Cultural shock first arrived in China

[skylee]

If you ask them why, they would give you bullshit reasons, e.g. how it's good for the genes, like the Chinese people are not very tall, and it's very important for them to make kids that are as much tall as possible.

Why is it bullshit?

[外国赤佬]

Because it is.

1) It's not always true. I have a friend, who's not very tall, and her parents are about the same height. But her brother is very tall. Why?

2) It's too 计算. But everything you Chinese do is, so w/e.

[skylee]

It's too 计算. But everything you Chinese do is

Are you sure? Everything? You Chinese?

[外国赤佬]

说难听点的

Have you guys ever tried to relax and just be normal? Life is not about 患得患失 or 打拼. You know why the crime rate is so low in China and there's no graffiti on the walls anywhere? Because the kids don't have any time for themselves. Their whole life is a struggle, ruled by their parents/society. "You have to study hard to enter a university, you have to make as much money as possible to please your relatives, you have to marry as early as possible and make a kid for your parents, etc, etc" There's no "I want to". Only "I have to", because "my parents told me so" or "everyone would look down upon me if I don't".

The same thing with the height. You love the person, not their height, not their money, not their penis size. 高帅富个屁呀。都听腻了这些。

[hbuchtel]

Hey man, take it easy. Try posting when you are not pissed off.

To offer an alternate take on the phenomenon you are talking about, there is a saying that "America is heaven for young people, and hell for old people".

[WestTexas]

I don't think height is the number one criteria, though weirdly it does seem to be more important than looks. There are Chinese girls who date guys close to their height. The criteria Chinese girls list for their mate(over 175 cm tall, owns a car, owns a house, good salary, light skin, big eyes) I take as more of a wish list, not strict requirements. If every Chinese girl followed those criteria there would be no children, since 99.9% of Chinese men do not fit every one.

[WestTexas]

You know why the crime rate is so low in China and there's no graffiti on the walls anywhere? Because the kids don't have any time for themselves. Their whole life is a struggle, ruled by their parents/society.

I'd agree with this. Many young Chinese seem perfectly okay with being controlled though. To them their life is more about making their parents/friends etc. happy; I think they would see the American mindset of 'Go for your dreams' as selfish.

There is plenty of graffiti in China. I'd say there might be more than the US. Maybe you live in a nicer area? Go to a park in a 3rd tier city, or the bathrooms in the subway. You'll see it.

[Lu]

Not to mention all the phone numbers on walls.

[rezaf]

说难听点的

Have you guys ever tried to relax and just be normal? Life is not about 患得患失 or 打拼. You know why the crime rate is so low in China and there's no graffiti on the walls anywhere? Because the kids don't have any time for themselves. Their whole life is a struggle, ruled by their parents/society. "You have to study hard to enter a university, you have to make as much money as possible to please your relatives, you have to marry as early as possible and make a kid for your parents, etc, etc" There's no "I want to". Only "I have to", because "my parents told me so" or "everyone would look down upon me if I don't".

The same thing with the height. You love the person, not their height, not their money, not their penis size. 高帅富个屁呀。都听腻了这些

My personal feeling is close to your opinion but I don't judge them like that. As someone who lives in a society with a different culture I have learned to adapt myself. Chinese culture rejects creativity, individuality and freedom to some extent comparing to my culture but on the plus side too much freedom and creativity also might lead to chaos and China has had enough of that in history. I have my own ideals and values in life but I also respect the way that other cultures have chosen for having a better life, knowing that there are always pros and cons to everything. To be honest there is nothing that I can do to change them and there is nothing that they can do to change me. That's why I try to focus on the positive things in both of our cultures and 求同存异 so that I can live in harmony with people who don't think like me.