Job Discussion Forums

[moneyoriented]

Recently I was reading of a random, senseless act of violence against a foreigner in Bangkok, and in that thread was a link to this even worse horror story from Taiwan:

http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=72539&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

And here I always thought Taiwan was a great, safe, civilized place. Is this sort of thing common in Taiwan? Foreigners get savagely attacked, beaten nearly to death, because they talked to a local girl in a bar? And the police let the perpetrators go?

I wouldn't have been surprised to hear such a story if it happened in Korea or China or Vietnam... but I was very surprised at the severity of the violence and that this happened in Taiwan, and is apparently rather common. Is Taiwan getting worse, or have I just been clueless about the place?

Any thoughts? Is Hsinchu a particularly bad place? Have any of you heard of similar incidents in Taiwan - and if so, where did they happen and what were the circumstances?

What parts of Taiwan (especially Taipei) are considered safe and which are best avoided?

[dangerousapple]

Taiwan is a very safe place to be, unless you happen to be an early 20-something young man and you "know how to take care of yourself in a fight". Then you're going to get beat up eventually, but that will happen in any country in the world, not just Taiwan.

I can't comment on the story from Hsinchu, as I don't personally know the people involved. However, after living here for more than a decade, one thing I do know is a handful of foreigners who have been attacked over the years...and every single one of them did something stupid to bring it on. There are loudmouths and idiots in every part of the world, and when two idiots get together, especially idiots from different cultures, bad things can happen.

Also, if you check out the stories in more detail, they all tend to happen in the same places again and again, such as nightclubs that are full of losers that can't get a girlfriend and are angry at foreigners who do. The old-timers always warn the newbies to stay away from those places, but the newbies never listen.

Just as anywhere else, common sense will protect you in most situations.

My 10NT.

[Taylor]

Dear Readers,

This is an isolated event. The original poster indicated the he had just finished class. Hmmm.... I bet this fight occurred well past 2 AM.

Here's an idea: Go meet girls at church, bookstores or coffee shops!

Taylor
Kaohsiung

[Taricha]

I've been here almost three months and the worst thing that's happened to me in the daylight was I got honked at vigorously by an old man on a scooter. The worst thing that's happened to me at night time was I got hugged by a random old guy and wasn't really certain what was going on. I'm a female in her early twenties, and I feel perfectly safe walking the streets at night. I live in Chiayi, don't hit on Taiwanese women and am not much of a past-2-AM party-er, but I don't think my experience is particularly far from the norm.

[BigWally]

Having spent 2 years in Kaohsiung (a town known for its gangster presence), and having spent many nights in ex-pat bars, local bars, and everything else in between I generally felt safer in Taiwan than anywhere in my life.

Walking the streets drunk at 2-3-4-5am never got us into any trouble. Drinking with the locals never got us into any trouble.

Think about this....

What would happen if you went into a local bar in any town your not familiar with in your home country. Then you get smashed and start hitting on every piece of tail in the bar. Eventually, one of those ladies is gonna have a boyfriend who doesn't take kindly.

Now apply this situation to a country where the dating culture is different, and the language is different. Can you see any problems arising?


If you act with respect towards the locals you will get the same in return twice over. I have found Taiwanese to be some of the most friendly, caring, and enjoyable people to party with!

Remember, if you buy a round of drinks, that goes past ANY language barrier!

[Taylor]

Hey Wally,

Good to hear from you again. Are you still in Kaohsiung?

I remember that you always had some great photos that you shared here. Do you happen to have a blog with those shots?

If you could post a link here, it would be great for everyone. Hope to hear back from you.

Taylor
(back in Texas now)

[BigWally]

Sorry no blog....I don't even know how to make one....maybe I'll set up a flickr page or something one of these days....

Back in Canada now though....anything in particular that you're looking for? I have 6000+ photos from the 2 years there!

That actually might be a good idea for a new thread...."The Photos Thread"....

[phdinfunk]

I've been living in a little Township in Taipei county for about two months now and it seems super safe.

But then, I came from Atlanta... people got mugged around my university back home, including friends of mine. I carried a gun a lot (with a permit, though not at Uni Campus, because that was illegal back then). At the nearby women's college there was a large group of women lobbying to be able to carry their pistols on campus in order to defend themselves against attackers with knives or the strength of a 200lb man versus their meager female strength.

So this is easy. I see little kids riding their bikes at 10:30 or 11. When I get out of work around 9, a lot of the kiddos walk home.

I once got stranded at 4am and had to walk much of the way from TuCheng to Sansia and the only concern I had was the mangy stray dogs. I kept crossing the road. A couple of them followed me, baring teeth. I stood my ground and growled back at them. That backed one off and pissed another one off more. I looked around and saw a broom someone had left, a car I could jump on, an alley I could duck down. I considered my options and ran for it. I got away.

Yea, but the people are no threat here. Finally someone picked me up as a hitchhiker. I was dressed nice, nice watch, lots of jewelry... just no cash to get a cab. I've stayed out at the local dive bars drinking with a guy with no teeth, sparring our kung fu moves against each other.. buying each other round. My buddy has blacked out about three times at that same bar, and no problems. The only danger there would be not using good judgement and maybe catching an STD from the prostitutes.

The American girls I know who work at the crappy school down the road (Uncle Sam's) say they feel completely safe here at all hours of the day or night, and they routinely stay out late. One goes jogging before the sun comes up and all she every runs into are old people doing Tai Chi or Qi Kung. They're from D.C. and San Francisco, so agsin, by comparison this place is super safe.

--Jonathan

[ramakentesh]

its pretty safe, but there are more gangster types around certain cities at night than other places in asia ive lived in or been to (with the exception of Gehlung in Singapore)
The tattooed type that want to chat to you then start learing all over your girlfriend or in one case tried to pick a fight with us over nothing. Could happen anywhere, but not in beijing!!

[zeebandre]

Taiwan is generally safe but bad things do happen, as they do anywhere. I knew a foreign girl nearly raped in her own apartment; luckily she had just brought her two large dogs from the states and was able to set them loose after struggling with the man who broke into her place. Break-ins are also common. I caught a thief in my apartment as I returned home from breakfast on a Sunday. There is a reason why most places have bars on windows and balconies.

[yamahuh]

How many people get stabbed, mugged or otherwise physically assaulted every weekend in the average N.American or British town?
Act like an ass and chances are that someone will treat you like one.

[JZer]

[yamahuh]

Exactly my point.
Judging the whole island based on one act of senseless violence is a little out to lunch. If the OP's criteria for travelling or living somewhere was that there was NO violence he / she'd be living lonely on an island in the middle of the ocean somewhere.

[citylightsruralcalm]

I was at that place last week with my Taiwanese female colleague. Place seems like an alright place to drink. Saw some dudes staring as we walked in so I said ni hao 2 them. Had no troubles at all. Bottom line: If you gonna be a punk ass then you gonna be confronted, like in a lot of places in this world. Can you blame dudes beating on punk ass dudes running their lips? I'd do the same if I were still back home. Just be a man and you'll be aiight.

[dangerousapple]