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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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 Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:12 am Post subject: Beijingers told to mind their manners |
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Page last updated at 23:22 GMT, Saturday, 19 July 2008 00:22 UK
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Beijingers told to mind their manners
By Michael Bristow
BBC News, Beijing
Olympics propaganda promotes smiles and displays of unity
Beijing citizens have been told not to pick their noses, yawn or scratch their heads when talking to foreigners during the Olympics.
They have also been given a list of things not to ask overseas visitors - a list so exhaustive it could make conversation difficult.
Ordinary people have also been given detailed instructions on how to talk to disabled people during the Paralympics.
Chinese officials want ordinary people to show the country's most civilised face during the sporting events.
A booklet prepared by the propaganda department of Beijing's Dongcheng District gives locals an introduction to the games.
It has a special section on dealing with foreigners, including what to do when talking to overseas visitors.
'Wear a smile'
"In conversation, wear a smile, don't stare too long or do anything to make people feel ill at ease," it says.
The booklet advises Beijing people to say to disabled people such things as: 'You're really excellent'
It also warns Beijing people not to yawn, shout, pick their noses, scratch their heads, play with their fingernails or pull at their clothes while talking.
The booklet suggests people abide by the "eight don't ask" principle when talking to foreigners.
Subjects to avoid include what foreigners earn or how much they spend, how old they are, whether they are married and whether they are healthy.
Also off-limits are questions about where foreigners live, where they have worked, their religious or political beliefs, or what they are currently doing.
MANNERS |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:25 am Post subject: |
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Good to see them making an effort.
Because it would take a miracle for the Chinese to come across as warm, friendly, or normal. They make Koreans look like a sunday school presentation. |
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DCJames
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:38 am Post subject: |
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| It would be nice if they took showers daily also. |
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Guri Guy
Joined: 07 Sep 2003
Location: Bamboo Island
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:28 am Post subject: |
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How about horking up huge pools of lung butter onto the sidewalks after
making the most disgusting sounds possible (ajosshi style)?
Is that Verbotten in New Beijing? |
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greedy_bones
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
Location: not quite sure anymore
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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| I wonder if they'll do anything about the crotchless pants. Kids taking a dump in the middle of the street might not make Beijing look so good in the eyes of foreigners. |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
Good to see them making an effort.
Because it would take a miracle for the Chinese to come across as warm, friendly, or normal. They make Koreans look like a sunday school presentation. |
What are you talking about? Many Beijingers are warm and friendly. |
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Temporary
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
Good to see them making an effort.
Because it would take a miracle for the Chinese to come across as warm, friendly, or normal. They make Koreans look like a sunday school presentation. |
Yeah chine is one efed up place. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Kuros wrote: |
What are you talking about? Many Beijingers are warm and friendly. |
Then why would they need lessons in manners prior to the olympics then? |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
| Kuros wrote: |
What are you talking about? Many Beijingers are warm and friendly. |
Then why would they need lessons in manners prior to the olympics then? |
Because many are poorly educated and uncouth. Friendly does not equal refined. Warm does not equal hygienic.
But Beijingers are perhaps the friendliest people in Asia. |
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Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
| Then why would they need lessons in manners prior to the [O]lympics then? |
I think this is very common in many countries where people want to be accepted by the outside world as "modern." I saw a similar ad campaign in Chile once, re: a global agricultural convention or something. All over the Metros and subway stations. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Kuros wrote: |
But Beijingers are perhaps the friendliest people in Asia. |
Don't get out much, do you.
You're putting Beijingers ahead of Laotians, Thais, filippinos, Indonesians, and Japanese??. Don't be obtuse. |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:09 am Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
| Kuros wrote: |
But Beijingers are perhaps the friendliest people in Asia. |
Don't get out much, do you.
You're putting Beijingers ahead of Laotians, Thais, filippinos, Indonesians, and Japanese??. Don't be obtuse. |
I meant genuine friendliness. I can't speak for the sincerity or friendliness of Filippinos or Laotians, but I'll take Beijing sincerity over Thai, Indonesian, and Japanese politeness anyday.
But, anyway, you were smearing 1.3 billion people as being collectively unfriendly and reserved. There's a difference between Hong Kongese, Beijingers, Shanghainese, etc. Don't get around China much, do you? |
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