Well, things have gone back to normal here at the Stupid Pig China Blog after a few days of high (relatively) activity. I must say that I am pleasantly surprised by the comments that I received here, especially those who replied to the survey, since I expected the worst. I thought I would have no sensible discussion, lots of name calling, and the usual lame arguments over Tibet’s history. However, this was not the case. Those who supported China, Tibet, and all those in between were rational, kind, intelligent, and seemed to truly be interested in opening dialogue. I was in shock on the first day and then I stupidly thought that the whole world was changing and the situation is getting better.
But it’s not. I guess the people who read my blog are not representative of the majority (no kidding, since I get less than a hundred visitors a day). I go over to the Peking Duck and the same old garbage is still being flung around. I see internet stalking and harassment of this mainland girl who didn’t take sides. Conspiracy theories are everywhere about the western media working together to tarnish China’s reputation and that the Tibetan who tried to grab the torch from the wheelchair girl is actually a CCP tool.
Yesterday I was depressed after reading all that garbage and wished I didn’t care about politics or people. Life would be so much easier if I just focused on making my module for Neverwinter Nights 2 or teaching English to engineers. If I was like some other ex-pats and only looked for fresh ass to bang, partied all night in expensive smoke-filled clubs, and drank several thousand RMB worth of alcohol each day, then maybe I wouldn’t be so gloomy all the time. Maybe if I went to church and believed in Jesus, the holy trinity would come down and fill me with a warm fuzzy feeling.
But I just can’t help it. I see people acting stupid and I feel bad. I mean back in the day, there was this kid in high school that did all this stupid stuff that was totally un-cool. He always gave himself all these crazy nicknames, talked like a sports announcer, and asked the hottest chicks from other classes in our school to prom even though they would ditch him once they got there. People loved him. He was like a mascot for our school because people can make fun of him all they want and he would be oblivious. Everyone laughed, but when I saw him, it hurt me. It embarrassed me. I guess I’m just weak, despite my excessively masculin and tough exterior.
There’s this anime that I really like called ‘Planetes’ or ‘Wanderers’ about space trash collecters. In the end, there’s this part that shows all the people the main character ever met, his friends, enemies, and random people that he just passed by every day, all connected to each other. He noticed that space was not an empty void that separates people from others, but is instead a long chain that connects all life.
So yeah, I guess I just want to thank the people who stopped by and commented or read my blog… yep… that’s about it.
Don’t worry man, all those crazies on the internet, they ain’t representative of the real deal. Even though the news to me is like dealer to a junkie, and it makes me so sick, I go outside, I meet people, and the vast majority of them are down to earth reasonable people who don’t want to put my head on a pike.
Sometimes…just sometimes, I will meet someone with a different opinion from the masses, and that really makes my day and I know all is not lost.
Ya man, I feel you on that. The internet, with all that hype about being the future of communication, does bring out the worst in people and turns real life jerks into giant ass holes the size of Montana.
“But I just can’t help it. I see people acting stupid and I feel bad. ”
Be proud of it, dude.
Sometimes I also wish I could think less. A Prof. was just saying this in my class:” As a sociologist, you never go travel without seeing the inequality, globalization, blablabla…”
Thinking more makes you realize how miserable life is. Yet it also makes you appreciate its beauty more than anyone else.
Hmm… I guess that’s true… I mean I would never take a burrito for granted again…
Mmm… the beauty of melted cheese, refried beans, chunks of carne asada, red tomato salsa, sour cream, and guac all wrapped up together in a flour/spinach/corn tortilla…
Cheer up^^
I’m pretty gloomy myself, especially when I’m thinking that in a month I’ll be making my way to China-not very reassuring given the current climate against anything coming from France! Hopefully it’ll have calmed down by then.
As to your high-school story, I still think it’s better to feel sorry for the poor guy, than to laugh at him like the others.Guess it seems more human
@Froufrou – I read your blog about being so excited about coming to China so yeah… it must be especially bad with all that anti-French stuff going on now.
And I’m actually not all that depressed, I mean I’ve got my computer games and excessively large amounts of yogurt to keep me distracted from world problems most of the time. Maybe it’s just when I blog that I get all gloomy… but that’s usually the case, right?