I'm not a China expert Felix and I never pretend that. I always say somewhere or other that I am often talking generally and responding to tone or manner. Too much bullshit western arrogance knocking the Chinese is what comes over on here, too often. Ex-pat club of cynical westerners who know best and everything they see is wrong, stupid, TIC. If you have become weary of it, then go back to 'wherever' and get a reality check about downtown back home is what I reckon. Then return and appreciate the place called China even if it isn't a suburb of some western town or stay home. Your last sentence is exactly what I have been saying. It is obviously not the same there, so suck it up an d go with it.

But td-ref also told me I was wrong and I am not going to argue with him even if I would with you.

I have lived and worked in many places around the world and I learned a bit I hope, over four decades of that since I first left UK. And Chinese philosophy and so on has been a minor interest of mine for 40 yrs as well when everyone else thought they were the 'yellow peril'. I read Sun Tzu when I was 20, it was a mandatory part of my training and I became fascinated. but a couple of books doenot make me an expert. Yup. Just opiniated.

As you rightly say, I may find it intolerable when I come over. But I don't think so. I recognised many many years ago that the Ugly American and the Arrogant Pom were causing a lot of trouble around the world. when I was your age we were jointly napalming half of Asia and setting up Heroin factories to fund it. And in Eire and Northern Ireland where I have spent a LOT of time, UK was never flavour of the month. Your generation is changing that a lot but unconsciously the attitude is still overt to any one sensitive to it. My generation just went in and shot any fucker argued with us or wnated not be enslaved, economically if not literally, aye, in Ireland as well. I just do what I can to pass on my experience, my philosophy and understanding. I don't call it wisdom, that's not for me to say. However, I usually continue anything I say in forum by PM if I think further explanation is required or that I have inflamed an issue inadvertently.

Not that I mind a stoush sometimes when I am bored or grumpy, however I usually just shake my head at the amount of stupidity some express. That is nothing to do with 'China' it is usually simple ignorance of basics in human nature. I am sick of it, so I say what I say and hope to make a small difference.