Blimey, understood for once! Apart from the fact that people always think it is religious but it has fuck all to do with any religon, creed, dogma or faith. If you watch the world long enough, it looks back at you and it is a great gaping abyss. There is some pattern discernable though - and some of the Chinese worked it out a loooong time ago with yin yang and chi and all that. At the same time most of our western ancestors were running around clubbing each other with sticks and later, sharpened steel. That is human nature, western or eastern, all the same. But we had thinkers and philosophers at that time as well as they did and they had also worked it out because really it is all around you and also within you, your nature.

In the end it is just your relationship with yourself, then those around you, as close or not as you let them, and then all the others. You draw the boundaries. Understanding that is more instinctive in a society such as the Chinese seems to be (to me from outside). My thinking is that the difference is probably something basic, to do with western nuclear family and eastern extended family but of course that would only be a small part and over-simplified.

'Being taken advantage' of is also western thinking. People do what is natural, except that socially and culturally, what is natural is different for us. It is behaviour and if not inherent, learnt so you respond at an instinctive reactive level. You know what is your position and your connections and that is where you stand. 'Face' is part of it. Those around you recognise that position instinctively and thus do or do not take advantage as you would see it. but there is also subtler responses within human nature. So after protecting the 'self' as you pointed out above, you are then able to offer compassion or understanding or bounty to others.

To do so heedlessly and from a weak position is foolish and seen as such. No westerner is seen as connected immediately and their behaviour supports this perception. Thus it is natural to take what you can from them because they often flaunt, or seem to flaunt both wealth and ignorance. There is no remorse in fleecing a sheep. And as an addendum, westerners on motorcycles are even more confusing. They should be in black Mercedes or Ferraris of course, if they have 'position'. To not do so would instinctively be confusing, even felt as insult or at least a disregard of natural rules.

To offer bounty however, from strength, shown by your understanding not your wealth, is the beginning of understanding guanxi as it also implies a reciprocal. And thus you cement your position and the ties of those around you. It is ultimately from your understanding and your manner that the balance is found. Even if the Chinese pick up western ideas and values they will change them to suit their own culture, else they would feel uncomfortable in their own homes.

That is part of what is happening now and I believe they actually show some restraint.

Imagine a black dude on an unlicensed bike that the police and locals cannot afford, all blinged up and flaunting even in his clothes and hairstyle and possessions a large amount of wealth. Imagine that guy as a black pimp with a young white girl wrapped around him, talking ghetto to the cops and bystanders in some red-neck town after running over a young woman - who is culturally quite low but still a breeding female and to some extent protected, especially from outsiders. As I said, it is attitude, what you project and that comes from what you understand. Many human interactions are instinctive even inter-culturally.

This is not aimed at anyone, just a ramble as usual.