Job Discussion Forums

[WorkingVaca]

Aristotle,

It would be nice for people reading this message board, on which you are such a frequent poster claiming to know all the ins-and-outs of corrupt Taiwan human rights violations agains Western foreigners who live pretty easy lives compared to the locals, to know exactly where you are coming from:

What country are you originally from? How long have you lived in Taiwan? Where are you living in Taiwan? You often mention that Taiwan is a Third World Country, so have you even seen any TRULY third world countries? What was your job before becoming an English teacher. HOW OLD ARE YOU? What was your college major? How many "members" do you have providing "information" to your foreign teachers union?

I think these questions will explain alot about this guy's frame of mind, but he'll probably just accuse me of conspiring to expose his identity to Taiwan's corrupt powers that be. Have you been watching too many one-man-against-the-world action movies, Aristotle?

Anybody else with questions for our resident conspiracy theorist, please chime in

[Taylor]

I have been curious about that picture of a guy (with the red background).

If that is some famous person I should know, then please don't flame me.

Taylor
Kaohsiung 7+years

[killian]

the picture is of che guevera, a cuban patriot, who in the sixties met an untimely demise. some people really lionize him, others dismiss him as a poseur.

reveal personal info over the internet? hmm...such is one of those "i'll do it if you go first" kinda things. kinda dubious that one requests such info while their own member profile is virtually blank.

are you aware of the penalty for foreigners partaking in political activities (such as trying to organize workers) here in taiwan is? yes, there are penalties here for exercising your inherent right to freedom of association here. generally, the punishment for foreigners doing such is deportation. not too long ago taiwan kicked a catholic priest out for helping the foreign workers here. to work politically here, you need a different permit than the teaching one. the same goes for musicians here. yes, even whiteys playing in bars have been given trouble. why? playing music in bands(in public) is not permitted by their work documentations

yes, it is easy to visualize that certain correspondents on the taiwan based boards are excessive in their secrecy. after five years here, it is my opinion that security is all important.

the selection of the moniker "aristotle" is fascinating. ya'll are aware of the story of the original aristotle, right?

taiwan's present day posturing as a democracy with rule of law is new. since ww2 it had been... ahem...very "stalinist". despite lipservice to democracy, the mindset of the ruling class and many of the laws on the books are vestigages of the bad old days. only agitation brings change. sadly, if you are a foreigner here, agitaiton brings expulsion.

[ScottSommers]

I think my opinion of Aristotle is clear from previous exchanges with him. Nevertheless, like catfish, crabs, and silverfish, everything has a purpose in nature. Actually, I think that most of what he has to say is nonsense, but it gives balance to a bulletin board that is usually plastered with glowing accounts of Taiwan.

Yes, it is prohibited for foreign citizens to take part in ROC political activities. The reality is that this law is not rigourously enforced. The event that Killian was referring to is almost certainly the deportation of Father Neil Magill. Father Magill was deported in 1989. It is significant that since the DPP gained power in 2000, he has returned to Taiwan and been greeted by President Chen. Killian may have missed the newspaper, but today (that is February 18, 2004), Filipino workers are publically demonstrating about a sexual assault allegedly committed by a major politcial figure against a foreign worker. Killian and Aristotle may know more than I do, so correct me if I am wrong: NO foreign citizen has been deported from Taiwan for political activities for a very long time.

I doubt there are any legally-empowered officials in Taiwan who care about English teachers organizing themselves. A more serious concern is almost certainly illegal wokers. Aristotle has repeated boasted of his illegal status and his knowledge of how to work here illegally. If any officials care about what he has to say, it is because of this.

"Fascinating" is a rather strong word to use in describing someone who has lived in a foreign country for years, but demonstrates no significant knowledge of its history, language or culure. This is not to say Aristotle demonstrates no knowledge of Taiwan. On the contrary: he is a brilliant source of information on how citizens of privileged nations can live here as illegal workers.

[EOD]

This is what he told me when I asked him that.
"An international nomad striving to become an urban legend."
Just another drifter English teacher who has found a hobby if you asked me.
I am beginning to change my ideas concerning working illegally in Taiwan. I do pay far less tax than I would in the US. The democratic process is starting to take effect and bring about something that looks like real government.

[Fortigurn]

[EOD]

[brian]

I support Workingvaca's questions. I don't see that any of them would serve to identify him, but the answers would certainly help to add credibility to Aristotles posts.

I don't expect a serious answer to any of them - but then again stranger things have happened. One thing I do notice is that Aristotle becomes uncharacteristically quiet when these sorts of discussions pop up.

[Aristotle]

Sorry to have had to abandon you. I had to make one of those dreaded obligatory visa runs.
It was terrible, I am sunburned and hangover something awful. Woke up yesterday morning with a tattoo on my buttocks. All those years I have spent in Thailand I still find myself seduced by small beautiful islands and Mekhong Rum . I am going to have to take a couple of more days off just to recover from my vacation and let my lungs adjust.
Nearly all of the information your have requested is available to any and all Full Members of SSETT.

[brian]

[Mozilla]

As expected nothing from Aristotle here. As usual you need to give up your anonymity to someone who is widely considered as being 'a colorful personality', just to an answer to what I think is a reasonable question. That being - What authority does he have to be dishing out advice for people to avoid Taiwan, or large parts of it anyway. He chooses to post this stuff here, and I only think it fair that he give us all a bit of background as to why he is 'qualified' to make such recommendations.



Actually I had a couple of problems with visas and quitting my school a while back. He gave me invaluable advice and was very generous with his time. So far, he has never said anything that was incorrect---as opposed to just about everyone else on here.

[Mozilla]

Sorry to hear that. If you became legal you wouldn't have to have gone to all that trouble, could have saved a deal of money, and actually been money like the rest of us. I can't understand why you would choose to have to jump through hoops every couple of months just to stay here when you don't need to.



As someone who is now working illegally...I am MUCH happier than my legal counterparts. Also leaving the country is quite fun---if you plan ahead.

[brian]

[brian]

[Mozilla]

This shows just how nieve and new you must be. Feel free to point out what is incorrect with the posts made by just about everyone else, now you that you have become such an authority here. It will be interesting to see what you can come up with. Not much I expect!



I never said I was an expert. I have only stated my opinions, and never claimed them to be fact. If you know as much as you claim to know about Taiwan then you should know that everyone has a different experience. I feel I have every right to express my opinion as do you.

As far as incorrect information, I am referring to the the various posts concerning visa runs, and requirements.