I have a much better idea of how isolated I am...not just geographically, but culturally as well. Well Egas, if the Big City life is gettin' too stressfull fer a slicker such as yerself, you and the missus can feel free to come on down to Duelin' Pipa Country, Hunan, and take a load off. Der ain't no SARS down these parts, no suh! Not yet, anyway. (there's idle talk of SARS deaths in other towns, but I doan' pay 'em no mind).

keep on writing!

Chairman Roberto

kimo · Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 668

I just read an article off of Yahoo. Seems everyone is quibbling over how best to calculate the death rate. 5, 10, 15, now 20 percent. 50 percent or higher if one is over age 60.

Once you're dead, you're dead. For you, that means 100 percent.

And what are the other costs to society? Enormous I suppose. Lost wages, productivity, opportunities, and on and on.