Job Discussion Forums

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

SanChong, don't you think you're dragging this out a bit.

The points are as follows;

1) There does appear to be a law concerning extra-marital sex in Taiwan(Steve rarely makes these things up). He's not being negative, he's telling it like it is. He did partially apologise (perhaps the wrong word) for going over the top in his first post. He only elaborated because you kept poking him with a big stick.

2) There doesn't seem to be a problem with co-habiting outside of marriage, particularly if you're a foreigner.

SanChong · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 335

The point is that there is no risk of going to jail for adultery here. Steve is acting like there is and that's just absurd and would lead people to have an extremely wrong impression of life in Taiwan. This truly is a silly argument. If we want to talk philosophy, let's make it clear first and then have a separate conversation.

Mark said:

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

Pop Fly · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 429

SC, I am gonna back TS up on this one. The news (local) is filled with images of police and media busting in on some cuckolding spouse. If you are caught in flagrante delecto and on video, you will be prosecuted. I am not here to judge the law, just share it....draconian tho it be....

ooooops.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

SanChong · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 335

It's always great when Aristotle checks in! Thanks for the helpful information!

Anyway, I think we can put this to bed (No pun intended Smile

). I've never heard of anyone jailed for adultery in Taiwan. Of course, I've heard a LOT about the media busting people for infidelity (that seems to be the point of IN magazine).
I've just not heard of the police being involved. As I've said, I'd be happy to see a concrete example of this happening.
Otherwise, I don't think its any different than the US, where in this case the laws are very similar and are similarly not enforced.

As for Taiwan being a 3rd world country, developing country, or whatever... it's just not the case. Taiwan is a developed country in almost every sense. Look up some surveys if you like, or I can provide them if you are interested.

Here is one stat:

Taiwan's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita is higher than Spain, South Korea, New Zealand... it's MUCH higher than South Africa.
Taiwan is a wealthy, well developed country. It's just different than Canada, the US, etc.... perhaps that is altering your perceptions.

I've seen places in Alabama and Texas, etc. that look very undeveloped also... way worse than anything in Taiwan. Very Happy

Red Baron · Joined: 12 Nov 2004 Posts: 17 Location: Indiana

four-eye · Joined: 02 Sep 2005 Posts: 18

good God! who cares who do u live with. of course it's ok.

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

Can't resist part of this discussion:

Red Baron hit the nail on the head when he talked about toilets and drinking water. In the sense of livability vs. just economic benchmarks, Taiwan is a country with aspirations to be a "developed" country but still with a long way to go. Come to the great economy of California (number 6 or 7 in the world) and see parts of our Central Valley that look like the worst slums of Mexico. Yet you can safely drink the water, flush paper down the toilet and still see for miles on the smoggiest (crop stubble burning) of days. Plus recycling is both mandatory and universal. When Taiwan can even begin to approach these benchmarks, then it can start to become something other than a county trying to leave it's thirld world roots behind.

The country is getting there but let's be realistic about how far it has to go.

DirtGuy

SanChong · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 335

There are many reasons why the US environment is cleaner, principal among them being that we have lived there for a LOT less time. Meanwhile, the rest of the world has been destroying their environment for a lot longer. The US is the largest polluter in the world, as you probably know.

One of the reasons why Taipei seems polluted is that the city is located in a bowl, surrounded by mountains. This unfortunately traps in the polluted air. Quite similar to LA, which has a similar level of air quality. Taipei is actually a fairly clean city, cleaner than many cities in the States.

As for water quality, it isn't actually that poor in Taiwan. I do know people who drink the tap water (I don't). There are other developed countries where it isn't advisable to drink water from the tap either.

Yes, Taiwan can improve, and every country should strive for improvement. However, it is actually ahead of the curve (at least compared to the US) when it comes to recycling and certain technologies, for example.

Have you ever been on a subway in NYC? The piss, shit and garbage everywhere will make you long for the beautiful MRT of Taiwan. We can go on and on about different things that are better or worse in different countries.

My point is this: Taiwan is, in most ways, a very developed country. When people dismiss Taiwan as somehow being a 3rd world, underdeveloped country (as has been said in this thread), I would contest that. It's just not true.

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

So right you are, SC, about comparing the MRT to what passes for rapid transit in the States. Every time I rode it kept wondering why a dinky little place like Taiwan can do this but we cannot. And that to my mind is one of the great paradoxes of Taiwan: How can a country be so far advanced in so many ways yet so backward in others? They can build Tapei 101 yet much of the construction you see is quite shoddy. The use of infrared sensors in bathrooms far exceeds in numbers and quality what we have in the States yet Taipei only recently built a modern sewage treatment system. Absolutely loved the little walking guy on the pedestrian signs yet driving is more of a creative sport than a legal activity. Etc., etc.

Is it no wonder people are confused by the laws that supposedly govern the nation?

BTW: I know it is PC to blame the US for all the pollution in the world but give credit/blame where it is due. China long ago surpassed the US or any other country in particulate emissions. In simple terms, this means that due to coal burning they are the biggest air polluter in the world. The country also has the lowest ratio of fresh water to population of any developed country in the world. Criticize the US all you want when it comes to inordinate resource use but also be realistic about what has been accomplished. China recently sent a delegation to California to find ways improve the efficiency of its electrical devices and find other ways to cut the growth rate of the country's energy consumption.

Now if we could only trust them to buy the technology and not pirate it.

DirtGuy

daily chai · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 150 Location: Brussels

I lived with my Taiwanese beau and the guy who's now my husband in Taiwan while I was unmarried. No worries. You can live with a posse of playthings in fact, for all anyone cares. Just pay the rent and keep the noise down.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Adultery is a criminal offense under the laws of the occupational authority on Taiwan known as the Republic of China.
That means you can be put in jail for committing adultery and it routinely happens on the island of Taiwan. Much the same way you can be incarcerated for having traces of illegal drugs in you system.
First the spouse must file a criminal complaint with the police and "encourage the police to investigate through the use of quangos or bribery. Often this is done through a private investigator who collects evidence and uses quanxi or bribes to get the police to enforce the law on Taiwan.
Next the evidence is presented in court and the judge makes a ruling. The estranged spouse has the right to request certain types of sentencing including imprisonment.
If found guilty the judge can implement any one of a number of sentences including bans on remarriage, fines, divorce or imprisonment...
Being sentenced for imprisonment for adultery is very unusual on Taiwan unless the offending spouse does not abide by the court decision and that is when people end up in jail for adultery. It seems sometimes spouses set each up and try to get each other punished by the courts as a result of a martial dispute.
Good luck and remember, just because the ROC government is an occupational government they still have the guns and are not afraid of violating your human rights.
A.