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romanworld
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 388
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 Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 9:48 pm Post subject: Taiwan turns to superstition to boost falling birth rate. |
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The case of Taiwan's falling birth rate and its impact on education has been an ongoing saga at this forum. In its desperation to boost fertility rates the government has turned to a myriad of nostrums over the past few years, but none have worked. Now, in a final act of desperation, the government of Taiwan "has turned to a rather bizarre superstition, encouraging pregnant women to 'share their luck' with others by distributing unused sanitary pads and tampons". It's embarrassing to comment further on this, so I'll let the Huffington Post speak on my behalf:
Tapping into the Taiwanese tradition, which dictates that "women can increase their chances of getting pregnant by obtaining unused maxi pads or tampons from pregnant woman to share their luck," according to the Taipei Times, Taipei's Department of Civil Affairs announced this week that it will be collecting pads and tampons from expectant moms until the end of the month. The Times reports that the donated items will distributed "to those who are in need" in August.
"On its website, the city government said it hopes couples who are trying for a child will be encouraged by this donation drive, the aim of which is 'to help more couples conceive'".
'We hope that Taipei residents who want to get pregnant will be blessed by the lucky pads and that their wishes will come true,' department commissioner Huang Lu Ching-ju said at a press conference Wednesday . . . "
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/taiwan-sanitary-pads_n_3587658.html
Somehow I don't think this very irrational strategy is going to work. Scary stuff indeed. |
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teacher4life
Joined: 22 Apr 2012
Posts: 121
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| Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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That is 223 posts from romanworld now, most of them bashing Taiwan.   |
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romanworld
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 388
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| Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 11:48 am Post subject: |
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| teacher4life wrote: |
| That is 223 posts from romanworld now, most of them bashing Taiwan. |
Please respond to the facts in the posting and not the postee. |
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Ferfichkin
Joined: 07 Jul 2005
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 1:23 am Post subject: |
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| He's right. You come on this forum all the time, and you NEVER have anything good to say about the country. |
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romanworld
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 388
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| Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Ferfichkin wrote: |
| He's right. You come on this forum all the time, and you NEVER have anything good to say about the country. |
Please keep this debate both objective and fair and comment on the Huffington Post article and the facts therein. |
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Ferfichkin
Joined: 07 Jul 2005
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Please keep this debate both objective and fair and comment on the Huffington Post article and the facts therein. |
You're the least objective person on this forum. Everything you say is slanted against Taiwan. It doesn't make sense that there is nothing good to say about Taiwan. How is your bias against the country objective? |
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romanworld
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 388
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| Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:19 am Post subject: |
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| Ferfichkin wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Please keep this debate both objective and fair and comment on the Huffington Post article and the facts therein. |
You're the least objective person on this forum. Everything you say is slanted against Taiwan. It doesn't make sense that there is nothing good to say about Taiwan. How is your bias against the country objective? |
I'm merely posting what was posted in the Huffington Post? The issue of a falling birth rate is a real one and will effect not only the English teaching community but also tax revenues. In fact, the situation is so dire that Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou has called it “an issue of national security.”
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/08/22/bad-news-for-taiwan-in-battle-against-baby-blues/
This is an important topic so please contribute to the debate and keep it objecftive. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:43 am Post subject: |
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| Ferfichkin wrote: |
| He's right. You come on this forum all the time, and you NEVER have anything good to say about the country. |
That's because there's very little good to say about the situation for EFL'ers in Taiwan. |
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Ferfichkin
Joined: 07 Jul 2005
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| This is an important topic so please contribute to the debate and keep it objecftive. |
| Quote: |
| There is no quality of life in Taiwan for the expat. |
It's interesting how you are deeply concerned that everyone remain objective when it comes to your posts, but have no trouble spreading your biases in other people's posts. |
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romanworld
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 388
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| Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Ferfichkin wrote: |
| Quote: |
| This is an important topic so please contribute to the debate and keep it objecftive. |
| Quote: |
| There is no quality of life in Taiwan for the expat. |
It's interesting how you are deeply concerned that everyone remain objective when it comes to your posts, but have no trouble spreading your biases in other people's posts. |
But the statement that "There is no quality of life in Taiwan for the expat" is objective and true. Nothing else really needs to be said.
Now, please get back to the Huffington Post article and discuss the issues therein otherwise I'll report you to the admin for trolling. |
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Ferfichkin
Joined: 07 Jul 2005
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:11 am Post subject: |
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But the statement that "There is no quality of life in Taiwan for the expat" is objective and true. Nothing else really needs to be said.
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No, it isn't. The fact that myself and most foreigners that I know enjoy our quality of life in Taiwan proves it's not objective truth. It's your own slanted bias, which of course, you're entitled to have.
The trouble I have with what you're saying is that the people reading this forum, who are maybe thinking of coming to Taiwan themselves, might actually take what you're saying at face value and give up on their interest in coming to Taiwan. And that's not fair. I think we, as people with some experience in Taiwan, have an obligation to try to be balanced in the advice we're giving, so that people can get an honest picture of what they might expect in Taiwan.
Before I came to Taiwan, I got a lot of information on this forum. Those people helped me out a lot and encouraged me to come. I'm glad I listened. I met my wife in Taiwan and some of my closest friends. I got the opportunity to travel around Taiwan and other parts of Asia and had the experience of a lifetime. I also found a career, which I am still doing today. And likely none of it would have happened if the posters back then were as negative and one sided about Taiwan as you are.
I know the job situation in Taiwan isn't what it used to be; I've said that many times myself on this forum, but the idea that a foreigner from Canada or the States or wherever couldn't come to Taiwan, find a job, and have a great adventure, is just not true. They may not be able to get a full-time job in the center of Taipei City, but they CAN find work, and they CAN have a great experience in Taiwan. To say otherwise is untrue and not fair to the people who are thinking about coming to Taiwan.
| Quote: |
| Now, please get back to the Huffington Post article and discuss the issues therein otherwise I'll report you to the admin for trolling. |
Go ahead. |
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teacher4life
Joined: 22 Apr 2012
Posts: 121
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 1:24 am Post subject: |
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Really romanworld, if you had bad experiences in Taiwan then you should put it behind you and move on. By dwelling here you are hurting yourself far more than you are hurting Taiwan.
I find that 80% of western foreigners are happy here, able to find friends and romance, decent work and adventure. In fact, a lot of folks have been here for a LONG time, something which certainly isn't the goal of every foreigner who comes here.
Taiwan is here and happy to get to know you whether it is for a short time or the long term. Maybe it is for you, maybe not.
Good luck! |
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romanworld
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 388
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:44 am Post subject: |
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| Ferfichkin wrote: |
| I know the job situation in Taiwan isn't what it used to be . . . . |
Nice to know you can be objective sometimes.
Now, let's get back to the Huffington Post article. I'd be interested in what a long-term foreign resident might have to say about it. |
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romanworld
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 388
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:45 am Post subject: |
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| Ferfichkin wrote: |
| I know the job situation in Taiwan isn't what it used to be . . . . |
Nice to know you can be objective sometimes.
Now, let's get back to the Huffington Post article. I'd be interested in what a long-term foreign resident might have to say about it. |
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teacher4life
Joined: 22 Apr 2012
Posts: 121
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| romanworld wrote: |
Now, let's get back to the Huffington Post article. I'd be interested in what a long-term foreign resident might have to say about it. |
It is reminiscent of Rick Perry calling for prayer to help end the drought in Texas- in other words, who gives a damn about that article! |
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