[SIZE="4"]This woman threw some coins in to a jet engine for "good luck". What else can you expect from a people who still believe that tiger bones and rhinoceros horn have medicinal value?
She was elderly and raised in a different era, a different time. You should be able to relate a bit, you grew up in a different world and still do things which are not internet PC. For instance you post a lot of things as "humor" that many get as SPAM in their email accounts.
She just didn't know/understand the full impact of her actions.
The younger Chinese people are not superstitious and prone to throw coins into a jet engine.
They are, however, most likely to be mustered up into a 200 million man army which could do extensive damage to the world before being defeated.
And that being defeated thing is not certain as the one and only Communist nation is China, who has adapted rapidly to this modern world making China a superpower who's economic and marketing skills should scare the rest of the world as it could be a real decisive factor in what the later 21st Century political and military and economic map will look like.
This one, elderly and perhaps very wise woman is not the representative of a nation of over 1.388 billion Chinese.
Like you aren't representative of all of the UK folk.
In Italy we are living an anti-vax period, also thanks to the easy access to internet for everybody, they believe in the bullshit they read on the blogs and fake news instead of listening doctors etc. So some kid is already dead cause of their ignorant parents.
Every place you go you can find people like this.
This has nothing to do with different-time-different-place. This is plain stupidity. Inexcusable. She should be given some jail time and suspended from flying.
meridannight Wrote:This has nothing to do with different-time-different-place. This is plain stupidity. Inexcusable. She should be given some jail time and suspended from flying.
80 years is a long time to live and around age 50 people start stiffening up and refusing to bend in their will. Around age 40 is when people start shunning that "modern crap those kids call music".
Those are only two examples how age puts one behind the times. Think of all the old people who refuse to give up their land-lines, think of all the old people who just didn't get net safety and download all of those malicious software even after the grand kids sat them down and explained for the thousandth time about net safety.
This woman most likely had no real understanding of what she was doing, and most likely will never fully understand this "jet engine thing". And yes, she believes in other gods than the western world, and throwing coins for "luck" is part of her life.
Thankfully nothing major happened, but maybe the airlines will consider how to make boarding and unboarding of these machines safer for the old timers who might be senile, antiquated in their belief systems.
I have no doubt that this woman grew up and lived in one of those provinces where modern machinery is/was rare.
We also have to understand that China is a recent joiner tot he First World party, and that is only because of markets and money. Much of China is still in development stage. The kids over there are getting an education that is light years removed from what their parents got and even further from Grandmothers and Grandfathers.
Bowyn Aerrow Wrote:Thankfully nothing major happened, but maybe the airlines will consider how to make boarding and unboarding of these machines safer for the old timers who might be senile, antiquated in their belief systems.
Anyone who's flown more than a couple of times in their life is aware that in major airports sometimes you have to take the passengers out to the plane to the far reaches of the airfield, instead of taxiing the airplane to the terminal for the passengers to board through a jet bridge without ever having any kind of access to the airplane's exterior parts. This is so in major airports (e.g. CDG) as well as minor ones. You're not gonna be able to do away with this procedure without significantly reducing flights able to take off per day, which is the same as to say it's not gonna happen.
And unless the airport left the passengers completely unattended (which doesn't happen because there are various kinds of personnel in attendance at the aircraft), these kinds of boardings are safe. And if they did do that, and leave the passengers unattended while they were boarding (I have never been to any airport in China, so I can't swear by their security protocols) then that was gross negligence on the part of the airport itself, and they are responsible for what happened. You can never leave the passengers unattended while they're boarding an aircraft, and I've never seen that happen in any of the European airports.
meridannight Wrote:Anyone who's flown more than a couple of times in their life is aware that in major airports sometimes you have to take the passengers out to the plane to the far reaches of the airfield, instead of taxiing the airplane to the terminal for the passengers to board through a jet bridge without ever having any kind of access to the airplane's exterior parts. This is so in major airports (e.g. CDG) as well as minor ones. You're not gonna be able to do away with this procedure without significantly reducing flights able to take off per day, which is the same as to say it's not gonna happen.
And unless the airport left the passengers completely unattended (which doesn't happen because there are various kinds of personnel in attendance at the aircraft), these kinds of boardings are safe. And if they did do that, and leave the passengers unattended while they were boarding (I have never been to any airport in China, so I can't swear by their security protocols) then that was gross negligence on the part of the airport itself, and they are responsible for what happened. You can never leave the passengers unattended while they're boarding an aircraft, and I've never seen that happen in any of the European airports.
My only personal experience of flying on a Chinese airline was admittedly some years ago but then the observance of safety regulations was lax to say the least. Boarding was a free for all with passengers strugging to get on board carying an enormous amount of hand luggage and suitcases (!), so much that eventualy when everyone was finally seated the aisle was full of luggage as well. Had it been necessary to evacuate the plane it would have been impossible.
"You can be young without money but you can't be old without money"
Maggie the Cat from "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." by Tennessee Williams
07-03-2017, 09:21 AM (Edited 07-03-2017, 09:32 AM by Alvin.)
It sort of disheartens me to see that you said "What else can you expect from a people who still believe that tiger bones and rhinoceros horn have medicinal value?", reasons being that no clear evidence, base on the news, may lead to the conclusion that a woman who threw a coin into a jet engine also believes in such medicinal value. As I have mentioned earlier in another post, it falls prey to overgeneralization. A woman cannot represent "a people". She is just "a person".
People prefer simplification by attaching labels to others, which, although making everything easier to understand, is at the peril of sounding chauvinistic. Indeed, there have been different (if not drastically) cultural patterns deeply rooted in terms of nationality and ethnicity, but it appears to be not so well-grounded to assume that "You Chinese do this and that" as a whole. I used to think that Germans are, overall, diligent and punctual, but it has turned out to be stereotype as I had been studying there. Think about how it feels to hear a guy, who knows little about the U.K., say "You U.K. folks are _______." The label issue is something I have been trying so hard to guard against and recover from. It seems impossible to completely get rid of it since we have our own pride and prejudice in favor of certain things. At least we can be aware of it.
Let me tell you a story: While I was traveling in Vienna, an old guy (presumably Austrian though I can't be sure), on sight of me getting on the bus, started talking with contempt till I got off. Is it fair to draw a conclusion that people in Austria are all like him? I'm afraid not. I have one of the most wonderful conversations with other Austrian guys the other night. Maybe a single case can hardly guarantee a well-grounded statement. That particular guy is no more than a person.
However, I still want to point out that I am by no means trying to justify what this particular woman did, which is really, and I quote from meridannight, "plain stupidity". And speaking of your personal experience of flying on a Chinese airline, I do agree with you. Some of them (not all) suck.
Oh, in case of being overly defensive, I really want to share this song with you. Despite what I said above, I think it's just fine to be a little bit biased.
Quote:- Say, Kate, can I ask you a question? - Sure!
- Well, you know Trekkie Monster upstairs? - Uh huh.
- Well, he's Trekkie Monster, and you're Kate Monster. - Right.
- You're both Monsters. - Yeah.
- Are you two related? - What?! Princeton, I'm surprised at you! I find that racist!
- Oh, well, I'm sorry! I was just asking! - Well, it's a touchy subject.
- No, not all Monsters are related. What are you trying say, huh? That we all look the same to you? Huh, huh, huh? - No, no, no, not at all. I'm sorry, I guess that was a little racist.
- I should say so. You should be much more careful when you're talking about the sensitive subject of race. - Well, look who's talking!
- What do you mean? - What about that special Monster School you told me about?
- What about it? - Could someone like me go there?
- No, we don't want people like you- - You see?!
You're a little bit racist.
Well, you're a little bit too.
I guess we're both a little bit racist.
Admitting it is not an easy thing to do...
But I guess it's true.
Between me and you,
I think
Everyone's a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn't mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one's really color blind.
Maybe it's a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race.
- Now not big judgments, like who to hire or who to buy a newspaper from - No!
- No, just little judgments like thinking that Mexican busboys should learn to speak goddamn English! - Right!
Everyone's a little bit racist
Today.
So, everyone's a little bit racist
Okay!
Ethinic jokes might be uncouth,
But you laugh because
They're based on truth.
Don't take them as
Personal attacks.
Everyone enjoys them -
So relax!
- All right, stop me if you've heard this one. - Okay!
- There's a plan going down and there's only one paracute. And there's a rabbi, a priest... - And a black guy!
- Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Kate? - Uh...
- You were telling a black joke! - Well, sure, Gary, but lots of people tell black jokes.
- I don't. - Well, of course you don't - you're black!
- But I bet you tell Polack jokes, right? - Well, sure I do. Those stupid Polacks!
- Now, don't you think that's a little racist? - Well, damn, I guess you're right.
You're a little bit racist.
Well, you're a little bit too.
We're all a little bit racist.
I think that I would
Have to agree with you.
We're glad you do.
It's sad but true!
Everyone's a little bit racist -
All right!
All right!
All right!
All right!
Bigotry has never been
Exclusively white
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
Even though we all know
That it's wrong,
Maybe it would help us
Get along.
- Oh, Christ do I feel good. - Now there was a fine upstanding black man!
- Who? - Jesus Christ.
- But, Gary, Jesus was white. - No, Jesus was black.
- No, Jesus was white. - No, I'm pretty sure that Jesus was black-
Guys, guys...Jesus was Jewish!
- Hey guys, what are you laughing about? - Racism!
Cool.
BRIAN! Come back here! You take out lecycuraburs!
- What's that mean? - Um, recyclables.
- Hey, don't laugh at her! How many languages do you speak? - Oh, come off it, Brian!
- Everyone's a little bit racist. - I'm not!
- Oh no? - Nope! How many Oriental wives Have you got?
What? Brian!
Brian, buddy, where you been?
The term is Asian-American!
I know you are no
Intending to be
But calling me Oriental -
Offensive to me!
- I'm sorry, honey, I love you. - And I love you.
- But you're racist, too. - Yes, I know.
The Jews have all
The money
And the whites have all
The power.
And I'm always in taxi-cab
With driver who no shower!
Me too!
Me too!
I can't even get a taxi!
Everyone's a little bit racist
It's true.
But everyone is just about
As racist as you!
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
And everyone stopped being
So PC
Maybe we could live in -
Harmony!
Christmas Eve:
Evlyone's a ritter bit lacist!
[SIZE="4"]@Alvin, I did say in a previous post that I had been over generalising. I apologise if I offended you. You do have to admit though that Chinese traditional medicine is recognised widely in China and that very many people believe in it. Unfortunately. Unfortunate for those animals that are being driven to extinction because of it. not to mention the unbelieveable cruelty such as bears kept in small cages where they are unable to move while their gall bladders are drained.
[/SIZE]
"You can be young without money but you can't be old without money"
Maggie the Cat from "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." by Tennessee Williams
LONDONER Wrote:[SIZE="4"]@Alvin, I did say in a previous post that I had been over generalising. I apologise if I offended you. You do have to admit though that Chinese traditional medicine is recognised widely in China and that very many people believe in it. Unfortunately. Unfortunate for those animals that are being driven to extinction because of it. not to mention the unbelieveable cruelty such as bears kept in small cages where they are unable to move while their gall bladders are drained.
[/SIZE]
That is gross. I can't believe a human being is capable of that. How would they like to be confined to such a tiny space?
This is really fucked up. When you hear and read about things like that, the human species comes across as one of the worst things to happen to the universe.
Sagittarius
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